Sonia,
What lovely plants.Who cares if they are noids?
What's bloomin' at your house?
Maria -- "All Pink" is a perfect name for her. She is sweet. Wish I could find AVs like that at Walmart. I never, ever see variegated ones in the stores.
Sonia -- I like both your plants and your pictures. You have a good eye for both! I really like it when a shot makes you feel the texture of the plant -- yours do that very well. As for the plants themselves, all I have to say is "noids schmoids -- those are beautiful plants". I'm not even sure which one I like best.
Jan
They are all so gorgeous. I have not seen the variegated ones in the stores either. Where do you find yours?
Sonia - love that first one.
Well I threatened to post some pics -- so here goes :
These two I am proud of because I grew both from tiny "pups" and they are not only blooming but show decent form. I've been working a lot on pruning and training AVs so they grow out nicely, and I'm finally starting to see some of the results.
#1. Is the ever-popular "Frozen In TIme"
#2. Is a noid
These two I can't take any credit for -- they were Christmas presents and have been blooming since they arrived. But I think they both are cool.
#1. Is "Calico Queen"
#2. Is "Eternal Orbit" -- this one has had a rough month as it was the victim of a schnauzer that likes to nose over pots and eat the perlite on the floor. Several times. I will never understand why he had to pick this one of all my AVs. Anyhow, it is recovering and still blooming a bit. I love the variegation and that it's a semi-miniature.
Jan,
They are just beautiful.You are doing a great job with shaping them.
Lynn
Love your noids Sonia, very happy and healthy plants.
Jan, I can tell you have mastered the AV science and your schnauzer definitely picked it from you -- he had an eye for the prettiest one! lol
Jamie, pollination is quite easy and very interesting thing to do. I'm no expert and trial and error is my only way but already got 2 pods. Because I'm not good with terminology here is a very good info:
http://www.grownotes.com/pollinating-african-violets/
So I take those yellow pollen sacs, crash them so that powdery yellow pollen is visible, dip a cotton swab into it and rub it against stigma. They recommend to do it several times over a few days to get better chances then just wait and watch for a thick center to develop. It does take time but I believe it's worth it to get a nice surprize some day. Now I have to sow the AV seeds for the first time ever and I'm very exited about it.
You can also put pollen on your thumbnail and touch the stigma gently.The bloom should be a day or 2 old so the stigma is more sticky.
Lynn
I see where I went wrong. I tore off a pistil (pollen thing?) and touched it to some stigmas once. I'll try again now. thanks.
Basically just remove the anthers (pollen sacs),cut them carefully with a thin razor or your fingernail and touch it to the stigma.If the stigma is ready it will be sticky and pollen will easily stay on.Be sure to keep a record of what you crossed.
Lynn, did you have any success? how different the babies can get?
Maria,
I don't grow from seed anymore...at least I haven't tried for a while,but yes I had lots of success.The seeds are microscopic and you have to be very careful not to let them rot,but the results are so much fun.
Some will look like one of the parents and others can be totally different from either one.Some won't be anything special,but there will be surprises.
My most surprising baby looked like a Chimera,white with pink candy stripes.I was so excited.
Remember,if you come up with something unique,you must grow it for 3 generations from leaf to make sure it comes true and you can then name it and register it with the AVSA.I never registered any of mine.I just did it for fun.
Lynn
Totally agree, it's so exiting to be able to create something new. I wish there was something like 'pollen bank' available, my collection is way too small.... But I'm in training so we'll see what happens.
On another forum people talked of freezing pollen and sending it to each other. But I don't remember the details of that method. Maybe someone else can tell us all. We could have a pollen swap?
I'd love to!!! Please, tell me more!
I'd love to try something like that -- cool idea.
I would be interested in hearing more about this too.