February 21, 2013

How To Hybridize Sinningia


by Kenneth Moore


I've been growing gesneriads for a few years now, and I feel like the next step in growing plants is having those plants make babies. I've collected selfed seed from Primulina tamiana and Sinningia pusilla, but I had never intentionally pollinated my plants to make interesting crosses. Recently, my Sinningia reitzii and S. defoliata were both in bloom--I thought why not try to cross them?


Sinningia defoliata in bloom. Photo by Ken Moore

They didn't take.

After that recent disappointment, a thread on the Gesneriphiles mailing list gave me a few pointers, provided by hybridizer Dale Martens.

In response to a Gesneriphiles group member's request for information on how/whether to sequester Sinningia flower for pollination for a specific cross, Dale gave a run-down of the hybridizing process that was helpful to me and probably others looking to make their own crosses. You may notice similar advice to what she does when hybridizing Streptocarpus. [Text below is reprinted with permission. I added a link and an editorial note in brackets.]

First go to the internet and take a look at parts of a flower so you can learn the terms: pistil, stigma, style, ovary, stamen, anthers, pollen.

No need to isolate a flower that you want to use as a seed parent. The tricky part is to remove that flower's pollen-producing anthers so it does not pollinate itself. For a Sinningia, the female part is the pistil (ovary, style, stigma) and it is not usually at its full length or readiness when the flower first opens.

You need to study stigmas of Sinningia flowers that just opened and compare them to flowers that have been open for at least three to five days. Miniature Sinningia have very obvious differences between a stigma of a just-opened flower and one that's from a flower that has been open for five days. When the flower just opens, the stigma is small. When it's receptive, the surface appears almost fuzzy and an obvious opening in the center is seen.

The anthers should be removed right away as soon as the flower opens, or even while it is in a bud stage if you want to be very careful. I do this by splitting/cutting the flower or bud open, then first hold onto the calyx end of the flower followed by using a finger and thumb to grasp the anthers and pull. Grasping the anthers helps to prevent them from scattering pollen in the air. Another way would be to split the flower open and then cut off the filaments that hold the anthers. Jiggling anthers often causes pollen to spray.

Then one needs to wait at least three to five days for that stigma (the tip of the pistil) to be receptive. [This is where I failed!]

Rub pollen from another plant directly onto the stigma either by using a tweezer to hold the filaments behind the anther so a direct rubbing of pollen can be done... or use a fingernail or small artist's brush to remove pollen and transfer it onto the stigma. Take a look at the photo I attached. The pollen is on the left and is about to pollinate the stigma. Push/rub the pollen firmly onto the stigma. Pack it on.


Photo provided by Dale Martens

You'll see a pod develop within a week. Within 30 days (usually!) the miniature Sinningia pod will ripen by turning brown and splitting. Check each morning around day 27. Fold a piece of 2 inch by 2 inch paper in half and hold that under the pod while you cut off the pod with a small pair of scissors. That way you'll catch the seeds.

You will need to identify who the pollen parents are. There are many methods. Mine is to put a dab of colored acrylic paint on the calyx of the mother and use that same color on a plastic plant label. I write the name of the pollen parent next to the dab of color and I write the date. If you go to a place like WalMart you can find in the craft aisle a plastic "string" of different acrylic paint colors for around $3.

The hardest part of hybridizing is throwing away those that are not different enough from named Sinningia. Also be heartless when it comes to negative attributes like weak flower stems, brittle leaves, poor blossom count, and susceptibility to powdery mildew. I probably throw away 99.5% of my seedlings.

I certainly welcome more responses from others who hybridize.

My S. defoliata and S. reitzii aren't mini Sinningia, like Dale was talking about, but the techniques are still applicable--and my plants are still flowering. So next time, I'll get the timing right and hopefully successfully cross these plants and others I have blooming!

February 5, 2013

Some musings about maximizing space, budget, and time

by Andrew Norris

If having 5 light stands and attached shelving unit, filled with plants, in a one bedroom apartment sounds like your idea of insanity, then send in the white coats! If it doesn’t, consider that the ambient humidity is 70% and that I work a 50 hour work week, in addition to my hobby (err... addiction). If this still seems normal to you, consider yourself in good company, but also know that the white coats might be knocking on your door soon as well!

I am always seeking ways to include more plants, without adding more stands and lights. I also am always trying to streamline things to make watering and grooming easier, as well as more occasional chores, like repotting, separating young plants, and washing the leaves. It isn’t easy when your space, time, and finances are miniscule, but your desire for plants -- and large growers at that -- is gargantuan. Here are some accommodations I have made.

