I was looking for another Rex Begonia (found it) today, and then spied this off in a corner! I don't know the cultivar name...its from Woodhill Greenhouses in Canada. The tag also said "for decoration only; do not consume". I thought that was rather humorous...haha. This pix is with a flash (and kinda shakey too). ChuLin
Same plant without the flash.
wow, how pretty, what a find.lol
bonnie
Welcome!
That's a very pretty violet you bought.Watch out,they can become addicting.One turns into two and before you know it you have a shelf full ^_^
How lucky can you be? She is so nice just to find her..............welcome to the 'addict' site................
gail
UH, OH....I see another Gessaholict in the making......be careful,there are a lot of enablers here LOL. ^_^.
Lynn
Thanks, all, it is a pretty plant. I have a stupid question...and no doubt you will all fall on the floor. I bought the plant mainly for the foliage; its so unusual. If I cut the flowers off, would the plant get bigger and more variegated faster? How dumb is that, huh? I take the flowers (such as they are) off my Rex Begonias so the energy will go to the plant, not the flowers. I know, I know...the flowers are pretty too. ChuLin
I say it is up to you. I grow a lot of streptocarpus and always debud and deflower them so they will grow more foliage quicker.............
ChuLin - you are correct. If you remove the blooms from the AV, then that will direct the energy into leave growth.
Welcome!
You just can't stop at one!! Especially with all the people here that are enablers. LOL!
I did cut the flowers off this morning as I want the plant to survive, and I figure it will have a hard enough time adjusting from a greenhouse to my house without trying to do the flower thing. And yes, I would like another, of course. The Rex Begonias are sorta like p chips...can't have just one. Evidently the AVs are too....LOL! But for me, its the foliage, not the flowers.
I ordered 4 Wrangler's Pink Patches leaves. They haven't come yet but I want to grow as many as I can for everyone.
If you like foliage..........here is a good one, ChuLin........Wrangler's Pink Patches
I can attest that they are definitely like potato chips. Waiting for another order from ebay. hahahahaa
Oooh Begonias are pretty. I saw one in Logees catalog that I want it's sooo different.
Ooooh! Another Logee's-phile! Yay!
hahaahahah
Welcome, I sure hope you don't eat it, ha! That is such a funny thing to say on the plant. Very pretty!
I love variegated leaves too.
oh Gail;
Please remember me when you get babies of pink patches, one of my faves.
bonnie
Pretty Miss Kelly has nice foliage.
Bonnie........I will have plenty of plants .......just hope I get good mother leaves. These variegated plants really need to come from a good mama plant.
Pretty Miss Kelly is one I have never grown but always loved............Both her blooms and foliage are great looking. I think she is one of the most popular and loved avs of all.......in the top list from AVSA from everyone who voted.
When it is cooler, I may be begging for a leaf from her, Lynn...................falling in love with avs all over again...........
I will save you one Gail!! Right now I am afraid to send any AVs out due to a problem I am having with some of them.Jim and a friend of his are helping me get to the bottom of it.
I knew you would say you would save me a leaf................hope you get your problems worked out. I have had (since I have been growing) every single problem there can be. My cabinet always has two things for mealy bugs, two for thrips and mites..........just in case.......
And you probably don't even need a chemical..............maybe something very simple but it is frustrating isn't it!
Pretty Miss Kelly is aptly named.
Yes,sometimes I think I'll just throw them all out and start over....but that's a last resort!!
Don't you dare throw them out!! LOL!!! You would be lost without them to fuss over.
I know lots of people who wash african violet leaves with soap and water and stick them..........then throw all the plants out that they are having trouble with and start over. Now.......for me that isn't a depressing thought because propagating is the must fun part.
Hey all, Pink Patches is one that I want...IF the one I have now makes it. Does anyone have Willodene? I like that one too. It seems there are quite a few with beautiful variegated foliage. Where do some of you get your new violets or leaves? Purplesky and Bluebird Greenhouses seem to have nice ones, as well as L Lyon, of course. I live in a small apartment with a little dog and all these plants...begonias, peperomias, cactus, some succulents, a few hoyas, some other things, and now the AV. Too many plants! LOL ChuLin This is one of my Rex Begonias
That is gorgeous ChuLin! I used to try to keep some mini begonia's, but kept losing them--I think my soil might have been too heavy. Your's reminds me of Little Red.
Gessiegail; I didn't understand about washing the AV leaves with soap and water "and stick them". What does stick them mean...why would you wash them with soap and water? Thanks, Phoebesviolets, for the compliments on the rex. This is the second Harmonys Red Robin I have tried, and I did start sone leaves in case this one croaks. Its not looking the best right now, either. Not much at all like this pix anymore. Has lost almost all its big leaves...but new ones are growing. So there IS hope! ChuLin
I meant some people are so afraid of getting any kind of bugs from what is brought in their house that............when they receive leaves or plant material from another member or a vendor, they just gently wash the leaves in dish soap and rinse them off before they stick them to make babies.
All you need to know about sticking african violet leaves is to use a little pot (solo cup or whatever) with 1/2 perlite and 1/2 vermiculite.......water down well and put a dome on them or put in a zip lock bag with the top closed under your grow lights or in indirect light........In about 6-8 weeks you ought to see little ears popping up. Wait until the leaves are the size of a dime or nickle and then you can separate the babies.
OK, thanks for the info; now I understand,GGAil! I saw a Pretty Miss Kelly for auction on Ebay this morning. I do alot more looking on Ebay than I do buying. Always fun to look.
I even put Pretty Miss Kelly on my 'watch' list........but I can't order anymore either!! (LOL)
ChuLin,
I also love Rex's,but I have given them up to make room for Gessies.One of these days I may drag the used aquarium I bought back upstairs and grow a few again.For those of us that live in colder climates they do require extra attention in the winter.....and I can't grow everything anymore....I pretty much did that when I was younger.
I often wash Gessies if they need it.Just make sure they are dry before putting them in light and make sure the crown of a plant is VERY dry.And don't use cold water on indoor plants.
With Jim and a very good friend of his' help,I know my recent problems with some of my AVs are not bug or disease related,but until I am absolutely positive they are doing great I will not send anyone even a leaf that has been grown in my main plant room.
Lynn
Yes, mine LOVE a warm bath!
Chulin, I have the same exact Woodhill violet that is in your opening post photo, I love it, had it for several months now and it has bloomed three times. I have also been able to start 2 plants from it, one from a leaf and the other from sucker.
JMP24, Wow, thats the name of it...Woodhill? Thanks so much for that...I had no idea. Its a standard, right? I hope the variegation on the leaves stays bright like it is. I love the var. leaves...am thinking of getting 2 or 3 more. I was just looking at Lyon's violets....YUM!!! ChuLin
I don't think Woodhill Greenhouses sells any named violets. It is definitely a standard, and mine has stayed well-variegated. Supposedly you want to keep variegated violets in cooler temps and a little lower light than the non-variegated.
A store near me sells both Woodhill and Optimara. I got a leaf that was busted off another of the Woodhills, it has deep deep green leaves and a dark pink red flower. So far I just have a little baby growing from the leaf. Very easy to get to propagate.
