Yesterday I was watering and admiring my favorite AV. It's the first one I grew from a leaf. Now it has a perfect crown and is about three-four inches in diameter (it's a mini). But yesterday when I was examining it, I noticed what looked like little leaves beginning to grow from where the existing leaves attach to the crown. So far it doesn't look like it has any trailing habbits (as compared to my known trailers), but now almost every leaf has these new little leaves! Could this be a trailer, too? Pictures to come, once I get some batteries for my camera...
Surprise Discovery
Either it's trailing, or it's suckering like crazy! The trailers I've seen only seem to develop one or two new "branches" at a time, but my experience with trailers is pretty limited, so ??
Congratulations on becoming an AV propagator!
Looking forward to seeing a picture of your favorite AV! :-)
I just had another idea, too. Could the "leaves" be blossoms? This little plant hasn't flowered yet. My other adult AV has blossoms grow more from the center, so I didn't think of this at first... I'll post pictures tomorrow when I can get a picture in good light.
Propagating AVs is certainly addictive: now I have well over twenty babies, not including the ones I've already given away!
Okay, I finally have pictures! I'm still excited and curious about this, although now that I think about it, maybe it's just getting ready to bloom for the first time. The little leaves are still pretty tiny, so maybe I just can't tell yet that they will turn into buds and stems... That's still exciting for me, though! Please let me know what you think is going on...
In the second picture, I think I'm seeing a little cluster of flower buds, but it's hard to say anything for sure except... wait & see!
First bloom is always so exciting!
I know what you mean about propagating being addictive; I have a couple dozen leaves or plantlets going at a time since I started using an empty hexagonal fish tank as a mini AV greenhouse! I don't generally have any trouble adopting them out, especially if the parent AV is in bloom!
Yes, that's what I've been thinking, too. I've given several away, but none in bloom so far. Some "parents" are too anxious for it to bloom, not realizing it will be awhile, since they got a baby plant. So maybe from now on I'll wait to give them away.
Those new growths really look like leaf pairs to me, but I bet you're right and they will become flower buds. I'll keep you posted on what happens!
The flower buds on my violets look like little round beads. I can't quite see what's going on in your picture. If the new growth has opened up on the ends and looks like a tiny leaf, then it's a tiny leaf.
The flower buds on my violets look like little round beads. I can't quite see what's going on in your picture. If the new growth has opened up on the end and looks like a tiny leaf, then it's a tiny leaf.
Hmm, to me they do look like leaves... I guess I'll have to wait and see. It seems to make more sense that they're buds, though. In close-up pictures like that, you sure see how fuzzy AVs are!! Here's another view if it helps, but I'll keep you updated on what ends up happening.
Thanks, the closeup shot is easier to see! You're right, those do look like leaves. I have no idea why they would be arising in pairs like that. I've heard that some plants are more prone to suckering than others, so if it turns into a little crown of leaves, like there's a whole new little plant attached there, you'll have a new way to propagate this one (suckers can be cut off & rooted). Meanwhile, it's back to "wait & see."
I thought suckers grew on the neck (or at least that's what happened on another plant I have). These are at the base of leaves... Okay, so I'll wait and see, but the suspense is killing me! :)
Well, the little growths are getting bigger now, and they are definitely leaves. There are at least seven or eight places where these new little leaf pairs are growing, all right above an existing leaf. So does anyone have any idea as to whether they are suckers, this is a trailer, or something else I haven't thought of or don't know about??
well, most trailers spread, but some so-called trailers (sorry - showing some bias here) actually grow into a mound (ie, they "trail" mostly upwards. Sometimes they look nice, other times not so nice. I think there are a lot of minis like this. If you're getting them on every leaf, it's probably its growth habit so I would just leave it as is for a while and see what happens... (bloom... right?)
Yes, these little leaves are really filling in now, and above pretty much every single leaf! So I guess it's a "so-called trailer" then. :) It will be interesting to see what it ends up doing. If it ends up looking bad I guess I can try and groom it down. Thanks for your answer-- this question has been driving my crazy!
This little AV is finally getting ready to bloom! Now that I have examples of both, I can certainly tell a leaf from a bud. Only one bud so far, but finally it's doing its thing. :)
Keyring, I noticed in another post (Critterologists thread about the Rob's order) you said you can train these upward-growing AVs to spread laterally. How do you do that? Although maybe I'll still watch this one for awhile before I take any action. Hopefully it's one of those nice-looking ones!