I got away from african violets for a few years and just had to get a few. Think I have the bug again! lol Just received my order from The Violet Barn:
Rob's Lucky Charm
Rob's Antique Rose
Rob's Cherry Soda
Rob's Kitten Caboodle
Rob's Love Bite
Rob's Sarsparilla
Rob's Whiz Bang
Gorgeous! and I don't have any of those. What's the name of the lovely variegated one next to Rob's cherry soda?
That is Rob's Luckky Charm. I feel like it is Christmas. AV's really are wonderful.
I agree with you 100%!
Beautiful Sally and you received such nice plants!!
Lynn
I bought them from The Violet Barn and they were really nice. The packing was amazing.
I love Violet Barn! So pretty!
Beautiful! You got bit by the bug and scratched! ^_^
REALLY nice score! They have nice plants! Congrats!
Wow Sally there beautiful..thanks for sharing
Sonia
Sally those plants look great!
I don't mean to drive your thread off course but I noticed you have some other AVs in S/H next to your new ones. I have been waiting to try this, and finally got around to buying all the materials. I'm just wondering what has worked for you with fertilizing? I inherited some AVs from my grandmother and I am paranoid that I am going to kill them (I want to try S/H because I'm hoping it will keep me from overwatering)!
A few years ago I had many African Violets in s/h and had great success with them. I grew them for a number of years like that. I stopped growing them for awhile and have just ventured back into them. They are so pretty. I have switched all of the AV's in the pictures into s/h. I have them in plastic bags for a week since I had rinsed all of the dirt off. They are all doing really well. They don't even look phased by it. I have some leaves in s/h, too, that are doing well.
For those of us that are a bit ignorant,what is s/h?
Lynn
It stands for semi hydroponics.
Cool. Now . . . explain to the even more ignorant . . . what is semi-hydroponics? I mean, I know what the pictures in my head are telling me . . . but I can't always trust those pictures . . . ^_^
Semi Hydroponics is using clay pellets instead of dirt in a container with a reservoir of water on the bottom which keeps the plants moist but not soaked. It cuts down on overwatering big time. I have about 90 plants in it and have for years and they seem to love it. It has cut down on rot by probably 90% for me. I would say that if you are interested in it there is a sight called firstrays.com. There is a forum there and that is also where you can see the supplies that are used.
Great, thanks! I'll check it out!
I have just moved my new plants into the semi hydroponics so they are in bags for a week. They are not showing any signs of wilting so I am happy about that. The plant that is not in a bag I just got about 2 weeks ago at Home Depot. I am just getting started again and am so excited.
This message was edited Apr 4, 2011 8:13 AM
This message was edited Apr 4, 2011 8:13 AM
I'm just getting into minis, semi minis and trailers. Wonderful plants you got there. I just put down several leaves and can't wait for the plantlets.
Good growing!
Olaf
I have been reading about SH. We have orchids and they seem to love that kind of planting. For your violets, are the pellets any smaller? I am not sure how to experiment with the tiny roots. Also, why are the plants in bags, just to make sure they are not shocked when you do it at first? How long do they stay in your bags? Do the pellets soak up water and then just stay a little wet? I have been on the site, but I can't find a place to read the nutshell version. Lots of good info. I think Hubby and I will try some orchids.
Sally - I use the larger pellets for the African Violets. I carefully rinse and get off as much of the dirt as possible. AVs are much tougher plants than they look. Then I pot them up and stick them in the bag for about a week and I have them on a heat mat. When I took them out of the bag, the plants didn't even look fazed. They were still blooming. The pellets do soak up the water from the reservoir and they stay damp. What I love about this method with the African Violets is that I don't have to be careful about watering and that they don't have to be root bound to bloom. They are now out of the bag and doing great. They don't look any different then when I got them. A good site to visit is firstrays.com. This is where I buy my supplies and he actually started the s/h. There is also a forum there.
Thank you Olaf. I like the minis and semi minis because of room factors. I like having a variety and it is hard to do with the large AV's. I just baged up some leaves also. It is fun watching them.
I have been reading about SH. We have orchids and they seem to love that kind of planting. For your violets, are the pellets any smaller? I am not sure how to experiment with the tiny roots. Also, why are the plants in bags, just to make sure they are not shocked when you do it at first? How long do they stay in your bags? Do the pellets soak up water and then just stay a little wet? I have been on the site, but I can't find a place to read the nutshell version. Lots of good info. I think Hubby and I will try some orchids.
That's a wonderful way to restart a collection. :)
I talked to Ray for a long time yesterday on the phone. I will be potting some orchids and violets in this material soon! With my Chronic Fatigue Sydrome, this would be good, also, hopefully less root rot and repotting for sure. Fun to try it out!
That is great Sally!
