Purchasing Plants vs Leaves..... What's your choice?

I am starting to prefer buying leaves and starting my own compared to buying a "plantlet"...
A lot of the plantlets I get in the mail come in damaged because of poor packing or usually the PO has bounced them around in the box. So far, I have never received leaves in bad shape and they are cheaper to purchase, too. What's your experience been so far?

MsC

No experience yet but I've been noticing those for sale on Ebay. At first, I thought, "now who would buy just leaves" but it is definitely starting to make more sense. Seems you can get more violet for the money. I'm waiting to hear what others think.

Susan you are right! You can get more violets for your money and if the worst happens and the leaf fails (rarely) you are only out 1-2 bucks.

I have never experienced because I do not have AVs.

Gumlla:You're going to have to get with the program!!You don't know what you're missing. AV's are definitely not boring plants!

If the leaves are variegated, I prefer to get plantlets. I find the variegated ones difficult to start from leaf, especially if there's not a lot of green on them.

I haven't tried to grow my own yet but would like to try. I want so much one that has the green and pink leaves.

Honibee:There could be one in your future if I can keep this propagating thing going!! LOL!

I have recently bought plantlets and leaves on eBay. I haven't received the leaves yet, but I have had a lot of luck propagating AVs from leaves. The plants I received were a little damaged in spite of great packaging, but I just planted the broken leaves to make some more plantlets. I have to say, I think in the future I'll go for leaves-- much cheaper, so you can get a large variety for less money. It seems they often give more than one leaf, too, so you'd have a back-up in case of a failure.

And to those of you who don't have AVs or haven't tried propagating them yet, I'd highly suggest it! I don't do anything special-- just plant a leaf and water it. No green thumb required! It's so much fun, and now I'm hooked!

Good question, MsCritter! I'll have to watch this thread and see what other people are doing.

--DanaK

susancva
I will not miss these beautiful plants, soon MsC will send me few seeds then I will also have beautiful plants in my garden. I also want to enjoy AVs.

Thanks for everyone's input...since a lot of us are rather new at the AV game I thought it might be a nice topic..

Key,
I agee with you on those var.leaves... sometimes it's worse than waiting for Christmas! LoL

gumlla-
I'm still waiting on those seeds to arrive, they must be coming by carrier pigeon..lol I'll let ya know the minute they arrive.:)

Thanks danak... I have had more luck growing AV's from leaves than I ever had trying to grow anything from seed..lol
It was a confidence booster so now I am gonna try a few more seeds...wish me luck!

I much prefer the leaves. I push the leaf down into a moist peat pellet, throw it into a labeled ziplock baggie, and put them under growing lights (about 12 inches from the light). I have lost only 1 out of 23. (havent lost a varigated one yet)

I'm just getting started with AV's. I purchased two from a local florist...the only place I could find them. I'm trying to root one of the leaves before I invest in purchasing any. I seem to have trouble starting the simplest things!

I've also purchased leaves from Ebay, and I like getting a larger variety for less cost. Plus, it's fun to watch them grow!

I love growing by leaf and always buy leaves. I'd order them by the hundreds. Some leaves cost just as much as plants now. Some leaves I got were small and just died.
Now often I find it better to buy the plant, put several leaves down, share leaves and maybe even re-pot the crown to grow a new plant to share with some one !
Like my Russian plants One leaf cost me from a vendor $4.75 each. But it was small and most died. So I bought the plant for $9.95 and had many leaves to put down and share, the plants grow fast and give me more :))
How about you what do you like buying best leaves or plants ?
Good thread MsC thanks :))

When I first started growing AV's (a couple years ago) I wanted PLANTS....not leaves. I was into "instant gratification" and wanted to see the blooms asap. However, that all changed the first time I won a lot of leaves off eBay. Now, I MUCH PREFER growing leaves....even if it means I have to wait 3-6 months to have a mature, blooming plant. There's so much satisfaction in knowing you grew a plant from a single leaf.
......not to mention you get more violets for your money. =0)
Betsy

I have had succss with Ma's Debutante from leaf.

The mother leaf had only two babies but when I seperated them the mother leaf was very healthy and still had a good root system. I put her back in the soil and in two weeks I had two more babies. They could have already been there and very small. I was very surprised!!!

The only other success I have had with a variegated leaf is Blackberry Jam.

I'm right in the middle of my first leaf purchase and trade. This was around September. The babies are finally on their way and I'm beginning to divide the plantlets. Leaves take more time that buying a plant. But, it's the time that make the plants yours.



This message was edited Dec 18, 2005 6:21 PM