I bought a few Petrocosmeas recently. They are relatives of African Violets, except they are cool-growing for the most part, coming from the mountains of Southern China and Southeast Asia. I was particularly in intrigued by the amazing rosettes of those I saw in the cool house at the SF Conservatory of Flowers. Although related to African Violets, the rosettes are flatter, and often hug the surface they grow on. Unlike African Violets, which have had much of the individuality of the species bred out of them, Petrocosmeas are often available as species.
From what I understand, they are perhaps even easier to propagate from leaf cuttings than African Violets. I started a bunch of leaves when I got the plants, and many, if not most have rooted already. Some leaves I got associated with tiny plants had even rooted and already started their own plantlets.
Here are the plants as i got them, in small pots:
(if someone wants IDs on all of these, just ask, and I'll figure them out)
All plant, of course, quickly donated a few leaves to propagation. My favorite of the set, by leaves alone, is Petrocosmea begonifolia, lower middle above. All leaves rooted after a month:
Petrocosmea begonifolia, even after having all of those leaves plucked off of it, looks fine a month later.
And one of the plant I received is in bloom. Petrocosmea forrestii:
Anyway, I will soon (several months) have a number of these, probably 6 different species, for giveaway or trade. I've been looking for a while for mostly Nepenthes, in all forms (seed, cuttings, seedlings, plants) when it comes to trades.
Since many of these are lithophytes in nature, and can be grown as epiphytes, I imagine their are a lot of fun ways to grow these either as mounted plants, or along with cool growing Nepenthes, perhaps even on the sides of mesh pots containing sphagnum.
From what I understand, they are perhaps even easier to propagate from leaf cuttings than African Violets. I started a bunch of leaves when I got the plants, and many, if not most have rooted already. Some leaves I got associated with tiny plants had even rooted and already started their own plantlets.
Here are the plants as i got them, in small pots:
(if someone wants IDs on all of these, just ask, and I'll figure them out)
All plant, of course, quickly donated a few leaves to propagation. My favorite of the set, by leaves alone, is Petrocosmea begonifolia, lower middle above. All leaves rooted after a month:
Petrocosmea begonifolia, even after having all of those leaves plucked off of it, looks fine a month later.
And one of the plant I received is in bloom. Petrocosmea forrestii:
Anyway, I will soon (several months) have a number of these, probably 6 different species, for giveaway or trade. I've been looking for a while for mostly Nepenthes, in all forms (seed, cuttings, seedlings, plants) when it comes to trades.
Since many of these are lithophytes in nature, and can be grown as epiphytes, I imagine their are a lot of fun ways to grow these either as mounted plants, or along with cool growing Nepenthes, perhaps even on the sides of mesh pots containing sphagnum.