Quote:
Originally Posted by sputinc7
The only problem with that is that Namwah plants characteristically have a distinctive pink midrib, especially when young. (Mauve is more accurate, but most people don't know what that is.) Anyway, those leaves have a light green midrib so it is doubtful it is Namwah unless it is really sad.
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It seems that due to phenotypic variance within a clone, it's hard to use the production of anthocyanins or pigments to make a proper ID. For example, I have an Aeae that started heavily variegated when it was potted but after I put it in the ground, every new leaf got less and less variegated to the point where it was producing pure green leaves. I think this happened when the soil pH shot up because I fed the plant nothing but P and K to increase the solutes in the cells and therefore increase cold tolerance. It's also on a gravel bed that probably is slightly basic. However, after placing a top layer of acidic soil for rhododendrons on the root zone this spring, the first leaf to emerge from the Aeae is showing signs of variegation again.