On September 12, 2012 I was given
part of a Streptocarpus leaf (click here for description) with instructions for propagation
by using part of a leaf to make a new
plant. I dutifully followed instructions
and nothing seemed to happen week after week for more than three months. Not being a paragon of patience I had to rely
on trust that I was told it might take a long time (it was, after all, winter
when things are not expected to grow rapidly) and the donor leaf looked quite
healthy. I kept it covered with a
plastic bonnet and waited, and waited, and waited. NA
In February I noticed a slight
change. It appeared some growth was turning the slight green into something
looking like tiny leaves. I continued to
leave it under its plastic tent and watered it along with my other plants. In the daytime I took it off the rack when
the lights were turned off and put it on a windowsill to catch the
daylight.
By mid-February the donor leaf was
looking hardy. Then my worst nightmare happened. I had watered the plants on the rack and
realized I couldn’t remember last seeing the Streptocarpus. For one week I struggled, looking everywhere
I might have (knowing I hadn’t) moved the tiny plant. With s glorious ‘aha!’ moment, I looked more
closely at a little plant that turned into a miniature bush and wondered what
it was. If I had the sense to look at
the obscured label I would have had my answer but easy solutions rarely come to
me. The leaves, though small, had a
definite Streptocarpus look…about an elongated inch and a half and with a
slightly hairy matte appearance.
Enraptured with my find, I grabbed a
small Oyama, planted and marked the date, labeling the pot.
Moral: an old dog CAN learn new tricks!
