Miniature Beauties

25/06/2024

My mini sinningia seedlings in bloom! I also have their seeds for sale (please check in the pinned catalog if you are interested)

15/03/2024

Mini Sinningia: growing from seeds

It is pretty easy process though requires some patience.
First I describe the conventional way of doing this and then I'll talk about my own modifications.

1. Growing container. It should be wide and shallow. Anything from condiment cup to restaurant take-out tray will work. If it is transparent you can see the moisture level of your soil, otherwise it might be tricky to know when/how much to moisten it.
2. Potting medium. There are many variations: peat moss/coconut coir pure or combined with Perlite 1:1. It is recommended to sift it to have very fine texture. I don't do it anymore and it works just as fine. Neither I disinfect it by any mean. Make it moist but not soggy.
3. How to saw those tiny dust-like seeds. Hold the package with seeds in one hand half open with seeds in the fold. Gently tap on this hand by your other hand while moving it over your soil to distribute the seeds in a controlled way. Cover your tray with transparent cover (plastic lid, saran wrap, or place it inside another transparent container)
4. Put your tray in warm well-lit place and practice your patience :).
5. In about 2-3 weeks you can start checking your seeds for sprouting. It might take from 2 to 8 weeks to germinate. My longest wait time was 2.5 month. (shortest - 5 days)
6. You may need to mist the soil from time to time using spray bottle. If you are like me in the beginning checking those babies every day several times a day then you'll need to moisten them more often :).
7. Thinning. When your seedlings grow 4-6 leaves you need to thin them to spread more evenly in the tray. You can use a toothpick to lift them up and put onto new place so they don't touch each other. In about another 2 weeks plant your tinies a bit deeper so bottom leaves almost touch the soil. Then every 2-3 weeks you can gently dig around your seedlings to "tickle the roots" (this is optional though helpful). Interestingly, this gentle root disturbance stimulates the growth.
8. When they are about 6-8 weeks old you can plant them into their individual pots.

Now about my major modifications. When preparing my tray, I make holes in the bottom in four corners and thread a piece of acrylic yarn through each two. So the middle part runs along the long side of the tray laying on your soil and the ends are hanging down from the holes. Then you saw in a usual way and place the tray in a larger transparent container. When it's time to moisten it you just add a bit of water on the bottom of your large container to make your soil moist but not soggy. Pour out the excess of water and cover the lid. This way you are certain to not over-water them as water just runs out of the bottom holes and you do not disturb your new seedlings.
When your seedlings start to grow I put this tray onto my rack in watering tray or another transparent container of the same size as yours so there is a space between two bottoms for water where your ends of the yarn will hang and serve a a wicks. Then all you need is to make sure that there is always some water in your bottom tray.
!!! For this method you need to increase your Perlite to soil ratio to about 70/30 !!!
Happy growing!

04/03/2024

04/03/2024

Hunter's Butterfly Kisses (K.Muzalewski). Very cute miniature variety. Single white with dark purple eye flowers. Variegated green and white foliage

04/08/2023

I'm always happy to share some excess of my babies :). Here is a permanent link where you can see what's available.

African Violets plants/plugs *Leaves are $4, leaf pots $5-6 depending on size and variety, plugs are $5-8, plants are $10-15 also depending on size and variety. Chimeras $10-15 for a plug. If your shipping address is in Canada these rates are in CAD, for US and other countries this amount is i...

04/08/2023

Harmony's Spring Fever variations: both came from the same leaf. This time the bloom shows even more beauty. There is variable white tinge on the edges of the petals and their back side.

09/02/2023

Harmony's Spring Fever, miniature trailer. Double blue flowers over variegated foliage.

29/05/2022

Alan's Fallen Angel. Variegated Mini Trailer

10/04/2022

Another jolly beauty: Jolly Eyes. Semi miniature

10/04/2022

Jolly Orchid. Miniature

10/04/2022

Another tiny tender girl - Maid in Japan. Semi miniature.

09/04/2022

N-Kaprizulja (Capricious girl. To me though she is rather a Bashful Blushing girl ☺). Variegated Semi miniature

09/04/2022

LE-Kudryaviy Khmel sport. (Curly Hops). Semiminiature trailer

09/04/2022

We know that Rob's Smarty Pants can vary a lot in color and shape. But this much???

08/04/2022

Smitten Kitten. Tiny cutie (nick name ☺). Variegated Miniature

08/04/2022

N-Kikimora. Interesting combination of frilled flowers with variegated leaves. Variegated Miniature

08/04/2022

Vallarta Campanas Moradas. Purple Belles from Vallarta (as far as my Spanish goes :)). Miniature trailer

08/04/2022

Boo Man. Such a contrast between dark green foliage and pale-blue blossom! Semi miniature

08/04/2022

Mac's Glacial Grape opened her first flower (semi miniature)

06/04/2022

Optimara Little Crystal

06/04/2022

Another rose in her delicate whiteness: LE-Villa Rosa

06/04/2022

Magnificent Porcelain Rose (LE-Farforovaya Rosa)

06/04/2022

... and its baby still tiny but so eager to show her beauty :)

06/04/2022

Rob's Loose Noodles