Rick -

I find minis more challenging, while semis do good. And again every house has its own conditions - so what grows for one person - not necessary will be a success for another.

For me Rob's trailers do really good. I think they are mostly semi-minis. Rob's Vanilla Trail,Rob's Sticky Wicket, Rob's Galiwinku.... Milky Way Trail is a pleasure too.
They do not need any shaping - they naturally branch and fill the pot and they all are very floriferous.
Again - not everybody likes this plant - but Irish Flirt - green flowered semi-mini - was doing super for me. The flowers last forever. Rob's Dust Storm was good for me. I think the only one mini was growing well for me - Orchard's Bumble Magnet.

I think Korina is the one to ask - she is a mini and semi-mini afficionado.

I.

Hi,

I will have to say that old reliable Pixie Blue is the easiest mini and trailer that I have ever had.

Larry

Larry - WOW - so nice to have you back!!

Irina

Lol, Thanks Irina! :o)

(Larry, Larry, where do I remember...) Ah! *Larry*!! How are you? Long time no -- er, write! How deep is your snow?

Rick, *anything* from Rob's will do what you want. Seriously. He is the king of minis and semiminis. Also, if you like pancake flat and symetrical, have you looked into Petrocosmeas?

Also Orchard's Bumble Magnet is a wonderful variety.

Korina

Well, Would you call me a liar if I said I had all of these! My dust storm did'nt bloom true, my milky way trl has been lanky since I got it and Irish Flirt just needs a kick in the rear. Orchard bumble magnet looks promising (still a young'n) and pixie blue always looks good.

So far, my better plants include Rob's Fuzzy Navel, Precious Pink and O. Little Creek Girl. But there are many more ready to come into bloom for the first time.

Rick, if it's Rob's Dust Storm, call them; they might replace the plant for you.

Korina
~embrace the confusion~

Hi Rick,
One of the best semi minis I have ever and still grow is Little Pro. It's reilable, grows flat and has a beautiful bloom with always a great bloom count.
Little Pro (6637) 06/11/1987 (H. Pittman) Semidouble pink. Dark green, quilted, pointed/red back. Semiminiature
As for a mini I love Planet Kid. A constant bloomer with massive groups of blossoms. One year when I stripped it down after a show I pulled off 73 blossoms.
Planet Kid (8767) 10/28/1998 (H. Pittman) Double pale blue/white edge. Light green, ruffled. Miniature
Fred in NJ.

I have been very pleased with Ness' Crinkle Blue. It has nice dark foliage and has been in continuous heavy bloom for about 6 months.

Barbara

Rick - you might want to try Rob's Slap Happy. It grows very symmetrically all on it's own and has wonderful crown variegation. Blooms easily and lots.

Rob's Slap Happy (9040) 05/31/2001 (R. Robinson) Semidouble dark coral pansy. Crown variegated dark green, white, cream and pink, quilted. Semiminiature

Joan in SK

I got Robs dust Storm in a trade. (Sad Face)

Sounds great Fred. My Little Pro looks good. Can't wait to see it bloom. That was also a trade!

Thats a lot of blossoms for a mini!

Right now I don't have the time for much but some day when I give up on this job of mine I'd like to join a club and do some shows just to test myself. I'm still pretty much a beginner but always learning. I can now ad to my want list!

For those of you who champion Rob's plants, I agree to an extent. While most of his plants have a good growth habit, many of them for me outgrow their size. I was gorwing Antique Rose and it was at the rear of my plant stand where I constantly ignored it. When I pulled it out to groom it, it had grown to 11-12 inches across. I realize this is an extreme but many of his hybrids seem to outgrow their size designation for me. I much prefer Pittman hybrids.
Fred in NJ

Hi all,

First, my apologies to erlyberd. I didn't read your post very well before suggesting Pixie Blue. A trailer would not lie flat for you obviously.

Thanks all for the welcome back. It's nice to be thought of. I have been a little preoccupied by other endeavors and haven't made it over here for a while. Korina, I owe you a letter.

Larry

PS - Speaking of welcome back, it's nice to see you posting again Fred. You have been very much missed over the months you were gone.

Ooo, Hortense Pittman makes (made?) wonderful varieties. Too many, however; FC2 lists 277 minis and semiminis of hers, 562 altogether. Yikes! That's altogether too many!!

Now if you want interesting, Ms. Pittman has two varieties, named Dots-a-Love and Tipped Honey, with dogwood tipped flowers. Very unusual, and very cool.

Korina

Tick: Ah, savory cheese puffs, made inedible by time and fate.

Fred -

What are your best performers out of Mrs.Hortense Pittman hybrids?

I join the crowd - we are all very glad to have you back.
It is great - Larry is here again, and you, Fred - it just makes this snowy winter more bearable.

Irina

Rick - you may also want to try some of George McDonald's hybrids (the Mac's prefix). I grow a lot of them and they do really well for me. Some of the semi's do tend to get a little large, but all of his plants are great bloomers and have wonderful symmetry. He doesn't do many mini's, but here's one of my favourites:

{{gwi:358814}}

Mac's Violets-Ar-Tu (G. McDonald) Tiny bright red single pansies. Variegated, medium green. Miniature (User Database)

Joan in SK

Joan, what a pretty little plant! Too bad it's probably not as red as the picture, but still... I like the little teapot.

Korina

Joan, that teapot is really cute - where did you get that? I love the minis - I went out today to try and buy myself another one - not one to be found. At least where I live. Will have to keep looking. I do have one mini and I had another one which actually grew into a big one years later so I took a leaf off of the larger one and I am trying to start it again as a small one. Hopefully it will work. Lynn

Sounds intersting Korina. I have quite a few Pittman varities! Most are still small and have yet to bloom. Teen Glow, Teen Thunder, Gleeful Elf, Lucky Lass, Petite Jewel, Peppy Pink, Honey Blue angel, Baby Moonbeam, Petite Ruby and Texas Teen. I'm sure I have others too but I don't keep a log. Another rookie mistake.

I have many of Rob's varieties and find for the most part they are excellent. Same with Pittman varieties. I like Adams which has come up with a lot of unique varieties such as Toronto Belle and Rare Jewel. Toronto Belle has variegated girl foliage and does not bloom as frequently as I would prefer, but its small perfection in rosette makes it a keeper for me. Rare Jewel has a unique two tone maroon color.

The older varieties such as Precious Pink, Little Pro, and Snuggles are still going strong. Little Bountiful has a wonderful flower and tidy rosette.

I enjoy some of the unusual ones such as Wee WillY Winkie and Aly's Blizzard Bunny, which is always in bloom with full double white flowers.

Nancy