How to get this small streptocarpus to flower more?
Hello again. Does anyone know about streptocarpus saxorum? At least I think that's what this is (excluse the messy table):
I got it from a charity shop. It doesn't have many flowers and the green middle bit is very squidgy. I repotted it. The plant in original small pot seemed to have been potted in mud/soil! It was very wet, thick, and sticky. When I moved it into slightly bigger pot I just used compost and sand. I couldn't be bothered to go and buy houseplant compost, which I think is recommended for houseplants/streptocarpus? Have I done the right thing? Actually the original soil did not come away from the plant as it was so sticky. Pictures I see of this plant show it has a profusion of flowers. At the charity, it had been in a greenhouse.
Is it healthy? Just young? Have I put it in too big a pot? Just wondered if anyone has first hand experience.
Thanks in advance.
Posts
I grow streptocarpus in the greenhouse but you can grow them in the house ok, they like it to be light but not direct sunlight.
they should be planted in a multi purpose compost with added grit, they don't like it too wet and you should only water when the leaves start to droop a little also try not to get water on the leaves.
I must admit the plant in your picture is over potted a little and the plant is not looking too healthy but it might pick up, I think if it was mine I would cut the flowers off so giving the plant time to recover without using energy making flowers.
Thank you both. Well I will repot it again, back into a short, small, fat pot. Funny thing is the sticky substance they have put it in. It's literally like mud. I need to find a way to get it to mix with the compost. This was really helpful - thanks.
Hi aym, which bit is the crown?
Thank you. I haven't got around to repotting it again yet. I will try to do it asap and do what you're saying! Now I understand what the crown is. This wasn't from a plug plant. But I did speak to the guy at the garden centre I got it from and he said if it dies he will give me another one. But the others looked the same, if not worse than this lol. So I will try to sort this one out... seems like a lot of hard work, this houseplant. Not simple like my cute Kalanchoe which is so easy to take care of...