Growing Gesneriads Outdoors in Minnesota

Here are a few Gesneriads that summer outdoors in Minnesota. They seem to do very well and require almost no care.

In fact compared to the indoor ones, they need much less fussing and tending to than the ones growing in the rather warm plant room.

This is one of my all time favorite gesneriads and if you have a little room to grow one out, you can't find an easier or better one that gives a ton of color.

This is Aeschynanthus splendidus.

The orange is fabulous! It will bloom in the window in the winter too.

 I don't remember which "lipstick" this one is but it blooms at the tips like the A. splendidus and it's bright red. A nice contrast with the green leaves.

 If you think we're being Aeschynanthus snobs, then how about a Nematanthus 'Tropicana'? If you're careful about how much direct sun it gets, it will tolerate quite a lot but not burn the leaves.

The "hanging Gesneriads" don't seem to like hot sunlight in any case though.

The gesneriads hang with the other more "ornamental outdoor hanging baskets" like Impatiens, so they mix and match with ease. They get much fuller than they would indoors too. So, if you have a few that are a bit lacking after winter, remember to put them out to rejuvenate themselves in the summer.


Questions?? Comments???