I finally got one!

Oh I had NO idea about the difference in mini care! I guess ignorance is just bliss LOL

Also didn't know micros were not yet another classification :)
thanks for the info!

Wow Allison, those two you posted links to above sure are close to what mine looks like! Maybe I'm just partial, but I sure do think it's purdy! :o)
Chris_Lorry, maybe if I gather enough minis we could do a trade sometime. I'd love to have that Alsobia Cygnet you posted on the trade board. It's beautiful! I started to Dmail you about it when you posted it, but it was just too cold here to be shipping plants. We were in the 20s at night at that time. And.... I spied those cryptanthus of yours, too! LOL How lovely they are! I've got two plants of the same species, but I can't remember the name of it. Well, I had to go look it up. I believe they are the plain Cryptanthus bivittatus, Starfish Plant. Nothing fancy, but I love them just the same.
Yes, I'll admit it, I have a plant addiction problem! ;o)
Now, I'm going back up this thread to thoroughly study Allison's teachings on minis.
RG

RG it is beautiful ! THE Albosia Cygnet Lorry posted i have dozens of
babies growing , i Can put one in your box ! Here i posted how to grow
them
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/556129/

Training An Episcia 'Cygnet'
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/556129/

Oh boy! My excitement grows! I'd love to have one, Allison! Thank you!
Of all the beautiful colors of flowers available to us, I can't help but still love plain ole white flowers. They're so fresh and clean looking.
By the way, at some point I asked this, and it may have been answered and I just missed it, but are there any actual blue AV blossoms? I'm betting the answer is no, but I had to ask. ;o)

Gosh, yes, there are blue AVs! :-)

I'll have to take a picture of my 'Kingwood Blue' tomorrow -- first time blooming for me, with huge double blossoms of true medium blue. On some AVs, it's a toss-up as to whether a bloom color should be called blue or purple, but this one is unmistakably blue.

Here's a noid (no ID) AV that I call by the imaginative name "Blue TLV NoID" for its blooms and its variegation pattern. The color in this photo seems fairly true to me, and I'd say the blooms are closer to true blue than to blue-violet.

It's hard to figure out the "actual" colors of violets from photos, as color balance is often "off" (for instance, your mini above looks quite blue to me rather than light purple as you describe), and even descriptions can be pretty subjective when it comes to separating blue from purple or red from magenta-pink. That's why it's difficult to even guess at an ID for a noid AV, and it's impossible to identify them with any certainty from a photo.

I agree that color cannot be reproduced correctly on a computer monitor. Your picture looks purple to me, but I believe you that it's blue. :o) That said, it is super gorgeous, so please let me know if you ever have a baby or leaves to share, as true blue flowers are my favorite, and the variegation is icing on the cake.
Many of the plants (not AVs) I have looked at that are "Blue" whatever, are actually purple, lavender, etc, but it's the true blue that I so love. I'll be on the lookout for Kingwood Blue, as well.

To the best of my recollection (and it's budding now, so I'll soon be able to check my memory, LOL), the color of the "blue TLV" noid is close to the color of the bloom in the lower center of the photo, just to the right of the big lower leaf.

I'm pretty sure I have a plantlet or two coming along, so I'll see where they're at in spring. I've got a couple leaves down for 'Kingwood Blue' also... it's an "old standard with girl foliage" according to the folks at The Violet Gallery. :-)

Oh Jill Kinkwood blue vintage and girl foliage :)) can you put a leaf down for me too please ! Thanks, Allisob

Oh Raingazer!
I will hold a cygnet for you..just email me and remind me once your weather warms up!
I also have ATON of minis....and am more the happy to share with fellow AV nuts!
On the crypts...I only have the raspberry colored one in pup right now..but many of the others will be pupping soon.
I would be happy to send you some of those things spring also!

OK, Allison... adding 'Kingwood Blue' to your wish list! :-)

Edited to add, I found I already had it on your list in my Trade Tracker! I think I was assuming you wanted any girl leafed AV that I had. :-)

This message was edited Dec 29, 2005 12:51 PM

Thanks Jill :))

critterologist, thanks! I'll be looking forward to them!

Chris_Lorry, we'll get together in the spring and see what all kinds of stuff we can work out to trade!

RainGazer, we can put a trade together in spring too, if you'd like.... I'm realizing that I'd better start offering to trade my AVs for other (outdoor) plants, or my new plant stand will overflow much too quickly!

I'd love to do a trade in the spring!
I know what you mean about the plant stand overflow. I have so many houseplants, and I was looking at them yesterday thinking there are some that I just don't particularly care for. Not that there's anything wrong with them, some of them just aren't my favorites. If I'm going to spend all this time caring for my plants, I want it to be ones I truly do love. Most likely I'll have a mass houseplant trade/cleanout this spring.
I'm going to be on the lookout for outdoor plants, too, but I seem to have developed a seed addiction (imagine that! LOL), so I may have more outdoor plants than my entire neighborhood needs. I can hardly wait to start some seeds, so maybe by spring I'll have some outdoor plants you'd be interested in, too. I've got a few shrubs to try rooting cuttings from, too. Hope that goes well.

