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May 20, 2016 7:43 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Arturo Tarak
Bariloche,Rio Negro, Argentina (Zone 8a)
Dahlias Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Roses
Hi I just received a potted plant this past Sunday. The former owner didn't know the name of it. It is, in our cold temperate climate , year round indoor/ greenhouse plant,
Thumb of 2016-05-20/hampartsum/7f538a Thumb of 2016-05-20/hampartsum/2e895c

.Leaves are opposite. The upper side of the leaf is quite shiny due to very fine hairs and velvety in touch . The underside has a purple sheen, identical in color to that of a Ctenanthe openheimiana.
Searching through different dbases in Internet the genus Episcia seemed closest. I've not seen any flowers of it. Nor seeds or remains of flower structures. By the looks it would me more of a strictly foliage plant. I was asked to take care of it, and if possible divide it . I wonder if fall (now) is the right time for this plant. I also wonder if this plant should be pruned at all.
Any suggestion?. Thanks to all.
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May 20, 2016 8:43 AM CST
Name: Leslieray Hurlburt
Sacramento California (Zone 9b)
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There is some resemblance to Gloxinella lindeniana but I see some details that don't quite match up.
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Avatar for hampartsum
May 20, 2016 10:00 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Arturo Tarak
Bariloche,Rio Negro, Argentina (Zone 8a)
Dahlias Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Roses
Thanks Leslieray. I tried to match it with the database pics here but the twigs are spindly ( maybe because of lack of light in the original placing) , but also because of the natural growth habit. who knows? I still wonder if it another gesneriad of some sort. The plant is OK but intuitively I think it needs specific care which I don't really which. we'll keep trying...
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May 20, 2016 11:00 AM CST
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- 🌹 (Zone 8b)
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Compare to Ruellia makoyana:
http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/...
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Last edited by purpleinopp May 20, 2016 11:54 AM Icon for preview
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May 20, 2016 11:13 AM CST
Name: Janet Super Sleuth
Near Lincoln UK
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Also Ruellia portellae .. the leaf backs are purple.

http://www.thetortoisetable.or...

http://zimmerpflanzen.ws/ruell...

With a bad translation:

https://translate.google.co.uk...
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May 20, 2016 1:35 PM CST
Name: Lin Vosbury
Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)

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Flowers will tell for sure. My first thought wa something in the Gesneriaceae family like Gloxinella lindeniana
Another photo here: http://www.gesneriads.ca/gloxi...

But it sure looks a lot like the photos of Ruellia that Janet linked to!
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Avatar for hampartsum
May 20, 2016 1:53 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Arturo Tarak
Bariloche,Rio Negro, Argentina (Zone 8a)
Dahlias Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Roses
Hi and Thank You! Thank You! to you all, by the looks it would seem to Ruellia portellae. I suppose it would be settled when it flowers. Also the german article shows it being multiplied by cuttings. Thanks specially Janet for that link! Thank You!
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May 20, 2016 2:18 PM CST
Name: Janet Super Sleuth
Near Lincoln UK
Bee Lover Plant Identifier Organic Gardener Dragonflies I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member
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The German link I thought would be very useful for you Arturo.

The photo shows cuttings with and without a node rooting very well. Semi-ripe green cuttings taken with half an inch below a node is the best way to take cuttings of Fuchsia so I imagine this plant might respond well to that method, they tend to root at a node.

The rooted cuttings still have their apical growth, if it's soft and tender when taking a cutting it's a good idea to nip the new growth off which will help the cuttings to bush out and make side shoots. Maybe you could try doing one with nipping out the top growth, and leave it on another.

I hope you will update us on your rooting attempts!
Avatar for hampartsum
May 20, 2016 2:44 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Arturo Tarak
Bariloche,Rio Negro, Argentina (Zone 8a)
Dahlias Irises Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Roses
Thanks Janet, would you take cuttings grown indoors any time? Except natural lighting which is short now, I don't have extended lighting fixtures so perhaps it might be wiser to wait until beginning of spring.
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May 20, 2016 3:08 PM CST
Name: Janet Super Sleuth
Near Lincoln UK
Bee Lover Plant Identifier Organic Gardener Dragonflies I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Charter ATP Member
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The German link says it works to take cuttings in winter, keeping temperature at 16 to18C.

As you mention your climate is cold temperate, I imagine it might be similar to the UK. I found taking cuttings was best just before the main growing season, here that is mid to late May, or just before the onset of autumn, in early September. In the southern hemisphere it would obviously be the reverse.

Your plant isn't making flowers but it may decide to burst into bud, plants tend to not root so well when the plant is altering it's hormonal makeup in order to produce flowers. The main growing season here is June to August, a mere three months. We have had temperatures in July as low as 12C maximum with often only 14-16C and with little sun to go with it. The climate here is dominated by the Jet Stream so it depends on whether it has been pushed northwards meaning we get warm weather from the south, or if it gets pushed southwards meaning we get cold weather from the Arctic. It's unpredictable!

Yes, I would wait until spring or closer to summer to give it a fighting chance. I have used an electric bottom heated propagator which works wonders in a cold climate, it keeps the temperature at around 20C. Even if you used a propagator I would still wait until the correct growing season, this is a native of warm Brazil.
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