What went wrong..

I am fairly new to AV and this forum..I have had african violets in my house for years, but they were just the regular noid varieties from HD and Lowes..so last week I took the leap and order some named ones..I recieved the plants on Wed..I was super excited until I opened the box and noticed that they all looked like they froze, all the AV are translucent looking ..leaves drooping and super discolored..Did I just order them at the wrong time of year..I chose to mail them priority mail 2-3 day..was it that..and what do you guys suggest I do now..I have over $70..of African Violets that I'm just gonna get fustrated looking at and throw in the trash..very sad...thanks in advance

This pic is of only 4 of them, there are a total of 9 and they all look like this..

Sonia

Awww, Sonia, I'm so sorry. I would say that it is frost damage. Some of the other more experienced growers will come along to tell you what you can do to try to save them. Did you buy them from Rob's Violets?

that is very sad looking, whoever you bought them from, please email them with a picture, you should get your money back, was there even a heat pac in the box?
mrsbonnie

Oh what a shame,sure does look like they froze.mrsbonnie gave you some good advice,you should get your money back.

Thanks Guys..I will contact Violet Barn tomm..there e-mail is not working..thanks again..

Sonia

I was looking a bit ago and saw that many vendors will only ship next day mail in the winter months. I didn't have the extra money so I didn't order and was a bit miffed that they wouldn't let me do it with priority mail. I don't know if overnight is necessary with a heat pack but I surely can see from these pictures why a vendor would be afraid of having this happen and not allow another option.

I hope you get replacements Sonia. Maybe pay the extra for overnight shipping or wait until your weather is a bit warmer for them though so you don't have this disappointment again.

I hope you get replacements too, Sonia.
I just ordered some plants from Rob this weekend. According to his website, he only guarantees plants during the winter if you ship by Express Mail. Priority mail is at your own risk. In the order confirmation email he said that he could not ship this week because temps are far too cold, and that he expects to ship next week. I told him, no rush, just wait until the temps are warmer.

How awful, again, I'm very sorry this happened.

Shanika

I just spoke with Rob and like most of mention ..he does not guartee plants that are mailed 2-3 days Priority Mail..I got no Replacement nor Refund..All I can say is that I will Never order from them again..Thanks Everyone for Listening..

Sonia

sonia,
I did notice a few leaves and one crown that don't appear frozen.You might be able to propagate the leaves and save any with good crowns.When it warms up,try posting a want list.Some here may have extras or be selling on the marketplace.

For sure, what Lynn said about extras.
Post what you bought from Robs. Odds are one of us will have a leaf or maybe even a plantlet to send you.

Its a shame you chose to order from a well known vendor and this happened. Just bad luck it was this time of year. Violets don't like cold weather and there has been a lot of it between New York and Ca.

tish

please post what you ordered and i'll see if I have any of them. What a shame - I'd be crushed, too.

So sorry that is the policy. I know I'll be looking carefully for those words in the future.

I don't have a lot of avs but through the generosity of people here I have many more than when I joined and I would also be happy to send you something when it gets warmer. I imagine you will get many such offers.

you bet, let me know what your looking for.i have lots of av babies.
mrsbonnie

I will have babies to share also, when it warms up.

Me too!! I'll be more than happy to share.

Melanie

You guys are all super sweet here and thanks a bunch..Made my day..
They few that I ordered..
Ma's Blue Turtle
Ma's Corsage
Funambule
Ness Second thought
Happy Harold
Tommi Lou
Rainbow Quiet Riot
Tomahawk
Frozen in time..
Rebel's Minnesota Haze..

I would be more than happy to trade with you guys or pay for plants..
I have been collecing Plumeria for about 7 years now ..mostly from Thailand and would be more than happy yo trade cuttings plants or seeds..

This is Gina from Thailand..just an example ..of what else I do..thanks again everyone for making me feel a whole lot better about what happen..


Sonia

I think I have a leaf of Ma's Corsage down and I should have some leaves by spring to share. Some of those are on my want list LOL!!

Connie

Connie I laughed when I read your post because some of them are on my wish list too and one of them I already killed. I also have a leaf of Ma's Corsage down so we know that one is covered. Sonia that plumeria is so very pretty I wish I had room for something like that. I can see why you like them so much.

