Gloxinia care
I would like to know how to grow a gloxinia flower
Gloxinia (Sinningia speciosa) has oblong fuzzy leaves, large velvety bell- shaped flowers with ruffled edges. This tender tuberous perennial is a member of the Gesneriaceae family, a relative of the African Violet.

In Dec-March plant the rounded bottom of the tubers 1 inch deep in a light, well drained, potting soil that consists of peat moss, perlite, vermicultie and/or coarse sand. Water lightly until the leaves start to show then increase watering. Like african violets, gloxinia need to be watered around the base of the plant or from the bottom. With bottom watering, let the plant soak in a saucer for up to an hour and then remove. Since they are sensitive to cold water, avoid splashing cold water on the leaves or in the crown of the plant.
Water around the base of the plant (like African violets) not on top of the leaves, do not let the water sit in the bottom of the saucer. The soil should be kept moist but not soggy and not allowed to dry out.
Gloxinia needs bright filtered light, high humidity, warm temperatures around 70F and in the 60’s when in bloom. Fertilize weekly with a well-balanced houseplant fertilizer when its actively growing and during bloom time. Stop fertilizing after bloom.
After it is finished flowering and the leaves begin to yellow and die back, reduce watering and allow the plant to go into a dormant period. Store the tuberous stem @ 50F in a cool, dark place for 2-4 months in dry soil. When new growth begins to show (Jan-Feb), repot the tuber in fresh soil in a 6″ pot, place in bright filtered light and resume watering. Gloxinias prefer the shade outdoors and bright light indoors.
Low light will produce long spindly growth and no blooms.
Soggy soil, overwatering can cause crown rot and root rot
source: http://hgic.clemson.edu
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I have a Gloxinia plant that is trying to bloom and the petals are turning brown. The blooms are tight together and won’t unfold. What must I do? Erma
I have a gloxinia plant that I bought 3 weeks ago. I put it in a clay pot. When I looked under the pot, I saw there was a fluffy cotton like substance growing from the bottom of the pot. I was able to easily remove it. What is this?
We just bought three potted gloxinia. My husband plans to transplant them outside. Is this a good idea and will they make good perennial garden plants?
Gloxinia – My gloxinia is growing off center and extremely top heavy. Can it but cut back and how?
After the plant goes dormant , you don’t water it? How long does it stay dormant? I may plant this outside after it gets warmer. I am known for killing plants.
Thanks,
Pam
I ahve a Gloxinia that was given to me by an Amish person. I have stored it in the basement like I was told and then forgot about it-I had surgery and wasn’t able to use the stairs. I brought it up and it is all dried out, have I killed it? If not, what do I need to do to get it to bloom its beautiful purple flowers? Please let me know ASAP!
Thank you, Pam
NEED WATERING SCHEDULE AND POTTING MIX TO REPOT PLANT
I have a miniature gloxinia. Do you have any information about it. I would like to enter in the flower show but I need information on the plant to enter. The plant is about 25 years old and flowers beautifully every year.
I have an indoor gloxinia with 2 long vines that only have leaves at the end of the vines. Those leaves are all very small and keep dieing as the vine gets longer. Can i cut those off and try and start new plants? If so, in water or soil?
Also, how often are you supposed to cut it off and store it for the 2-4 month rest period mentioned above? It hasn’t bloomed for a couple years now.
It says rounded bottom of the tubers what is that.
I have a beautiful GLOXINIA and would like to restart another slip from it how do I do that.
Can you start one from a leaf as with african violets.
WHERE CAN I BUY GLOXINIA TUBERS? I HAVE SCANNED MANY OF THE MOST POPULAR
GARDEN CATALOGS, BUT THEY SEEM TO BE DISAPPEARING FROM THE MARKET. THEY
ONCE WERE SOLD BY SUCH NURSERIES AS BURPEE, OR PARKS SEED,
I ordered Gloxinia seeds they are very small I ordered 3 sets. how many do I plant in one pot I have empress Mix Gloxinia, Jester Mix Gloxinia, Brocade Mix Gloxinia, do I plant all 25 seeds of one variety in one pot? Yes I’m new at this but I love Gloxinias can you tell me where to buy some bulbs in the Southwest Florida area.
Hi….Just bot a gloxinia today for myself for mothers day. wanted to plant it outside but not sure when to or how to. also when should it be brought inside? not good with plants or flowers but would really like to keep this beautiful one!
not sure….it says gloxinia on the pot. lol. it’s big red bell flowers. i’m in wilno, ontario…not sure what growing zone that is:)
I was just given two gloxinia bulbs to raise and after reading your comments I dug them up and properly re-buried them. All except for one small problem…neither of them were concave or had a hollow side. The nursery in Logan Neb. where they were purchased evidently didn’t send instructions or the person ignored them. These bulbs have fine roots all around their edges but the bulbs are rounded on both sides with one side having a small protuberence. I replanted with this side down as the roots seemed to be growing in that direction when the weren’t just blatantly growing straight out from the bulb. He said he paid 10-15 dollars a bulb for these and just told the nursery to send him one of every kind. One was labeled “red” and the other is “no name” did this poor guy get took?
My flowers do not grow upright, they have 6-7 ” stems and the flower is top heavy causing the flower and stem to droop almost 140 degrees. What shd i do ? Thank you. PT
I was given a Hardy Red Gloxinia and want to plant it outside. We live in San Antonio Texas and winter is about 2 months long, freezing temp lasting few hours at night. Has anyone planted gloxinia’s in this area?
I purchased a beautiful purple/white gloxinia a week ago Saturday in Wisconsin. The lady at the nursery told me a self watering clay pot would be best for it and she potted it, fertilized it and put pebbles on the top. One week later, I added water to the inside of pot that the plant was sitting and I used lukewarm water. By the end of the day, the plant collapsed. Did I add too much water? Is there any way to save it now, it was so beautiful. I live in Illinois and can’t find them around here!
Did you pour the water inside the crown of the plant?
No, I put the water in the bottom of the self watering container and put the potted plant container within the container holding the water. In the meantime, I have removed some leaves, put them in soil and they perked up a bit. I am starting to think it’s the self watering container because I added a bit a water and now the leaves seem soggy. Any other advice besides replacing the whole plant?? Could the leaves even reproduce a plant?
Limp leaves
I did the same thing Cindi did. Received the plant, watered a few days later, and the leaves and flowers went limp. Do I repot right away or just let it dry out to bring it back? Or have I killed it…I am not good with houseplants.
I’m thinking of getting this plant. Does it go through the dormant period in tropical climates?
Non toxic plant
Can you please tell me if the leaves on Gloxinia plant are poisons that can hurt a baby?