Overview

Streptocarpus 'Witch Doctor' (AV/d) is a clump forming conservatory greenhouse in the genus Streptocarpus, part of the Gesneriaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Streptocarpus 'Witch Doctor' (AV/d) grows best in full sun and partial shade, and tolerates loam and sand soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H1c. Suggested uses include houseplants and conservatory and greenhouse.

About

Streptocarpus 'Witch Doctor' is a clump-forming Streptocarpus grown as an African violet for indoor and conservatory use. It has deciduous foliage and produces flowers from June to October. Place where it receives bright light but is sheltered from exposure. It prefers a moist yet well-drained loam or sandy compost and tolerates a wide soil pH range.

About the genus

Streptocarpus is an Afrotropical genus of flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae. The genus is native to Afromontane biotopes from central, eastern and southern Africa, including Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. The flowers are five-petalled, salverform tubes, almost orchid-like in appearance, and hover or arch over the plant, while the pointed, elongate fruit is of a helical form similar to that of the "tusk" of a narwhal.

Wikipedia contributors, "Streptocarpus", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Streptocarpus

In the garden

Streptocarpus 'Witch Doctor' is a cultivated African violet-type Streptocarpus intended for pots, windowsills and heated glasshouses. As a clump-forming cultivar with deciduous foliage it is treated as a houseplant or conservatory specimen, and its main flowering season runs from June to October. Position the plant where it receives strong light but not persistent cold drafts — suitable aspects include south-, east- or west-facing windows and a sheltered conservatory or greenhouse bench. The species tolerates full sun to partial shade, so a bright, protected spot that avoids harsh exposure works best. Use a free-draining loam or sandy compost and keep the medium consistently moist but never waterlogged; the plant accepts acid to alkaline soils so pH is not usually limiting. Hardiness is H1c, which in practical terms means treat it as tender: keep frost-free and move outdoors only where it can remain sheltered or return it indoors before cold weather. Recommended uses are as a houseplant or in a conservatory/greenhouse where it can show its summer-to-autumn blooms without exposure to damaging conditions. Expect the main display between June and October, making this period the focal point for flowering care and siting decisions.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Streptocarpus

Sunlight

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil type

Loam, Sand

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Soil moisture

Moist but well-drained

Aspect

South-facing, East-facing, West-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H1c

Plant details

Streptocarpus 'Witch Doctor' (AV/d) size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

Conservatory Greenhouse, Houseplants

Habit

Clump forming

Foliage

Deciduous

Suggested uses

Houseplants, Conservatory and greenhouse

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Streptocarpus 'Witch Doctor' (AV/d)

Propagation

Leaf cuttings, Seed, Division

Pest resistance

Aphids, Glasshouse leafhopper, Mealybug, Tarsonemid mites

Disease resistance

Botrytis, Powdery mildew

Frequently asked questions

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