2026 - a big year!

Hi everyone! Thanks so much for reading.

2026 is already gearing up to be a big year for me. I fully launched Rainer Roots Nursery in 2025 after several years of hobbiest collecting and selling. I wanted to jump into the world of more advanced exotics and breeding. Specifically, Anthurium. I am so intrigued by how they grow, from the emergents that unfurl and expand, to their flowers and their simple beauty. The ability to hybridize and cross or develop pure species into the next incredible phenotype became an obsession overnight.

My first cross was from a pair of Blue Pap x Dark Forgetii I got spring of 2025. I crossed the two plants and after 8 months got my first seeds. I wanted to dip my toes in with a easy going, low stakes cross, and I am excited to see how these guys develop. My original idea was to try and get a closed sinus pap-type look, as I love the rounded lack of lobes that forgetii have. As of 3/4/2026 I have a few dozen seeds starting to sprout!

My second cross is with several plants that I spent a lot of time deciding on a pairing. I am very picky with my crosses. I want robust features, healthy genes, and beautiful genetics. I crossed my SKG Grey x Caycee with my Carla PM1 x RA4, looking to get more of that fun rounded heart shape.

My Carla only took 8 weeks to develop fat, happy seeds that I began collecting and sowing 3/3/2026. I am extremely excited about this cross, as I have found that Carlas hold a special place in my heart!

So far I have about 100 seeds popped and planted. Way more than I expected, with seemingly more on the way. I would love to offer some small batches of seeds in addition to seedlings, as I love watching plants grow and seeing the process.

For upcoming crosses, I recently acquired an incredible Carla with minimal veining and a dramatic wide leaf (I still need to take a photo of her!!) This carla's lineage is unique and before the RA numbered sequences developed by Rory Antolakii. This Carla was bred by Andrew Goon in 2022. As an incredibly mature specimen, each leaf echos traces of one another with subtle differences. I am considering selfing this plant as its traits really stand out to me, and I would love to create holdbacks that show even more thin and minimal veining.

I also have plans to develop some pure forgetii, bessea, bessea crosses, as well as a few others. I recently got my hands on a Dorito Port that I am absolutely thrilled to watch grow and develop.

Well, this feels like a pretty good first blog, if you made it this far thanks so much for reading and supporting me on my planty journey!