Violets 4 You
SINNINGIAS & How to Grow Them
Starting Your New Plant
Using your regular potting mix, or long fiber spagnum moss if you prefer, fill a small pot about 1/2 full of mix. Set your tuber gently into the soil or spagnum moss leaving the top of the tuber uncovered and place it under the lights keeping the mix slightly moist. As the tuber sprouts and begins to grow, remove the lower baby leaves and gradually fill in with soil mix. Do not keep the mix too wet while the tuber is resting or it may rot. Some tubers sprout very quickly, others can take several months before coming out of dormancy.
Growing On
Your sinningias will enjoy much the same conditions as your African Violets. They should be kept evenly moist while actively growing, and close enough under the light fixtures to keep them compact. Some people like to keep the miniatures in a terrarium environment. This is a matter of choice as we find they grow very well on the open shelf with everything else and are a perfect companion for African Violet minis and semis. Generally speaking, the smaller types seem to need a little less light than the larger ones to encourage good blooming. Some like S. Peachy Propeller, S. leucotricha, and S. Darth Vader will get fairly large - perhaps 6-7 inches in diameter and even taller when full grown. The tubers can be the size of a small apple after a few years and so these plants need somewhat larger pots. We've also found that these larger varieties appreciate a little morning sun.
Maintenance
If your plant has started to die back or look shabby after a long period of blooming, don’t despair. Cut back on the watering a little bit and remove the old growth to just above soil level leaving a short stub. This is a good time to repot into fresh soil. If you have multiple sprouts, these can be removed when large enough, and used to start more plants. If the tuber doesn't resprout immediately, let it rest, keeping it just barely moist until it starts actively growing again.
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