In Search

Begonia ‘Freda’

March 27, 2020 by ofsmallthings

This Begonia was hybridized by Freda Holly, a longtime Begonia keeper and an excellent hybridizer. She has written many articles for the American Begonia Society as well as a book titled ‘Begonia Hybridizing by the Begonia hybridizers.’ This is far and away my favorite hybrid of all time, of any genus of plant. It doesn’t look like a hybrid to me, which is why it appeals. It is also very easy to grow and does well in open air or […]

Categories: Blog, collection, Plant Photo Library • Tags: begonia, freda, freda holly, holly, hybrid

A Visit to Another World Terraria

March 21, 2020 by ofsmallthings

Matthew at Another World Terraria was kind enough to show me his collection when I was in Seattle this winter. He specializes in plants that stay under six inches tall, and, amazingly, has filled up an entire house with these tiny plants. I took some photos but, Matthews are better, so I will mostly be using photos he took 🙂 He features many of these images on his popular youtube channel. I’ll let these images speak for themselves, A vase […]

Categories: Blog, Cultivation, Terrarium • Tags: another world terraria, Bucephalandra, lamp, matthew, mossarium, visit

Begonia promethea (syn. beccarii)

March 20, 2020 by ofsmallthings

Begonia promethea (syn. beccarii) was originally discovered in 1906 by Henry Ridley, who said that it was “perhaps the most worthy of cultivation among the Bornean species.” More than 100 years since it’s discovery, it was rediscovered by Michael Lo (who posts about his forays on facebook and instagram). Promethea and beccarii are now synonymous, and, per the etiquette of scientific nomenclature, the original name is the one that sticks. B. promethea is in the section Petermania and is only […]

Categories: Blog, Plant Photo Library • Tags: beccarii, begonia, Borneo, promethea, variegated

Nautilocalyx erytranthus

March 19, 2020 by ofsmallthings

This species was newly described in 2014 and occurs throughout Western Amazonia in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It grows in small patches (10-15 plants) in shady areas of mature forest. The epithet erytranthus refers to the red flowers. Due to drilling in Yasuni park where this plant occurs its conservation status has been suggested by its founder to be redesignated to NT.

Categories: Blog, collection • Tags: erythranus, fuzzy, medium, Nautilocalyx

Stelis gelida

March 18, 2020 by ofsmallthings

Stelis gelida is also known as the ‘Frosted Pleurothallis,’ and is widely distributed throughout the Southeastern hemisphere. It also occurs in Cuba and Florida but is considered endangered in Florida, only occurring in the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve. According to the North American Orchid Center this species can be found in large colonies of oak, pop ash, pond apple, and maple in cypress sloughs. The flower smells wonderful and is even strongly odorous through an enclosed glass tank. The blooms […]

Categories: Blog, collection • Tags: bloom, flower, gelida, orchid, spike, stellis

Peperomia albo-vittata

March 17, 2020 by ofsmallthings

This delicate looking Peperomia is surprisingly adaptable and will happily grow in a terrarium or as a houseplant in a bright window. It has a compact growth habit and usually stays around 5″, but can grow to about 7″ in time. Each leaf is beautifully marked with maroon-purple veins that diffuse out in dendritic fashion. The stems are a nice ruby red. It is native to Ecuador.

Categories: Blog, Plant Photo Library • Tags: albo, albo-vittata, Ecuador, Peperomia, rosette, small, South America, vittata

Episcia ‘Silver Dust’

March 16, 2020 by ofsmallthings

This compact Episcia has orange blooms and silver and purple foliage.

Categories: Blog • Tags: episcia, hybrid, silver, silver dust

Begonia ‘Al Clark’

March 14, 2020 by ofsmallthings

This hybrid is a cross between B. alice-clarkiae X B. imperialis var. brunnea. It was created in 1975 by Rudy Ziesenhenne and named after a former member of the ABS Santa Barbara branch. It has a reputation for being more challenging, but so long as its given high humidity it seems to be an easy keeper. If given too much light it is prone to looking rather washed out.

Categories: Blog, Plant Photo Library • Tags: al clark, begonia, houseplant, hybrid, medium

Begonia ‘Mumtaz’

March 13, 2020 by ofsmallthings

This exceptional hybrid is a cross between rajah and goegoensis. It has kept the leaf shape and size of goegoensis but taken some color and leaf structure from rajah. Depending on conditions, the leaves can range from a pinkish-red to deep purple. It is vigorous but prefers terrarium conditions. It can be grown as a houseplant if humidity is higher (about 60%).

Categories: Blog, Plant Photo Library • Tags: begonia, goegoensis, houseplant, hybrid, medium, mumtaz, open air, rajah

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