My New African Violet

African Violets have always been a favorite of mine, and my mother has always been jealous of the African Violets I've had in the past becuase all the AVs she's had died while mine always flourish and grow. Anyway, my mom got me a new AV for my birthday and I just re-potted her so I can't wait for her to bloom again. She's an Optimara but I'm not sure what her name is of yet, I'm waiting for her to bloom again before I ID her. I need to fertilizer her, but otherwise she is doing really well after being transplanted from her cramped grocery store pot to the big pot I have her in now. Here is a picture of her new home and her foilage :)

Here is a close up of the foilage that I took the same day

Hello SilverTigris,Welcome to the AV/Gessie forum!

Hello SiverTigris!! I think you will will love it here.

Lynn

Good afternoon, SiverTgris..............I missed this thread. Hang around 'cause we have fun here!!

SilverTigris,

I bet it will be blooming for you in no time!

Pat

Welcome to the group. I am new here too and have found everyone very warm and encouraging.

You mentioned you'd had a lot of luck so I probably shouldn't even mention this but since I'm new I'm trying to learn as much as a can. When something comes up that is different I feel I need to ask to make sure I understand.

You mentioned that the plant is happier now that it's not in its cramped space and in a larger pot. What I keep hearing is that AVs like to be a bit root bound and that the rule to apply is the width of the top of the pot should be 1/3rd of the diameter of the plant. I am putting my new plantlets that are about 3 to 4" in diameter into small pots that are 1 1/2 inches at the top and only 1 ounce capacity.

I am not sure I've learned this correctly but in case this may help you I thought I'd mention in. I hope others will chime in and offer their opinion and experience.

welcome

Anna..........on a new plantlet, you don't have to use a one ounce pot unless it is a small mini. You can also use a solo cup (the 3 ounces), but you are right about the plant once it starts growing .........shouldn't be moved to a bigger pot until the leaf diameter is 2 1/2 times the size of the pot.

But guess what........rules are made to be broken I guess.......Rob starts everything out (his standards) in a 4" pot......someone told me.....I don't!

I agree....we all do things differently.I never use anything smaller than a 3 ounce Solo cup for anything.....not even tiny mini leaves,but I grow my plants almost desert style LOL compared to many others.If you cover things tightly,have a heavy watering hand,or use a rich mix,this will not work for you.
And yes,most Gessies do respond better to a pot about 1/3 their leaf span.If you are using bigger pots,be very careful with watering and use a lean mix.

I am not liking anything smaller than a 3ounce........for anything but minis......and then I use the deep 1 1/4 ounce that I get at Party City.

Also....I ordered a lot of this size pot.....from Cape Cod and love them.........they are 2 1/4 round pots........they work for anything and aren't nearly as deep as 3 ounce solo cups.
Let me grab the camera and show you..............I stick leaves in them, grow in them, etc......

The solo 3 ounce is on the left and the 2 1/4 round is on the right........not much difference except height.

better get back to the ball game!

I lke those 2 1/4's too.

Lynn.....every time I needed them I didn't have them so I finally broke down and ordered 500 of them recently.........now I am in heaven.......

I might have to break down and do the same LOL.I know many members grow great little plants in little ketchup cups,etc,but mine would die.I don't always have time to check every plant every day.

Oh I know I don't have to as many of you use the 2 1/4 or the Solo cups for everything but it's easier for me so I never have to worry about over watering. It also I think really helps the plant more because it doesn't stay wet too long which isn't so good for the poor roots and it's much better for roots to water thoroughly not in drops. If I grow in a larger pot then the poor plant only gets little bits of water in order to prevent over watering.

My point wasn't to debate the size of the pot for my small plantlets lol but that AVs do like being rootbound from everything I read and that they may not flower either if they are not in addition to the possible watering issues.

Ibrabec, please explain: what do you mean by you grow things desert style? Thanks, ChuLin

Oh ChuLin,
I was just being sarcastic!! I meant sometimes my poor plants don't get watered till they are as dry as dust.It is not a good thing to do......I just get too busy sometimes.

Lynn

Since it sounds like several of you order from Cape Cod maybe you can help me with the pot sizes in the catalog. I emailed them and got a catalog last week but I am not sure which pot is which.

He lists a
2" round standard,
2 1/8" round tub
2 1/4" round standard or square
etc.

In the 3" it comes in a standard or tub.

What is a round standard vs a round tub? I do not know why I think this but I seem to think a tub would be less deep than a standard. Since some of Gail's plants were in the ones she pictured above I know what they look like and I like them but am also wondering what they others look like.

Also does the number like 2 1/4 apply to the top or the bottom diameter? I think it must be the top.

A standard is deeper than a tub.The measurement applies to the top in general,but the top and bottom are often the same.

Gail would be able to tell you,miss her not being on here,Hurry up computer get fixed lol


JIM

Thanks Lynn. When I measure the one that Gail sent me it was only 1 3/4" deep. And that is a standard because he only has 2 1/4 in a standard. So if I ordered a 2 1/8" or 2 3/8" tub it would be even more shallow, right? Is that better for trailers?

Tubs are more shallow than standard. AVs in general seem to like shallower pots better, but I too got some of the 2 1/4 pots from Gail and they are a really nice size, standard or not! ^_^

SilverT; how's you new AV doing...is it blooming yet? ChuLin

What is the website for Cape Cod?

