New to Gloxinias

[Tindomul]

Hi all,

Seeing as how some of you folks here grow Gloxinias I figured I would post.
I went to the New York Botanical Gardens today and they had some plants at half price. I got a very large Gloxinia for about $8.10. I am new to Gloxinias but not Gesneriads. I'll take any advice. I have placed it on my eastern exposure window next to all my other plants.

Actually I wanted to know if these could be fertilized and made to produce seeds?

Gloxinia by tindomul1of9, on Flickr

[WhiteRabbit]

Nice!

Sorry, can't help hopefully others can!

[Tindomul]

Thanks Sonya!

[Vanda lover]

I have had a lot of experience growing plants in this family, but no luck with these. I have the tiny miniatures of the same family which are easier to grow. [micro sinningia and gloxinara]
I know yours needs a rest period and that is where I always had problems with them. The micros don't need one and can pretty much bloom all year with the right conditions.

[orchidsarefun]

there appears to be 2 different types - the so-called florist gloxinia and then there is the other. I have the other - one which I brought from Zimbabwe as a hand-me-down, its at least 35 years old. It regularly produces seeds, though I have never tried to germinate them. It does grow plantlets from leaf cuttings - just like an African Violet. I have had plantlets bloom after a year, so they are fast growing. They also produce tubers that require a Winter rest.
Yours looks like a florist gloxinia, but I really don't know for sure. This type apparently is grown as an annual and doesn't produce a tuber ? I don't have any experience with this type - but I would say try and grow from a leaf cutting and see what happens.
Mine has softer, floppier leaves - maybe that is one way of telling them apart ?

[Tindomul]

Thanks all!

[Vanda lover]

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun

there appears to be 2 different types - the so-called florist gloxinia and then there is the other. I have the other - one which I brought from Zimbabwe as a hand-me-down, its at least 35 years old. It regularly produces seeds, though I have never tried to germinate them. It does grow plantlets from leaf cuttings - just like an African Violet. I have had plantlets bloom after a year, so they are fast growing. They also produce tubers that require a Winter rest.
Yours looks like a florist gloxinia, but I really don't know for sure. This type apparently is grown as an annual and doesn't produce a tuber ? I don't have any experience with this type - but I would say try and grow from a leaf cutting and see what happens.
Mine has softer, floppier leaves - maybe that is one way of telling them apart ?

They grow easily from seed. The micro sinningia type don't need a rest but the gloxinia does

[JamesL]

Hi Tindomul; I spent Half my life under a greenhouse bench.. Gloxs. Sinningia Speciosa Hybrid ( Florist Gloxs for short..) WATER.. soak allow to become almost dry, soak again. Spray with lukewarm water Cold water will cause water spots to form. Gloxs. do best with a temp. of 60 to 70 deg. and very high humidy. Fertilize like you do for orchids weakly at every watering. Temps. higher than 70 deg. cause then to stretch tall. Cool Temps. and they stay short and squat which is perfered. the plants are grown form seed started in January. form small marble size tubers, then moved to 5 or 6 in pots to grow on. Growing seed in the home is not very easy as they need cool and moist conditions to get started. After it flowers grow it on like any other plant you have, It will eventuly start to yellow and go dormant. Rest the tuber dry for a few month than repot in fresh soil. Set the tuber just on top of the soil NOT UNDER. and keep in a west window and lightly moist till new growth starts. Leaf cutting can be made as for African Violets but is very slow.. Water and temp are important because they have a tendency to rot if to cold or bolt if to warm. Back in the old days we sold hundreds of them at mothers day, right up till easter. now you hardly see them anymore. Enjoy this beauty while you have it and good luck.

[Tindomul]

Thank you James!! Great info. Is there a special type of soil or any general purpose soil will do?

[JamesL]

Originally Posted by Tindomul

Thank you James!! Great info. Is there a special type of soil or any general purpose soil will do?

General potting mix will do.. Nothing that is to heavy. Miracle Grow will do. Or you can add extra peat to anything that you already have. As long as it's light the roots of the Gloxs. are very fine. Miracle Grow African Violet mix is good. but can be a waist if your only going to grow a few... They are very pretty when there in bloom. the soft velvet bell. And rich colors.. Cheers JamesL.....