That is funny, Anna! I also agree with you on the plumeria. I am wanting that to be my next addition, I just need to find some of those too :)

Connie

I have a leaf down of Funambule down. I ***think*** I have a leaf of Rainbow's Quiet Riot down. Will check when I get home!

Yes, I do have a leaf of Rainbow's Quiet Riot down. Let's hope for lots of babies!

This message was edited Jan 6, 2010 9:42 PM

I don't have the ones on your list,but I bet I have something you would like!!

I have Funambule babies. By spring they should be ready to go. Plumerias are wonderful. I have three noids in the bedroom. Girls watch out.....it could be another addiction because they smell out of this world!!

Oh, Melanie. If you have enough babies, please save me a Funambule for our trade this spring.

Connie, will do! One now has your name on it.

I have a couple of Tomahawk leaves down, so when it warms up they should be ready to go.

Thanks guys..anyhoos just looked at the violet barn website..and noticed that in the comment section 2 other people had the exact same issue as mine..I guess I've learned..and have since re-ordered from then again..crazy I know..but the last batch of about 15 plants came through express mail ..arrived perfectly healthy..I believe everyone deserves a second chance..so with that being said I'm ready to order another 15..and that's it..LOL..


Sonia

Good for you Sonia. I am glad you tried again because they do have nice plants. I think everyone pretty much repots them though as soon as they get them because they use a heavy peat mix that works well for them and for shipping but doesn't work well for most of us in the home. I hope they grow and bloom well for you. Of course now that you have some you'll want more and lots of people like to trade to make sure you put a list of what you have in the thread about trading and a list of what you want.

Thanks annacanna..I haven't repotted them yet..I will probably wait about a month or so ..I think repotting them as soon as they come in from the mail is to much shock at once..If I get them from Lowes or Home Depot..then yes I usually repot within a week or so..It's just wierd that Rob doesn't refuse order if not gonna ship Express Mail..Especially if knows the risk of them freezing out there for 3 days is higher..

Sonia

This message was edited Jan 28, 2010 8:26 AM

Another couple from them that I used to have and loved (I lost all of my african violets in a cross-country move and am currently violet-less) were: Pretty Miss Kelly, Private Dancer and Blue Dragon. All are just WONDERFUL violets.

Good for you Sonia! I hope they grow happily and healthy! Would love to know which ones you got.:)
Just my two cents, but I think you should repot into your own soil sooner rather than later. Anna is right, the mix he and other large commercial growers use is not suitable for average home growing.

I can't speak for anyone else but I seem to have discovered that these plants are much heartier than we think. I always repot immediately no matter what the circumstance and they don't skip a beat. Might as well get all the shocks over with at the same time and get them into a healthy soil mix that I know won't hurt them. It also allows me to look at roots to see how healthy they are and see if there are any things that look like bugs like webbing from mealies though I imagine I couldn't see too much anyway.

Okay Grow Happy..here is the list of stuff I got..the first order I just re-order everything that died above..and the second order I got..

Ma's Fat Froggie
Ma's Bridal Bouquet
Chicago Flair
Gem Craft Pink Pearl
Apache Blanket
Apache War Bonnet
Buckeye Butterflies
Opera's Paolo
Ma's Grape Escape
Ma's Red Rover
Wrangler Jealous Jewel
and then I got 3 trailers..
Amandie Trail
Vannilla Trails and Humpty Doo..

I guess I have some re-potting to do tomm..thanks again guys for the great advice..
I am so out of room..

Sonia

there are still a hand full more that I wann get..sad..

Does anyone recognize this one..I bought it about 2 weeks ago..Love how smoky the leaves are ..and the flowers are one of the darkest reds I've seen in person..

If you guys wanna try plumies out ..super easy from seed..just shoot me a message with you mailing address and I'll be more than happy to send some out..

this Jackie..

Thanks Sonia, you really got some nice ones. I love the Apache series.

Do Plumeria's take full sun to grow well?

Shanika

are plummies easy to propagate?
mrsbonnie

Great pictures Sonia!!

This message was edited Jan 29, 2010 3:07 PM

Plumeria are super easy..full sun and they also like good drainage in there potting mix..I use the regular miracle grow and just add some perlite..They do not like the cold at all ..Alot of people in the colder climates will either up root them and store them in the garage or they will just bring the plant and pot and store them in the house..they require very little water once they go dormant in the winter..the plant will drop all it's leaves..and then grow new ones in the spring...if you guys want some seeds..just let me know..



Sonia