Alsobia dianthiflora is an impressive and unique plant (related to Streptocarpus and African Violets) which makes an excellent houseplant. An epiphytic genus (i.e. grows on trees), Alsobia feature stolons, or runners, that usually give rise to a new plant at each node. You can see the runners on the picture above. The striking feathery-edged white flowers are also quite remarkable.
'Alsobia dianthiflora is known almost exclusively from cultivated material... with no documented gatherings from the wild in over 70 years.'
‘The exact range of Alsobia dianthiflora is unknown. The species is probably from premontane [typically found on the lower slopes of mountains] wet forest at 800–1000 m. The few specimens available... are preserved cuttings taken from garden or greenhouse plants. Moore (1954) identified the source of his plant, which was grown in the greenhouse at Robert Wilson’s Fantastic Gardens, Miami, Florida, as a collection made in the wild in Guerrero, Mexico, but this may be inaccurate, as the species has apparently not been collected there since'. We can conclude that it is endemic to Central America, but that's pretty much it!
Alsobia dianthiflora is an excellent plant option for windowsill or terrarium growing. Pot into fibre-based house plant compost and water moderately. Plants require a bright position and a temperature of at least 15°C (60°F) . Once the plants are established, feed with a high potash slow release Dibleys fertiliser tablet once a month.
