I finally got some of my iochroma seeds to germinate! I was so excited because I'd just about given up hope of ever growing these from seed. They've been up for about a week and I see some true leaves starting to peek out. If I can get a pair or two of true leaves I'll transplant them into individual pots. I have no idea how long it takes them to reach blooming size.
Karyn
Congratulations, Karyn....that's so cool! Do you have them in a heated greenhouse, indoors under fluorescent lights, or ??? I hope you have continued success and see flowers by at least next summer. I'm sure we'll all be anxious for progress reports.
Patrick
Brug Moderator
USDA Zone 8b
Heat Zone 3
Sunset Zone 5
SeaTac, WA...one cool place
I have them in a tray on a seed mat. I'll probably keep them on the seed mat after I transplant them, at least for a while. These are the most tempermental plants. I've had iochromas that had been rooted and growing for months suddenly up and die for no apparent reason so I really hope these make it. If I get them to the point that I can transplant them I'll get pics. Right now they aren't terribly interesting looking. lol
I've certainly not been very successful with these little guys. I got three to root from cuttings, gave one to Patrick and the other two grew so well for a time. Then, as Karyn said, they just up and died for no apparent reason. Congratulations, Karyn, I hope these grow and bloom for you -- they are beautiful plants.
I'm guessing that they are self fertile because the first seed pod I got was from a plant that had bloomed long before any of my others and I'm pretty sure that there's nobody else living near me growing iochromas.
Karyn
Here's the babies. A few are on their side because they were just watered but they'll bouce back up shortly. They are still tiny but are starting to develop true leaves. There are two seed types in that tray. The bigger ones are gold kiwis.
After buying an Iochroma several months ago that came in so healthy, I found out they do NOT survive in FL!
Well, after it lost all leaves and the stems were dying, I was ready to toss it--but I am stubborn and was determined to make this survive despite all odds!
After MUCH TLC and repotting in a mixture of bone meal, kelp meal, and bood meal with organic potting soil it started getting new growth
Today is the result!!!!!
i have two iochromas left out of 5 total i found out to late that they donot take fl direct sun i put them in shade and was to late with the other three. the two left are both starting to bloom right now morning sun than nothing. they will grow here in fl.just not in full sun. i still have not been able to get one to graft to either brugs or dats. but canot experiment to much until they get bigger.
in gardening there are no failures only learning experiances unless of course you give up mikey in fl
Karyn, they're cute! I love seedlings, pretty much all seedlings.
The Iochromas will actually do well here, as Mike said, just not in full sun. We're giving ours a little more sun now that it's winter, but still no more than half a day. During the hottest part of summer it was getting almost none. They also can't handle flooding too well, we almost lost a couple of the cuttings that were in 1 gallon pots sitting on the ground in about an inch of water for too long.
It's in a 15 gallon pot and I actually need to trim it back again, the stems get long and then start leaning over. In the first picture they're kind of hanging out of the frame, although it's a little hard to tell, bad background.
Lynne
USDA Zone 9b
Heat Zone 10
Bradenton, Florida
Those are beautiful Lynne. I can keep the iochromas in full sun here and they don't take nearly as much water as the brugs. Even the days that I have to water the container brugs twice a day the iochromas only get water every few days. My blues grow much faster than my reds. They all started out the same size, about 6". My blues and purples are at least double the size of my reds. I have no idea which plant the seeds came from.
I have had two of these plants that I purchased over a year ago, and although they are healthy, and growing I still have no blooms, the plants were a good size when I purchased them, how long does it take to get blooms.
Mine have bloomed pretty early after getting them started. I potted mine into three gallon pots. They go winter dormant in the garage...totally dormant...and burst out in the spring again. I think with lots of sun and regular fertilizer, you should have plenty of blooms.
Mine were all about 6" when I got them. They started blooming about a month later but had very few flowers. Once they reached about 2' they'd get huge flushes of blooms. Mine never go dormant and bloom throughout the winter (inside).
mine where blooming in the package when i got them they bloomed for a while than took a break the 2 that did not die from all the rain are blooming again. i am taking my time in transplanting the last two gonna transplant in just the next size up instead of 1 to 3 gal i will put them into 2 gal i am going to wait till they stop blooming than trim them try to get some of the cuttings going than transplant them.like i said earlier so far no graft successes of iochroma onto brugs or dats and donot have huge plants to use for experiments yet so trying to keep the last two i have alive.
in gardening there are no failures only learning experiances unless of course you give up mikey in fl
Can't wait to see pictures, please keep us updated on them. 
