Growing Micro-mini Sinningia

With the micro-mini Sinningia, a full grown
plant can be less than two inch across. Sinningia pusilla
is one of the world's smallest flowering houseplants. The foliage is medium green
with darker veins. The flowers are lavender with a white throat. There
is a small group of Sinningia
that fit in this group. There are dozens of species and hybrids in this
genus. These plants produce small tubers like the Florist
Gloxinia or Sinningia speciosa. If
your plant dies back do not throw it away. These plant go through
resting phases. Store the tuber in a cool dry place and wait for it to
sprout again. It usually sprouts within a month or so.

Lighting. When using a covered
terrarium can be grown in a north window that never receives direct sunlight
or under flourescent tubes. Under lights they need a duration of 10-14
hours a days. This is best achieved with a timer.

Soil. Any soil mix that you use
for violet should work. I use my water wicking mix. This is one part
peat moss, one part perlite and one part vermiculite. You can add a
pinch of characoal to absorb impurities. I put a one inch
layer of perlite below to allow the excess water a place to collect.

Humidity. Unless
you are living in a tropical rainforrest without air conditioning, you
will need terrariums. This plant will dry out easily so needed the
added humidity of a container. I have used clear plastic food
containers. The glass bowls, egg-shaped glass, and small aquariums will
all work.

Watering. I use water with
water soluble fertilizer. I believe that any liquid or water soluble
fertilizer will work. I use the same thing as my violet. This is Jack's
Classic African Violet Food 12-36-14. It easier to use the same thing
for my gesneriads.

Propagation. There are two
ways. One is growing from seed. The species will grow true from
seeds. The seeds are sprinkled on the surface of the moist soil in a
terrarium. You can mist the seeds to help with germination. The small
seedlings can be replanted for more space when
larger. It will take several months before they will bloom. If you want
to produce seeds. A small clean brush can be used to pollinate flowers
on one plant or between flowers on different plants. Remember if you
use any pollen from other species or hybrids. You will create new
hybrids. The other
way is to remove a stem and root it. It will eventually grow a
tuber.

Species and Varieties. This is only a partial list. There are hundreds of species and varieties of Sinningia


Sinningia concinna The
flowers are lavender with spotted throated. This plant is rare in
cultivation. It has been used to create a large number of hybrids.


Sinningia pusilla The flowers are lavender with a white throat. The foliage is the same for these plants medium green with darker veins.

Sinningia rio des padras This
is similar to S. pusilla but has more white on the petals. The name is the location that it was found. It is a
newer species. It is easy to flower. I have some that I bought a few
months ago. It is so tiny that it is hard to get a good picture. The leaves have darker redish on the veins.


Snowflake The flower is white with three lobes on each petal. This propagated by cutting. This is harder to find.

Bright Eyes The flower is larger. This hybrid is sterile but if it produces seeds they will not be true.

Ruffled Wood Nymph. This is just like Wood Nymph but has three lobes on the each petal like Snowflake.

White Sprite The is a white flower form of S. pusilla. This should gee true from seed. It is possible to get some normal colored flowers in the group.

Wood Nymph is a hybrid between Sinningia pusilla and Sinningia concinna. The flower is half way between the two species. This plant is wanted by many collecters.