September Gessies #2

We came from here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1034395/

Here is a first bloom on my Franken Copper Knob.

what size pots do you have those little ones in? I have to know everything because they look so healthy!!!!

Do you want me to show you how big the blooms get on a big one?

I am being serious in asking you tell me your secrets on those little ones!!!

im seriously thinking that im not going to be going much higher in my pots then a 3 inch,the ones in 4s do ok but the ones in 3 really grow and bloom and set out more leaves,that i can share with you all

JIM

One thing I learned when visiting Gail a few weeks ago, is that I was treating my streps too delicately! By that, I mean that I was being over protective . . . when moving one, I would use one hand to protect it from others, etc. Now I'm like Gail - I move them quick, and don't panic if a pot bumps into another one!

The pots I have some of those babies in, Gail, are those bigger clear squatty type cups you gave me.

Here's the part that I mentioned you wouldn't like in the dmail . . . I am Texas style watering them, just like everything else! (Here, I'll go take a pic). But, unlike my violets, I do let the soil dry out a bit before I water again.

I think it is great................if I had known that I was going to put wicks in my big streps (Like Jim) and put on matting, I would have put perlite in the bottom.............great job........

No, I am hardly gentle with my baby streps........or anything else in my life but a real baby!! (LOL)

Nic,
I use to be the same way with my plants... Now if one drops I don't get upset... That is a beautiful flower... Here is picture of my first bloom ORANGE JULEP, Looks to pink to me LOLOLOL Still it is a pretty flower... Nice to live so close to Gail... I have my one friend from here that lives 1 hour away and I am thankful for her... Then I have to hope a plane to get to Kimmy :-)
Hugs,
Susan

Nicole ,

I know probably everyone else knows this but please what it Texas style watering :) I have heard the term but I don't know what it means .

Thank You ,
Connie

YOu tell Connie, Nichole.....I will also see if I can find a site explaining it..........I know it works beautifull for those of us who tend to overwater..........

I can't find an article, but it is simply wicking every pot and putting perlite in the bottom of each container............the perlite prevents the plants from the actual soil less mix sitting in water and fertilizer........

Maybe someone else can come along that actually does it.....like Nichole.

I just googled an article by Critter here on DG......
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/907/

oh ok thank you Gail , it's like putting tiny pebbles in the bottom of the pots to keep the roots out of the water , I have done this before so thank you for explaining , I didn't know it had a name , Thank You Gail

Connie

Thank you for the link Gail :)

Connie

shes not real orange just a hint but i like it ok and if i can find a different orange might be worth using for breeding

JIM

Well Jim,
I don't see a hint of orange anywhere but it is it's first bloom... Do you want a leaf of it? Or me root one for you?
Back to bed I go...
Hugs,
Susan

I still think Georgette has a pretty orange bloom..........

no thanks ,ive got a plant of it maybe 2 or 3

geogette is orangish,so is coral comet and sever others ,poochie has a nice orange to it too

JIM

I think Poochie has more pink in it than Georgette....................but prettier............

theres really no such thing as an ugly strep is there,cept maybe jacos gem
and its ok too

How funny..........because I think Jaco's Gem is the ONLY ugly strep I have ever seen.

I am not letting you see that foliage that I haven't cleaned up yet. These are african violets (very very mature plants) from David Thompson on ebay. The very reason I ordered them is to have lots of leaves to stick and share. The leaves haven't fallen down on very many yet and I do need to repot and clean up. I also cut many of the flowers off and intend to disbud after cleaning up.

But these are avs I wanted so badly.........
First is Petite Jewel.

She is a mini and they are in 2 1/2 inch pots....so she is going backwards in a two inch pot.

I disbudded this one but wanted you to see how pretty Optimara Little Hopi II is........I have already stuck 4 leaves.

David's Plants are not the faint hearted as they are very large and broken leaves are just part of the package........be prepared to repot, stick leaves and get real excited.

For 5.95 I have a giant of a mini trailer called Darlin' Blue. One plant has filled a two and half inch pot.

I love any plant with coral blooms and this Ian-Marilen Russian.

Edited to say that I got my plants mixed up and this is: Cinnamon Gumdrops....love her!!!

This message was edited Sep 13, 2009 9:55 AM

I have been dying for Rob's Hopscotch and here she is!!! (not cleaned up of course)

I don't know why I ordered Rebel's Splatter Kake as she is so easy to find..........you are only getting to see a few blooms instead of dirty foliage.

What a precious Aly's Blizzard Bunny mini covered with double white blooms.

You really can's see how gorgeous these flowers are with the fantasy in them. It is the Russian one, Ian-Marilen.

You can also see what happens to old ladies' hands when you keep them in water and dirt all day (smiling)

I love rebels splatter kake,save me a leaf gail or start me one please

I am starting all of them and plenty of them...................I want to defend DAvid Thompson and his shipping. He charges soooooooo little compared to other vendors........and to ship big avs is almost impossible unless you want one to a box for 7.50.

David sent everyone of these plants in one box for 11.00....................can't have everything but plant_maniac has the best grown violets I have found.

theres a good chance if you start enough of rebels splatter kake it will sport into rebels astro spinner,a nother one I like


JIM

Good bit of info to have!!!!

Very nice flower, Susan!

Connie - this is copied right out of the Handbook for Growers, Exhibitors, and Judges . . .

"Texas-style potting consists basically of a shallow layer of coarse, pebbly, inert material such as perlite or granite gravel, and a shallow layer of potting mix. The plants are watered from the bottom with a dilute fertilizer solution."

You'll see in the pic I posted that there is about a 1/2" of perlite at the bottom of each pot. I keep the perlite level the same for each plant in a tray, so when I water, I know when to stop for the whole tray.

I should be dmailing you, Nichole....but easier this way.

My cousin who gave the cortisone shots only wanted in return some african violets for his wife. So, she picked out a couple and one of them was Blue Eyed Russian. I hope you still have the leaf pot or some planted up???? Maybe.....hopeful that you do. If so, save me a baby.............please.

dont do it nicole,help her cut back LOL
kidding of course

I am so excited ............I forgot the viostrep and I had traded and all her leaves are having babies........not ready to pot up but looking good.....There is one called Blue Mist Russian. Is that the same thing as Blue Eyed Russian.

Jim, shame on you for picking on little oh me!!! (the meanest woman that one can be) (LOL)

I am sticking tomorrow 5 leaves of Splatter Kake among many others............how much better can life be if we have our families and our plants!!!!

Hi ,


Gail Blue Mist isn't Blue Eyed Russian but I do have the plant , I thought I had sent you a couple of leaves of it but I sent so many I may have thought I did but I can send you some if you will let me , I have asked a few times if I could send you a box but you always say you have too many already :) but I would be happy to send you some :)

Connie

I answered you with a dmail..............you did send the Blue Eyed Russian and since I had one, I gave that away (LOL)............

All we do on this forum is trade, takeaway, giveaway and have fun!!!
For the others, I did take her up on a trade in November and I am getting back the Blue Eyed Russian........what a group!!!

LOL Glad I haven't lost it completely , I was sure I sent you Blue Eyed Russian , now I won't make that mental checkup LOL


Hugs Gail , you are so sweet :)

Connie

I'm glad someone was able to find it for you Gail! I remember seeing that leaf cup of Blue Eyed Russian, but I have no idea where it went!

We are a hopeless group but so much fun!!!!!

Thanks so much, Connie!
Nichole.............I love ya' anyway...........