Photo of the old set up.

First, with watering, I will tell you what I had been doing and why, then explain what I do now.

I have always grown my plants on individual reservoirs. I have used pint containers and 8 oz deli containers, with a hole in the lid. I liked this method a lot, because it forced me to look at each plant at least weekly, kept the spread of insects down, and also afforded me the needed space between the shelves for lower light plants and taller ones as well.

The problem arose when I went from 2 stands to three, then to three stands and a shelf on the wall, and finally 5 shelves and a wall stand. It took 3-4 hours to fill all of those containers!

Being far too financially limited to purchase over 100 Permanest trays at about a $700 price tag, I opted to use the black, liner trays that come with 6 packs. The material is thinner and not as durable and is a challenge to move with water in them, but they are far less expensive, darker in color (shows less algae and residues), and work for what I need them for. I did not want to raise the plants on egg crate because I hate fighting to get the wicks back through the grate, with a shelf full of plants, and it cuts too much space from between the stands. My solution? I used the 8 oz deli containers I already had a ton of, bought a cheap soldering iron, and went to work, melting holes in the bottom of each one and placing the plant back on these, but sitting in the black, liner trays. Now, I fill the tray, which fills the deli containers, and everything is watered much quicker -- with far less hassle and expense -- than the egg crate and Permanest tray method. I bleach the deli containers and trays occasionally in the bath tub, or even the washing machine in the case of the deli containers, and I have a neat, clean looking set-up. I also didn’t lose the precious distance between the shelves.


My next dilemma was what to do with my hanging basket plants since the bar hanging across the window, with a light over it, was far too full and very hard on the eyes. The solution was delightfully simple. I already had one of those wire shelving units converted into a light stand. I moved that in front of the window, hung either a 4-tube fixture or two 2-tube fixtures from a shelf, and then moved an empty shelf directly under the lights. It was a breeze to hang all the plants from the wire shelving, without tons of chains, hooks, and related hassle and paraphernalia. The improvement was instant! It is also much easier to water, turn, and accommodate the varying light needs on the plants.


Another issue was lighting the tops of stands without drilling holes into the ceiling to hang lights from. I was rather delighted with myself when I managed to take some ½’’ PVC pipe, and with a few measurements and cuts, I used the available elbow and “T” joints to make a simple stand that could be zip-tied to the top of the top-most shelves. It worked great and was inexpensive.

Related to this was limited floor space to put up more stands. I saw a need for shelving affixed to the wall, not only for my plants, but as a sell to the landlord for allowing the attachment of the shelves to the walls: I would leave the shelves in place and they could function as storage space for future tenants.

The landlord was ok with the idea and I chose finished wood shelving, available at LOWES. Using simple brackets, a stud finder, drill, and some screws, it was not a difficult task to set the shelves in place, though I had someone do it for me because I am convinced I am woefully inadequate with such things, even though I really am not. Using four 4 foot by 1 foot shelves side by side, and one in front of the other, I had tons of additional space for at least 30 plants and the results are decorative; once I leave, being finished wood, any collectibles can be displayed there or items stored.

Then there was the issue with storage. My bottom drawer of my clothes dresser was a stash of plant pots, fertilizer, plastic bags, support rings, pesticides, and assorted supplies. I needed the space for clothes and it wasn’t at all very accommodating. While there is no substitution for organization and simple reduction, I had done all I could at the time and cut back my collection of plastic containers, and other things to as few as possible. I finally decided to simply set up an additional stand and commit to leaving the tops of at least 2 of them open for pots and repotting supplies. The things are easily seen and accessible, and I have my drawer back, for its intended purpose.


Next Meeting Rescheduled to Feb 16, 2013

Our next meeting has been pushed back by one week due to the Arboretum's move back into the Administration Building.
 
The February 16, 2013, meeting of The National Capital Area Chapter of The Gesneriad Society will feature a presentation by Andrew Norris on diagnosing pest problems and cultural problems. Attendees are encouraged to bring in examples of plants showing symptoms such as tight crowns, stippling, leaf curl, and pest damage. Plant material must be SEALED IN PLASTIC BAGS. (If you ever wanted to encourage some mealybugs, this is your opportunity!)

As usual, our meeting is open to the public.

Location: the U.S. National Arboretum Administration Building in Washington, D.C.
Date and Time: 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 16, 2013.

mealybug 
probable mite damage

February 2, 2013

spot the gesneriads

Can you find the gesneriads in this photo?