I think there are 2-3 latest supreme leaf hybrids still around - "Spanish Moss","Texas Hotshot" - are from eighties. The majority of "supremes" were created in 50s, became very popular and faded - the leaves are huge, juicy and VERY brittle.

I found the instruction how to do it - but - remember - colchicine is extremely poisonous, so - probably you do not want it in your house to start with - plus acquiring it won't be easy exactly for this reason. I presume it is available to be purchased by the labs, not by common folk.

Good Luck

Irina

Here is a link that might be useful: colchicine

I think there are 2-3 latest supreme leaf hybrids still around - "Spanish Moss","Texas Hotshot" - are from eighties. The majority of "supremes" were created in 50s, became very popular and faded - the leaves are huge, juicy and VERY brittle.

I found the instruction how to do it - but - remember - colchicine is extremely poisonous, so - probably you do not want it in your house to start with - plus acquiring it won't be easy exactly for this reason. I presume it is available to be purchased by the labs, not by common folk.

Good Luck

Irina

Here is a link that might be useful: colchicine

Sorry - I managed to post it twice someway

Hey thanks Irina, I will see if I can find those to try my hand at.

Colchicine has been used for many years to induce polylpoidism in orchids (Blc. Pamela Heatherington "Coronation" 'FCC' comes to mind). The resulting hybrids are alleged to be more vigorous and carry longer-lasting flowers, etc. I had read somewhere about colchicine being used in saintpaulia but it seems the results were not the same so it's use was pretty much abandoned years ago for the reasons you mentioned.

I do have most of the Optimara Everfloris "space violets" that someone mentioned in another forum as having been treated with colchicine and they are doing really well for me.

Kind regards,

Erica

I didn't realize there were any "Supremes" still around. They may have been available when I began growing since it was long ago, but I never had any.

I was curious about the Everfloris since I didn't recall the colchicine in relation to them and all I found mentioned was radiation. I have 2 and one is blooming and looks promising. The other is very small. I may have had another at one time and tossed it.

My search turned up a note in an african violet newsletter that suggested doing a search on colchicine treated violets. That got more hits that I cared about but you may be interested.

(Colchicine did ring a bell but it must be because I've considered those crocuses many times. Perhaps they are marginally hardy or maybe it's because our crocuses disappear. Now that our dog catches moles, we have a few more.)

Diana

EverFloris aren't Supremes (or Colchicine treated) they were grown from seeds that were sent into space. read here

This is news to me. Didn�t know they were treated to lack of gravity and cosmic radiation for 6 long years!

HI,
I just checked FC2 and found 180 supreme plants listed, Out of the 180 there were only 6 with pictures. Most of them were registered early and bave numbers below 1000, however there are a few more modern ones but not that many. Most of these were registered in the late 80's.
Fred in NJ