Care of Streptocarpus Plants

Q.  I’ve been trying to grow Streptocarpus, aka Cape Primrose.  They keep dying on me but I’m told they are easy.  What am I doing wrong?

A.  Streps are surprising easy to grow and so generous with their flowers. You are probably babying them too much. It is important that they are in a good quality, fast draining potting soil.  I use Fertilome Ultimate potting mix and add in some extra perlite. About half potting mix and half perlite.  Streps have a tiny root system so keep them in a small pot.  My largest plants are never planted in anything larger than a 4” pot.  They will grow and flower under surprising low light and do great under LED light strips in my cool basement where they flower continually.  Finally, let them get dry. Even wilty dry between waterings. They will bounce right back. Keeping them constantly moist is a death sentence.  If you’re not sure you should water, then wait a day.

Read our Q & As with Keith Funk answering common Colorado gardening questions here. You can also hear him on the Garden Wise Radio Show on Legends 810AM.