My African Violets

[psyc1210]

So I couldn't pass by this one African Violet that I saw at Home Depot...and I wanted to share how one of the plants from my grandfather's funeral is doing. I'm VERY impressed.


Picture 1 and 2 are of the new african violet, I just love the leaves!!

Picture 3 is of one of the african violets that I received from my grandfather's funeral...I had posted a thread regarding a big basket of plants, and this was one of them. It seems to be doing well!

[patticake]

Nice, JoBeth! They love gro-lights. They'll reward you with constant bloom!

[psyc1210]

I can't wait for the newest one to grow....it's been suffering at home depot, and didn't look too well...hopefully in the coming months it'll grow like the others have...are these as bad as addiction to orchids? i hope not.

[Bolero]

I've never tried growing these, maybe it's something to get into.

They look great!

[kmarch]

I love African violets too. I had more than a dozen fo them before I moved to Australia. I grew them sitting in water and gave them 20 20 20 orchid fertilizer. They went crazy!

[patticake]

Originally Posted by kmarch

I love African violets too. I had more than a dozen fo them before I moved to Australia. I grew them sitting in water and gave them 20 20 20 orchid fertilizer. They went crazy!

EEEk - While this may have worked well for you, generally violets don't like soggy feet. They like to be evenly moist, but not wet. A lot depends on how much light they get. I had a few hundred at one time. I grew them using hydroponics. such as the way I planted ellens' seeds. Planting Ellens' seeds!
Under gro-lights this worked great, but even this was too much for them at a regular windowsill. Generally you would water them, and pour off any water that stayed in the saucer for more than 10-15 minutes.
If you have good light, a tiny bit of water in the saucer would be o.k.- They don't like to dry out either. Kind of like Phalaenopsis.

Awe, cool! I figured out how to post a link!

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by patticake

EEEk...

Yup, that's how pretty much every single person I ever told reacted to that. I don't know enough about them to actually recommend that growing technique. I know it was rather unorthodox. It came about because it seemed every time I turned around one or more of them had wilting leaves so I went ot the garden centre, bought 2 large shallow nursery trays and set the pots in that (I used clay pots for all of them) and then every time I watered orchids (so that's how they got that strong fertilizer) I'd top up each tray to about 1/2 to 3/4 inch of water. I grew them in an east window along with my Phrags. They grew and flowered very happily like that for almost 3 years before I gave them all to my sis.

[markclkk]

Originally Posted by psyc1210

So I couldn't pass by this one African Violet that I saw at Home Depot...and I wanted to share how one of the plants from my grandfather's funeral is doing. I'm VERY impressed.


Picture 1 and 2 are of the new african violet, I just love the leaves!!

Picture 3 is of one of the african violets that I received from my grandfather's funeral...I had posted a thread regarding a big basket of plants, and this was one of them. It seems to be doing well!

Nice! I just love variegated leave.

[janet_a]

the local garden shops leave them sitting in dishes of water when they sell them. me, i just fill their catch saucers with water once a week and let them sit in them for a couple hours, then empty them. they seem to be happy.

i love the variegated leaves too--a new nonprofit moved in a block or so from our old office and put a bunch of plants in their windows, including a deep purple AV with fabulous white edged leaves. i walked in and said "hi! welcome to the neighborhood! we're in the next block. can i have a leaf?" and they gave me one. got several plants out of it, three of which i still have. word of advice: don't put AV's in S/H unless you want them to take over your house.

these are very cool av's: OPTIMARA HOME PAGE i have a rhapsodie cora and a gaughin. the rc is very floriferous, and some of the leaf prop babies i made were blooming 6 months after propping. (i.e., plant went from nonexistent to blooming in 6 months. )

[lmartiny]

I recently found a verigated one like that at WalMart. It was the only one like that amongst the others so, of course, I had to have it.

[dolo3]

Hi again Imartiny, did you get it at the WalMart on 60? I have one like that with the variegated leaves that I bought there. They had a few in different colors. So, after I got home and decided that I really Loved it, I went back the next day to get a couple more. All Gone! Guess you beat me to it! I keep mine in my family room on a shelf unit with my indoor orchids. I treat it like a phal. with a little more light and use regular orchid fertilizer. So far so good. Any suggestions?

[lmartiny]

Hi Delores, yes, WalMart on 60 about a week or so ago. I got the last verigated one. Sorry!
I don't know much about them. We took two from someone that moved to Honduras recently and my recent purchase makes three. They do say not to wet the leaves when watering. I have trouble keeping anything happy inside the house. But I'm not always as vigilant as I should be. I put one outside in a garden area (in total shade) where I have some other similar type potted plants. It has already re-bloomed. The other is on the patio under the sheltered section and is hanging in there, but no re-bloom, yet.
I saw your recent post with all your bloomers. Very nice. I'll have to come to one of the local orchid society meetings and meet you some time.

[risa59]

I have always heard that if you can grow african violets you can grow Phals (or is it the other way around?). Last week I went to Loew's (to try to rescue some Phals) and found two big violets on sale for $1 each since they were no longer in bloom! They are doing well so far and at those prices I thought I would try my hand at something other than orchids.

[patticake]

Just like buying orchids from grocery stores, buying violets from there, you get run of the mill violets. For some awesome ones, check out Lyndon Lyons. African Violets by Lyndon Lyon Greenhouses Started by Lyndon Lyon many years ago. I knew Lyndon and he was a marvelous man. He hybridized the first double pink. The original 9 species were all whites and lavenders. Lyndons' grandaughter and her husband have continued on. Their hybrids are breathtaking. Huge double blooms 3" and more across. Click on violets on the left hand band of their site. click on standard varieties to start- scroll down for some good eye candy. Anyway- They have orchids, too. They don't ship those, though.

