Hi all, I just got a nice pot of Sinningia tubiflora starts at a plant sale. I've grown it before a few years ago, but it never bloomed for me, and slowly faded away.

Just wondering if anyone has some guidelines for me to keep this plant going and possibly have it bloom? I know it's supposed to go dormant in winter, and I can give it a very cool, dry-ish location where it won't want to keep on growing in Florida's mild weather.

Other than that, soil? fertilizer? how much light? watering? All advice appreciated!

Oooh, Hardy White Gloxinia (Sinningia tubiflora) is a nice one, I love those long white tubular flowers and they are said to attract Hummingbirds! I've grown a few Sinningia's over the years but never S. tubiflora. It does need bright light, direct sun is apparently ok for this one (but I'm not sure about our intense Fla. sun) and a well draining potting soil is definitely a must. This one is drought tolerant too, so I'd go light on the water; they go dormant during the winter.

I just googled and found this interesting information: http://www.smgrowers.com/produ...

Ah ha, that probably explains why mine never bloomed and disappeared on me - not enough light, and too much water for sure!

Thanks SO much Lin. I'm sure now I'll do better with this one. Just have to find a good spot for it in summer where it will get enough light but not too much rain. Hmm, under the eaves on the east side of the house sounds like the spot.

Looks like a pretty plant and your starts look healthy!
Good luck and do update with pictures please!!

Sure thing, Greg although it will most likely not bloom until next spring. Warm though it is, we DO get a few tastes of winter even down here so the Sinningia will get to have a little sleep in January-February.

I put mine outside in the bald open sun and it loved it. But Florida sun intensity may be different from Delaware sun so be careful.

Well now I have a new forum to watch and I just got an Sinningia tubiflora and it is in a nice small pot. I will be watching this
forum now for hints about this plant which I am trying to grow in (currently) very hot and humid Houston, TX

Help, please anyone!

plantladylin said:Oooh, Hardy White Gloxinia (Sinningia tubiflora) is a nice one, I love those long white tubular flowers and they are said to attract Hummingbirds! I've grown a few Sinningia's over the years but never S. tubiflora. It does need bright light, direct sun is apparently ok for this one (but I'm not sure about our intense Fla. sun) and a well draining potting soil is definitely a must. This one is drought tolerant too, so I'd go light on the water; they go dormant during the winter.

I just googled and found this interesting information: http://www.smgrowers.com/produ...

Will, this is the best advice I received for my sinningia, given your climate is farily similar to mine. Please note this thread is from 4 years ago so there probably aren't too many people looking at it.

I look at it because I previously commented. I have my Sinningia hybrid which as tubiflora in it, and every year the tuber gets larger with increased numbers of flowers. It thrives in open sun in well-draining soil in my Zone 7a garden. I provide aerated worm castings tea alternating with a dose of organic tomato fertilizer.