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                                                                                  email              info@dibleys.com

Rex Dibley started the Nursery in 1976 as a hobby and named it after the local village ‘Efenechtyd’. For some reason this name gave people some difficulty and was eventually changed to the slightly more pronounceable ‘Dibleys’. His son Gareth joined him in the business in 1984 after graduating from Reading University with a degree in Horticulture. Soon after, Rex retired from teaching to devote more time to the business. Gareth’s sister Lynne has also joined the business to make it a truly family concern.

Accolades held by the nursery include winning:
25 RHS Gold Medals at the Chelsea Flower Show
150 RHS Gold Medals

Winning a Large Gold Medal in every National and International Garden Festival held in Britain
Winning Gold and Large Gold Medals at every major Flower Show in the UK including BBC Gardeners’ World Live, Hampton Court Flower Show, Tatton Park, Shrewsbury Flower Show and Malvern Spring Shows.
Dibleys have also received the Royal Horticultural Sociey’s Anthony Huxley Medal for the best display of tender plants in any RHS show throughout a whole year

In 2007, Rex Dibley was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal by the RHS, given to “persons of any nationality who have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement and improvement of the science and practice of horticulture”

Dibleys Streptocarpus ‘Harlequin Blue’ won the inaugural Chelsea Plant of the Year 2010

Dibleys’ Streptocarpus ‘Harlequin Blue’ was named as the RHS Chelsea Plant of the Decade (2003-2012)

Gesneriads, Begonias and other houseplants

Saintpaulia, Primulina (Chirita) and Alsobia (Episcia)
Adequate light is very important for abundant bloom. Use a good peat based potting compost. They require a bright position but not in direct sunlight. When watering use water at room temperature and only water when the surface of the compost is dry to the touch. Watering can be from the top or the bottom, but avoid splashing the leaves and do not allow plants to stand in water. The ideal temperature range is 18-25°C (65-80°F). Once the plants are established, feed when you are watering with a high potash feed. Remove dead leaves and flowers.

xAchidonia, xAchimenantha, Achminene, Kohleria, Sinningia and Smithiantha
Let soil become slightly dry between watering. Use a good peat or fibre based potting compost. Feed regularly with a high potash feed when watering. Plants require a bright position to promote compact growth and flowering. They require a minimum temperature of 15°C (60°F). The plants will die back in the winter and there will be several long rhizomes in the compost (except Sinningia where there will be a corm) which, if kept, can be replanted the following spring.

Aeschynanthus, Codonanthe, xCodonatanthus, Columnea and Nematanthus
These are easily grown plants, ideal for the house. They like a humid atmosphere in a bright position out of direct sunlight and an occasional misting will help. Pot into a peat beased compost and feed with a high potash feed when watering. Do not over water and water when the surface of the compost is fry to touch. They require a temperature of at least 10°C (50°F). Keep on the dry side during winter. 

Foliage Begonias
Begonias make excellent foliage house plants. They do not tolerate direct sun and should be given shade to prevent leaf scorch. To obtain the best foliage colour, red leaf varieties should be grown in bright light and a lower light intensity will often enhance silver leaf types. A minimum temperature of 15°C (60°F) is required and given these conditions the plants will provide a colourful display for many years. While the plants are actively growing, the compost should be kept moist and after approximately a month, start to feed regularly with a liquid house plant ferteliser. Take care to avoid over-watering as wet compost can lead to rotting.

Other houseplants
Solenostemon
Our named varieties of Coleus (correctly now known as Solenostemon) are chosen for their splendid colour and variety. Water frequently so that the compost is always moist. Less water in winter. Feed regularly with a balanced house plant food. Place in strong light with some shading from strong overhead summer sun, which may burn leaves. Temperatures should not fall below 10°C (50°F). For plants to keep their colour and not to grow too tall and leggy, regularly pinch out the growing tips and remove any flowers. They will survive the winter with reduced watering and can be cut back and re-potted in spring.