Sorry I rambled... a blast from my past...

[Sharyn]

JoBeth: Glad to see that Grandpa's AV is doing well. You can start some new plants from leaf cuttings. That will insure that you will always have your memories in case anything happens to the original plant.

I love African Violets, but I fear that they are much more addictive than orchids, AND a lot less expensive, making it sooooooo easy to have a house full.

Like Patti said, there are some great hybrids out there that are so much more interesting than the run of the mill Home Depot types. I think I'm going to have to start looking for miniatures and/or semi-minis to save room.

Remember that AVs like fresh media at least once a year. You might want to repot the one from Home Depot. I did, and they took off like gang-busters with fresh media. In fact, they took off so well that I now have a few new plants from leaf cuttings. Let me know if you need some media. I have tons of my own mixed media. I'll be happy to send you some.

[janet_a]

I love African Violets, but I fear that they are much more addictive than orchids, AND a lot less expensive, making it sooooooo easy to have a house full.

oh god yes--they're like potato chips, you can't have just one... i've been firmly keeping myself to the half dozen at the house and the three here in the office. otherwise i could have a zillion of them.

the ones at the house are in the same window as the phals and the paphs; the ones at the office are here under my flourescents, and they REALLY don't like it. lots of leaves, tight centers, not many roots, and never blooming. but it's nice to have fuzzy green things in the office, so i'm not too worried about it. (these are all leaf props from the ones at home, so if they die it's no biggie.)

[Miki]

Originally Posted by janet_a

word of advice: don't put AV's in S/H unless you want them to take over your house.
)

Hi Janet,
You are right, I have one AV in s/h and it has becomed an animal, growing and flowering non- stop! I pruned it back 8 days ago and it is budding again... there is no stopping!
I wish my orchids would learn from my AV!

[lmartiny]

I've done begonaias in dirt but violets are water starts correct? Just put leaf/stem in water? Inside I've got inquiring cats, outside I have squirrels, snails and wavering rain conditions. what's best?
Thanks.

[janet_a]

the way i've done it is to put the stem of the leaf in potting soil in a very shallow container (i use sawed off yogurt cups), wet it down thoroughly, then put the whole shebang in a plastic baggie. wait 6 weeks. when the babies' leaves are as big as dimes, decant, separate and plant up in small pots.

[lmartiny]

Thank you Janet a. I'll try that. As a matter of fact I think theres a couple of "past due" yogurts in the fridge now that need dumping!

[janet_a]

hmm, i was going to point you to the rachel's reflections website, but it seems to be gone.. but here's another on leaf propping:

Violets by leaf

[brookn]

I love AV's myself, I only have 2 now, but I used to have dozens. After the Easter eve disaster of 02 (long story), I kinda lost the will to keep them. Last year I bought one at WM that is doing well, and rescued one from Lowe's for 50 cents. The rescue had 2 good leaves left, and one little bloom, it's grown immensely, and has been blooming it's little heart out for me for 3 months now.

[Sharyn]

There are a couple of excellent sites to educate yourself on propogation of African Violets. Try these links. I'm sure you'll have success.

Debbie's African Violets
Violets by leaf

Now, if you're going to try S/H, (which I've never done) you should have good luck with quick rooting. Starting violets in water brings quick results in root growth, however, if you're going to start growing them in a media, they'll have to start all over again.

[janet_a]

(optimaras are weeds. throw 'em out and they'll grow in the garbage. )

[solay]

I like the variegated leaves. Very nice. I use to grow them a long time ago in a much cooler area than I live now. Never really knew much about them though. Do you think they will grow in my GH with the orchids? Or is it too warm for them? I always thought they like it shady and cool.

[psyc1210]

So I have to show off my cute mini african violets I found today.

[solay]

Very pretty. Love the purples on African violets.

[butt0n]

I love violets...had to give them up though since the orchids were taking up all the space.

[christinek]

very nice.. Ironically enough.. African Violets are what started me off many many years ago with gardening and plants.. and from there it's spun out of control.. lol

Very nice plants psych!

[psyc1210]

Here are my african violets that I got almost a year ago, from my grandfather's funeral. They are in full bloom right now, and look much better than they did when I received them.

[patticake]

They're really nice!

[Azzadazza]

Keep the potassium up to them to help with flowering, they just love fertiliser

[rl42]

I at one time raised african violets and had over 1000 of them. I grew them under lights, but they were too much work taking care of them, so now I am getting into orchids and in the fall months I am going to try them under the lights I grew the african violets. I used the full spectrum lights with a gro lux light. I find that orchids do not require as much care.

This thread brought back so many memories of them.

[Azzadazza]

thought i would post a pic of my violet flowers. only boring stpaulia but it is flowering nice this winter

[Sharyn]

Originally Posted by psyc1210

Here are my african violets that I got almost a year ago, from my grandfather's funeral. They are in full bloom right now, and look much better than they did when I received them.

JoBeth: They look great! So nice you were able to save them. Grandpa is looking down and happy to see your sweet rememberance. We still have the violet from my Grandma who passed in 1990. It blooms continuously all year, but especially nice around my dad's birthday - then, it's spectacular! So I guess the moral of the story is: All good gardeners go to Heaven and send their Blessings to us.

[katsrevenge]

You guys have some lovely plants. Here are a few of mine....

I'm another person who was introduced to plants and gardening on a personal level through AVs. If I had more space, I'd have a house full.