You have to email them and ask them for an online catalog........

here is the information listed in Dave's Garden watchdog.......you can also call them after they email you a catalog........and turn your order in..........by phone......or email

http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/c/797/

Sorry I missed all the action on this thread I started, I got busy with other things and completely missed all that was going on. She hasn't bloomed again yet but figured it's more than likely due to needing to be fertilized. I have sine added more to my collection and now have 3 different Optimara Violets. My parents just can help but buy a new one for me when they go out and find one that they feel is "different" than all the others. So far I have Rita according to Optimara's website but it says she's a single bloom and the one I have is a double bloom. The other two are the one pictured at ht top of this thread which I believe may be Michele but is still debatable as she hasn't bloomed since I transplanted her, and the newest addition is Margit (Blue Variety).

The one I started this thread with was left outside in very cool weather and I think she got stunned from being out in weather with temperatures below 50 degrees. I had tried to bring her in and keep that from happening but my husband put her back outside and then promptly forgot to bring her back in the following night. I have her under a grow light now along with the newest additions ("double" Rita and Margit) and she is putting out new growth like crazy. I'll post pictures when I can get my hands on our camera (husband forgets I cannot reach high spaces or get into cubby holes) and will post them for everyone to see :)

Glad to see you back ^_^.

Lynn

Thank you Lynn, I've also been doing some searching on the AVSA's website and decided to try and cross breed my two newest violets so the outcome will be a Rita? x Margit or a Margit x Rita?. So it will be a cross between a pink and white ruffled semi-double or double bloom with scalloped (girl-type) leaves and a vibrant dark blue/purple single bloom with plain ovate leaves. I have no clue what I will get if anything but at least I'm willing to try..lol

I also say that Optimara could make things a little easier on people by just putting the names of their violets on the identification stick instead of making us go onto their website and try to I.D. their violets from pictures..lol Of course the names on the ID sticks only work if people don't pull them out of the pot then forget to put them back in or put them back with the wrong plant..lol

I took an updated picture of the African Violet pictured above and also took pictures of the new additions while I was at it. I really don't know which Optimara varieties these are becase the blooms on the one that looks like "Rita" do not match the plant or description listed except for the coloring. Otherwise, this is a semi-double or double bloom that is ruffled.

Here is the Margit ? Violet that my mom just got me

And of course here is the updated picture of the original violet that I started this thread with

Great pictures!! Whoever that first one is,it's lovely.

Lynn

Thank you :) I hope to add many more AVs to my collection especially those that are of the "unique" or hard to find varieties :)

Hi, I am new to AV and bought Hawaii and Harlequin about 2 weeks ago at the Nashville Garden Show. I have been setting them in water but yesterday I noticed a leaf is drooping. How often do you water yours? I may be killing this one with kindness. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
I do well with perennials. I have over 200 dls, plus hosta and iris. Can someone help me with these beauties?

Thanks,

Teresa

Hey Teresa,

Congrats on your new finds :) Depending on which vendor you bought your babies from...you might need to repot in a lighter soil. Lots of perlite is needed for drainage so their feet don't stay wet. They like moist but not wet soil. A lot of us on here do the wicking method but bottom watering works too.

Connie

you can also use small gravel or something similar in order to get the good drainage instead of the perlite for them so that they will have the drainage needed as well.

* AVs also prefer a shallow pot rather than a deep pot, which reminds me I need to replant my one AV very soon.

Teresa,
If you are not wicking or mat watering,it's usually best to let them dry slightly between waterings.Sitting in water doesn't allow the roots to breathe.The shallow pots and good drainage mentioned above are very important.
If the leaf that is drooping feels soft,it could be too much water.
Your outdoor garden sounds lovely.

Lynn

Well I might as well update this thread...I took some time and found some nice 5" Terra Cotta Clay pots for $1. I puchased 2 and mixed up some soil and beach pebbles (aka beach sand that looks nothing like the beach sand I'm use to) and repotted 2 of my AVs. One is the one that I originally started this thread with and the other is my "Rita" NOID may or may not be Optimara AV with the white frilly blooms with pink thumb prints on the bottom 3 or 4 petals of each bloom. Since I repotting them they definitely seem to be much happier, especially my poor little beauty that has yet to bloom again since being left out in the cold this winter and being replanted in a pot that was WAY too big for her. She has perked up much more since I repotted her again and have been fertilizing her and has put out several new healthy leaves and I want to prune off some of the "battle-worn" leaves but dare not do so until she has gotten quite a few nice big leaves on her. Here is the pictures I took of both plants right after I repotted them in the 5" clay pots.

They look great,but do be careful.5 inches is a pretty big pot.Good growing.
Lynn

Thanks Lynn I appreciate the information. I definitely do not plant on putting them in anything bigger especially after seeing the size of the 5" pots. However, the 2 AVs that are pictured above are doing very well in their new pots and seem to be very happy. Having said that, the AV in the background in the above posting has still not allowed her leaves to lay in a more horizontal manner and they are still "reaching for the sky". I've removed her from the grow light thinking that maybe she was just reacting to the light but she's been away from the grow light now for 2 days and there doesn't seem to be much of a change. I'm not too concerned but was wondering if there may be something I could do that might help ? I keep them fertilized regularly (every 2 to 4 weeks) but am wondering if maybe I should cut back on the fertilizer and see if that has any effect.

The weird thing is that my Dark Blue/Purple AV was starting to doing the same thing but after removing her from the grow light for a couple of days she let her leaves down to a more "natural" position. I have since put her back under the grow light and the leaves have stayed down.

Needless to say, this other AV has me very curious as to why her leaves won't start laying flat. Should I pinch them back (as there is a ton of new growth) or should I wait a little longer before I pinch the big leaves off to make room for the new leaves? The only reason I ask is that it seems the new growth is starting to get "squeezed" by the mature upright growth.


Katie