Impatiens niamniamensis
Known as the ‘Parrot Plant’, this is an exceptionally bizarre and easy to grow plant. Pinch out growing tips to encourage side shoots. A bright position out of full summer sun is required. Feed and water the plants regularly during spring and summer with a well balanced fertilizer. In winter reduce water but ensure the plants receive as much light as possibly. Minimum temperature 10°C (50°F).

An introduction to Streptocarpus plants
 
Streptocarpus, although having a leaf similar to primroses, are not related to them, but belong to the Gesneriad family, which also includes African Violets (Saintpaulias), Columneas and Achimines. Streptocarpus fall into two distinct groups: those with stems, the Streptocarpellas, for example Streptocarpus saxorum, and the more commonly known types with a rosette of leaves. It is from these rosette types that the modern hybrids have been bred. These rosette species inhabit wooded ravines and valleys of the Drakensburg mountains of Southern Africa. The first to be introduced into this country was Streptocarpus rexii in 1826. This has bluish flowers, but soon many other species followed and many crosses were made resulting in the hybrids found in many present-day seed mixtures.

The first of the modern named hybrids was ‘Constant Nymph’, bred at the John Innes Institute in 1946. In 1969, the John Innes Institute did more crosses involving other colours and produced the free flowering varieties which form the base of our range. We have also added the pick of World-wide varieties. Continued breeding work at our nurseries is adding good new plants to what is undoubtedly the best selection of named hybrids available in the world.
Knowing their geographical distribution helps in understanding their care. Remember, they come from the wooded areas in mountains, so they do not want full sunshine, but they do want a bright position. Too much sun burns the leaves and fades the flowers. Keep them in a shaded greenhouse or indoors in an East or West window.
When you receive your plants, pot them into 3 1/2″ pots as soon as possible using a good peat or fibre based potting compost. Shading is especially important for the first few days. Within a few weeks the plants should begin flowering. Water regularly from either above or below only when the plant requires it. It is important not to overwater Streptocarpus, wait until the compost feels dry to the touch. Overwatering, in particular regular overwatering, will cause harm to the root system. The first symptom of overwatering is exactly the same as underwatering i.e., the plant will wilt. So make sure the compost is actually dry in between watering. A month after potting up commence feeding with a high potash fertiliser. The most convenient way is to insert a Dibleys Streptocarpus fertiliser tablet each month. Please remember every lant is a separate individual and should be treated as such.
Always cut off dead flowers. Excessive or incorrect feed and poor light make the plants produce very large leaves and few flowers. It is quite natural as plants age for the old leaves to die back, and the ends should be trimmed off, especially in winter. In winter, water less often, do not feed and keep the plants in a place free from frost. In March or April gradually start watering more often and commence feeding. Plants should be potted into a slightly larger pot each spring. Do not over-pot you will get more flower by keeping on the pot bound side. Using half of three quarter depth pots is a good idea.
Given this treatment you will be rewarded by a continuous display of flowers from about May until well into winter. You will also find the flowers are good for cutting.
Streptocarpus are easily grown plants which are remarkably free from pests and diseases. Greenfly occasionally attack plants and can be spotted from their white discarded skins on the flower stalks and leaf bases. A spray with a proprietary insecticide either as an aerosol or mixed with water will soon cure the problem.
We largely use biological control of pests on our nursery and have found the method very successful. It must be noted however that biological methods alone may only control pests but not eradicate them. Biological control can be done on an amateur scale in a glasshouse or conservatory. Supplies are available in the UK from from: Green Gardener, 41 Stumpshaw Road, Brundall, Norfolk, NR13 5PG.
Rot can occur at the base of the leaves causing the leaves to wilt. Remove the damaged leaf and check that the growing conditions are correct, taking special care to see that overwatering is not occurring.
Please do not send diseased material to us, we do not want to run the risk of introducing pests or diseases into our nursery.
We are the holders of the U.K. National Collection of Streptocarpus. We have been awarded many prizes for our plants including 25 Gold Medals from the Chelsea Flower Show.
Visit our website to find out more about Streptocarpus plants. Don’t forget to subscribe to our e Newsletter.

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