Growing erect or prostrate, with multi-colored tubular flowers, and leaves ranging in color from light green to bronze, Achimenes are popular plants for hanging baskets and window boxes.
The early spring month through summer is the time for propagating leaves. Cut a few leaves from the center of plant for best results. Trim the leaves stalk about 1 1/2 inches in length and insert in glass of water or vermiculite.
Water the containers lightly and set them in the basement or under a greenhouse bench away from frost and where they will not get too wet, dry or hot. A temperature of 50F. (10C.) during storage is satisfactory. Don’t let them dry out.
As soon as the sprouts show above the soil in the spring (in about three weeks), move them to a lighted window and top-dress with well-rotted manure. They need considerable light, but resent full sunlight except in the early morning and evening. Repot in March or April and put in a greenhouse with a 60F. (15.56 C. ) temperature.
Add water meagerly. Remove suckers as they appear. Feed once a week with liquid organic fertilizer
If the water in your area is chlorinated, draw some off for watering and allow it to stand for 24 hours before using it on your plants. Try to use rain or spring water when available.To feed the plant, choose a clear bright day, water the plant, wait several hours to prevent burning of root hairs, and apply a liquid organic plant food according to the directions of the container. It is well to make a V-shaped hole against the side of the pot and apply fertilizer slowly at this point. Fertilizer should always be applied to the surface of the soil, and the watering following fertilizing should be surface watering; then return to usual method. A three-inch pot will accommodate a plant for a long period of time. It is time to repot when there is a network of root hairs and a 9 to 12-inch spread to the plant.
For repotting, the soil should be a loose, friable one consisting of one-third good garden soil, one-third sand and one-third peat or leaf mold. To this mixture add one teaspoonful of bone meal for each quart of mix. The soil should be slightly acid, about pH 6.5. For the beginner and the inexperienced gardener, it is advisable to use one of the well- prepared organic soil mixes on the market. These mixes are complete and especially prepared for African violets. When potting, remember that the roots are delicate and the fine root hairs absorb the nourishment, so care must be taken to pot loosely, gently firming the soil about the roots. The potting mixture should be moist, not wet. Place a piece of broken flowerpot over the drainage hole of a large pot, then a 1/4 inch layer of chicken grit (or crushed oyster shells or flowerpot chips), followed by a wad :if sphagnum moss and the potting soil. Place enough potting soil in the pot so that when the root ball is set on it, the crown of the plant: 1/4 to 1/2 inch below the rim of the pot. If pots are to be watered from below, omit the drainage material and just cover drainage hole with broken pot chips.
The newly potted plants are ready for bath to cleanse the leaves of dust. Place them in the bathtub and sprinkle with tepid water from a watering can equips with a fine nozzle, until leaves are clean soil settled in the pot. Leave the pots in tub and keep them shaded and out of drainage until the leaves are dry. If leaves become weak and the room temperature is too cool, leaves will spot. Stem or petiole rot can occur where leaves touch the rims of clay pots. To prevent this condition, plant the plants only in plastic pots so that the leaves cannot touch the clay pot rims in paraffin.
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