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A garden enthusiast who loves to travel and capture the beauty of places and freeze the memories of her travels in photographs, as well as document her experiences in verse...thankful for the simple pleasures in life.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Sleeping Beauty Awakes

I could have titled this post Rip Van Winkle Awakes, but that reference to Old Man Winkle does not do justice to the young-faced Gloxinia looking up at me. However, this gloxinia plant, or rather, the tubers to be more accurate, had been dormant for over a year! They just hibernated in their little pot with no above ground level action at all. I even stopped watering them and let the soil harden into hard cakes. I knew the plant would come back when it is time to come back. Most of my friends who buy gloxinia plants from the garden centres ignorantly throw out the plant when they die back. People stopped buying gloxinias saying they were a waste of money.

So, in this post, I would like to advise these people to "Know Your Gloxinia"
Did you know that:

#1. Gloxinia is the common name for a popular tropical houseplant, Gloxinia speciosa, also known as Sinningia speciosa.

#2. The plants can be propagated by leaf cuttings, just like African violets. However it is easier to just keep reviving dormant tubers.

#3 The plants are pretty fussy about the amount of sunlight they get. Remember this tip: give then enough light, but keep them away from direct sunlight. Hmm, figure that out.

#4. Watering them is also an art. Water them thoroughly, the experts say, but do not keep them wet all the time or they'll die. However, they say not to leave them too dry, or they will also die. Of course, if you water the crown of the plant, they will rot, and die. So we are advised to let the plants absorb water from the bottom - fill a saucer with water and leave the pot of gloxinia standing on the saucer for an hour. Then remove the saucer they say. They also urgently remind us to use warm water. Yeah, but how do we keep the water warm after it is left exposed in a saucer for an hour?

#5. Feeding - this is also rather confusing. They ( I'm referring to the experts, not to the gloxinias, they do not say anything. But I know they are finicky little ladies... I mean these gloxinias, not the experts).Back to how to feed your fussy gloxinia. Feed them regularly when they are blooming, they say, but stop feeding them when they stop blooming. You would probably say you'd rather start feeding them when they stop blooming so that they'll produce more blooms. I'd agree with you! However...they say we have to stop feeding them so that the tuber can grow dormant. If they want the tuber to grow dormant, shouldn't we feed them? Sigh.

Anyway, now you know exactly how to treat your gloxinia. All I know is these gloxinias of mine are awake now, and they'll go back to sleep when they feel like it, and come back when they feel like it too.







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18 comments:

  1. This is very useful information on the care and feeding of a gloxinia plant. And what a beauty it is!

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  2. Good message. The experts are right about stopping feeding to allow the plant to go dormant. If you continue feeding the plant won't go dormant. It needs a rest period, just like we do.

    Love this planter!

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  3. never tried these...figure I kill aftican violets...so these would die for sure! lol
    Yours is gorgeous...I love the color...and that ball you have it planted on...is fantastic!
    Thanks for linking in and sharing your flaunt today!!! I always love seeing all the pretties everyone shares! Have a great weekend friend

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  4. Rosie your gloxinias are lovely - beautiful colour!

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  5. Beautiful flower but I'm also loving the pot (?) it's in.

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  6. Rosie... thank you for this post... I actually just received a pot of flowers from my Honda car dealer and what a coincidence, it is the same flower... shall follow your tips and see if it survives...

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  7. Thanks Rosie, for the info about my bleeding heart.

    ( I can't comment from the site you used to comment on mine, I came to you via macro Flowers, wonder if anyone has the same problem.)

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  8. What beautiful blooms! After reading the care needed for gloxinias I think I will pass. I like plants that don't mind being ignored on occasion. :)

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  9. Wow your flower is so beautiful. Stunning! And the pot is so special.

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  10. I once tried to grow gloxinia in my garden. What a mistake!! It died as soon as possible. But yours are beautiful! :o)

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  11. Wow. I never thought they'd be that finicky. Beautiful blooms. They looked unreal at the samw time. Very pretty. I'm already in trouble with my mums that when the blooms died and I cut according to what the expert told me, they appeared weed-like. The stems all curvy unlike when I bought them first. Lolz. Back to the drawing board. :)

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  12. I love this plant, the flowers are so beautiful.
    I took a few photos or it myself at the flower center but not posted yet.

    Thanks for the info, I didn't know they go dormant.
    I was thinking about buying one but if the are so fussy, I'll pass.

    The ones in your photos looks great.

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  13. The gloxinia is beautiful, but I really love the contrast between the plant and the pot it is in!!

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  14. WOW!!!!

    Seriously.
    Apparently you've got the knack for 'em, the fussy things. LOL

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  15. Gloxinias are so amazing. Good for you for succeeding here. Such pretty petals!

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  16. Gloxinias are amazingly beautiful. Almost they seem to glow in violet. Thanks a lot for this informative blog.
    Somebody whose Blogger’s name is “my garden haven” left a kind comment in my blog. But I could not reach her, so left message in my blog and no reply. I looked for the name in internet and I found you. I’m sorry to be late to reply to your comment.
    Have a great day!

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  17. amazing.

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    cheers.
    bless your creativity.
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    ReplyDelete

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