Question

gloxinia   QUESTION: Hi,

 My gloxinia is currently forming flowering buds but its
lower stem is browning, thinning out and seems to be
rotting.
Hence, the plant became severely unbalanced with a 'heavy'
top.
How should I remedy the issue?

ANSWER: Dear Alfredo, Gloxinias are somewhat difficult to grow.  I don't know when you first got your plant, or when it was in heaviest bloom, but generally after the plant blooms heavy it will show signs of dying back.  This indicates that it requires a rest period, so you should start withholding water and allow it to dry out for 6 to 9 weeks.  After that time, you should repot with fresh soil, place in a bright spot without direct sunlight, and begin to water it again.  This is the most likely cause of your plant's decline.  Also possible, but not likely given your location, is that the temperature has dropped to below 65, in which case you would allow the plant to dry out to 1 inch below surface soil before watering.  Lastly, if your plant has gotten a fungus from cold water or overwet conditions, just dry out a little more between waterings, and cut off any affecting areas.  You can easily prune your plant to get its shape better and it might be advisable so that the heavier ends don't break off the plant causing more damage.  My best guess however, is that your gloxinia just needs a rest period followed by repotting.  Good luck, Melissa

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Ms Melissa,

  Appreciate your great advice. My previous growing experiences with growing Gloxinas were far better than this. I grew the plant from a small stem/leaf cutting. It is the first time that the plant is blooming. How do I get the plant into its rest period? Withdrawing watering, fertilizing and shielding from direct sunlight, cutting off everything & leaving only the roots & stems? How long is the rest period?  

Answer
Dear Alfredo, Since this is the first time that this gloxinia has bloomed, let's try this:  First let's try to get the plant in better shape to bloom, and try to prevent putting it into a rest period first; and if that doesn't work, then we can try to get it to go dormant.  Start by very carefully removing all the gray, shriveled, or damaged areas and keeping the surface only of the soil dry to try to get it into a more productive mode.  Try this for about two weeks, and then start to withhold water more frequently after that time if it doesn't start looking better.  If you do get it into a rest period, then gradually cut back on water, and once it starts going dormant then it should rest for 6 to 9 weeks.  Oh, there's something else to check that I just remembered.  Look very carefully around the soil and base of the plant for a snail or slug.  I had this happen to a gloxinia once and I didn't even notice it until the plant was extremely damaged.  See if the pruning and keeping surface moisture down seems to help, and please keep me informed.  Good luck, Melissa