Gesenriads - Streptocarpus

Gesneriaceae is a diverse family of plants that includes over 2,000 different species, spread across more than 120 genera. Around 300 or more of the species are in cultivation.

Members of the Gesneriaceae family, or gesneriads as they are commonly known, have the greatest commercial value as ornamental plants. In particular, given they originate from tropical and subtropical places they are grown as houseplants in temperate parts of the world.

Streptocarpus can be successfully grown from seed but the time of year you sow them will influence when they flower. If you plant seed in mid-winter you’ll produce plants which flower the following autumn. If you plant seeds in spring they won’t flower until the summer of the year after.

• Once seedlings can be handled without damaging them, prick them out into 10cm pots.
• Re-pot as needed.
• Tufted types can be divided during re-potting in the spring.

You can also easily grow Streptocarpus from leaf cuttings. You can either cut along the veins close to where they meet the main vein on the undersides of the leaves and plant the two halves cut side down, or you can cut three to four sections of leaf retaining a piece of main vein in each.

• Insert leaf sections in equal parts by volume of sand or perlite and peat or coir.
• Maintain the temperature at 18°C.
• The small plants which develop can be separated and potted on once they have developed a sufficient root system.

This is an extract from our eBook Gesneriads, African Violets, Gloxinias, Streptocarpus and Others. 
We also offer a great range of Horticulture courses, including African Violets.