When I was in Nebraska this past summer, I was excited to see a streptocarpella for sale at Merle’s Garden Center in Seward. In fact, it was not only for sale, it was on sale! I clipped it to stumps so I could put it in my carry-on and fly back to Baltimore with it. I have put it in my bathroom window, where it has slowly been recovering from the harsh pruning and is finally looking bushy again.
Just yesterday, I discovered it has a flower on it! I was so excited to see that. I have grown streptocarpus flowers before. They are kind of fussy and need just the right light. Once they bloom, they are spectacular, but the flowers only last for a month or so, then the plant rests again. A streptocarpella plant, on the other hand, is a nearly constant bloomer. I am looking forward to many more flowers from this plant.
Isn’t strep a bad thing? I hear that it can put you in the hospital or something. You’d better ditch that plant – for your own safety.