Cape primrose 'Pearl' Streptocarpus 'Pearl'

Water

Cape Primrose, commonly known as Streptocarpus 'Pearl', prefers consistent moisture but does not like to be waterlogged. It should be watered when the top inch of the soil feels dry to the touch. Depending on humidity and temperature, this may be once a week. Use room-temperature water and gently water the soil until it's evenly moist, being careful not to soak the crown of the plant. In terms of amount, use approximately 8 to 16 ounces of water each time for a pot with a diameter of about 6 inches, adjusting based on the size of your plant and pot. Over a month, you might find you're using around 0.5 to 1 gallon of water, depending on environmental conditions.

Light

Cape Primrose thrives in bright, indirect light. A north-facing or east-facing windowsill is an ideal spot for it, where it can receive plenty of light without the harshness of full sun. Direct summer sun can be damaging, causing the leaves to scorch. If natural lighting conditions are too low, supplement with artificial grow lights to keep your Streptocarpus 'Pearl' healthy.

Temperature

The Cape Primrose prefers a temperature range between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. It can tolerate minimum temperatures no lower than 50 degrees Fahrenheit and maximum temperatures up to around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The ideal growing conditions are on the cooler side of its range, ensuring the plant does not get too hot, as this could adversely affect its growth and blooming.

Pruning

For Cape Primrose, pruning is essential to encourage bushier growth and more blooms. Remove any dead or yellowing leaves to maintain plant health. After a flowering cycle, cut back the flower stems to encourage new growth. The best time for pruning is immediately after a bloom cycle has finished.

Cleaning

As needed

Soil

The Cape Primrose requires a well-draining soil mix that can hold some moisture without becoming soggy. An ideal mix could be one part peat moss, one part perlite, and one part loamy potting soil. Ensure the soil is moderately acidic to neutral, with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.0 for optimal growth.

Repotting

Cape Primroses should be repotted annually in fresh soil to provide nutrients and encourage blooming. Repotting is usually done in the spring, just before the growth season begins.

Humidity & Misting

Cape Primroses thrive in moderate to high humidity levels, ideally between 50% to 60%. They benefit from a humid environment but do not require the extreme humidity levels that some tropical plants do.

Suitable locations

• Indoor

  Keep in bright, indirect light and water regularly.

• Outdoor

  Place in partial shade; protect from strong winds and full sun.

• Hardiness zone

  10-11 USDA

Life cycle

The life cycle of the Streptocarpus 'Pearl', commonly known as Cape primrose, begins with seed germination, where the tiny seeds are sown in a well-draining soil mix and lightly covered, requiring warmth and light to germinate. Seedlings emerge and gradually develop rosettes of fuzzy, strap-shaped leaves, relying on consistent moisture and indirect sunlight. As the plant matures, it enters the vegetative growth stage, producing larger leaves and establishing a stronger root system within a few months. The Cape primrose then starts the flowering stage, where it produces velvety trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of lavender to pale blue, with flowering typically most abundant in spring and summer and sporadic blooms throughout the year. After pollination, the plant sets seed pods that, when mature, twist open to scatter seeds for reproduction. Finally, after several years, the Cape primrose will begin to decline and eventually completes its life cycle, though they can live for many years with proper care.

Propogation

• Propogation time

  Spring-Early Summer

• Streptocarpus 'Pearl', commonly known as Cape Primrose, can be propagated through leaf cuttings, which is the most popular method due to its simplicity and effectiveness. To propagate, select a healthy leaf and cut it into sections, each with a vein. Lay the leaf sections vein-side down on a moist potting mix in a shallow tray or pot. Cover the tray with plastic to maintain humidity and place it in bright, indirect light. Roots and new plantlets will usually develop at the vein intersections within a few weeks. Once the plantlets are large enough, they can be gently separated from the mother leaf and potted individually. This method is preferable because it allows for the production of multiple plants from a single leaf and is an easy way to expand your Cape Primrose collection.