That's fun ! I traded two cuttings of Plumeria and Cleopatra Begoina for a box of African violets. One time we had a plant trade. It could be African violets, and of their cousins, Begonias, anything you can put in dirt :)) I also have traded Night blooming cerus plants and cuttings for all kinds of plants even cactus :)) I got some gorgeous Morning Glory seeds from Joseph ( where are you Happy New Year) and he is sending me a beautifl Av and I am also sending huim a couple Strep plants. There is no limits to trading and endless enjoyment !

Amy where have you been hiding ? You have Dmail :))

you guys are just too much...i am having the time of my life enjoying all of this...the few times i had "done" mini's ..i have not done well with them..so thanks for the info allison..
..and the pics everyone...they are so pretty...you guys are gonna chuckle at this...but hey...who knows: saw on a Thai plumeria site where they just put the seeds in a mason jair..ie..like classico pasta sauce.....nothing else..no water...etc...so i thought...hey how bout if i try it with the av leaves..the Thai people said it has something to do with "aspiration"...he he..or whatever the word is for the leaves to produce their own oxygen and whatever it is that makes them survive..(oh my where is my science mind when i need it)....the trick they say is not to open the jar until leaves form and than "harden" them slowly etc..so we'll see...lol

Raingazer, your violet is beautiful! I can never find anything good at Lowe's or HD. Maybe it is because I am in Texas, I dunno.

Your plant shelf is great. Just like mine, except I got the white one. I had to laugh when I saw the picture. I think about 95% of the AV shelves I have seen pictures of on the forum are all alike. I think we are singlehandedly keeping that company rolling. : ) Glad you are here!!

Sounds good Bob :)0 I've known people who bought or got leaves at a violet meeting or show..and forgot they had them in their purse or pocket only later to fine them with some super duper roots even babies :))
I get some Av babies I put a slightly damp paper towel into a large gallon zip lock bag I ladi the Av leaf on it. I was ever so proud showing visitors my baby in this bag. It rooted fast and I kept it there until the baby was big and then potted it up ! I kept it on top of the TV DVR box to keep it warm few people had said to do so from other groups I kept some on the back of the TV too :))
I grew babies ever way you can think of :)) But after my first order of one hundreds leaves and I learned secrets at my local group and I was given bags of leaves and solo cups and a 6 quart plastic show box ..it all began. Before I knew I had 35 of these boxes filled...then Hubby started buying me large boxes ones that held 50-60 solo cups :)0 the 6 quart held about 16 cups of leaves :)) This year I keep about 200 leaves down but before this I had 500 or more down :)) I am addicted to growing these little babies creating a new life !
Now when ever I teach someone to grow by leaf fool proof I teach them way I was taught at my group.
For example I told this story on a different thread and posted some of her pictures. One of my CNA's ( well they all say this lol) you make growing African violets so easy everytime I tried the leaves rotted...So I gave her about 16 labled solo-cups with the leaf in a baggies stuck in the cup ( hole in the cup of course) I gave her a gallon of soil-less mix, wicks, and a 6 quart plastic box. To her amazement each leaf rooted and gave her gorgeous babies ! She was so happy when I showed her on FC pictures and printed out the info. I had just got two large orders of leaves one Linda Rowe had buy two get one free so I bought like one hundred leaves plus the free ones. I did not check the names or pay Attention to the ones I gave Gayle, but I tell you what she got some Vintage, rare, some of every kind ! She has share some plants and knowledge with friend's. It did not stop there after these were all rooting she wanted more :)) This time I gave her about 20 bags of leaves I put the holes in the cups but let her lable them herself, I gave her a larger box, and wicks. She had bought ten gallons of my soil-mix for a discount of $3.00 each as she wanted to transplant her house plants...( and hubby makes me special soil mix with Bat poop and worm casting) ..So I did not need to give her soil this time. A few times she brought her babies, leaves rooting to visit me ! And she has brought pictures for me to see :)) SHe is so proud and happy ! Anyone can grow African violets. It's so sweet and easy to grow and share.
Allison

Allison..i can imagine how excited you get with so many good pupils....and you use the Bat Guano....excellent..as you know..it's the best fertilizer in the world..(i think)...and worm castings also....boy...we have lots in common in this area...i think that i need to try all of your methods and get it going on here...lol...thanks so much...bob

Wow, Allison. Your hubby loves you a lot to make that soil mix for you!!!! Maybe that is part of your secret of success. : )

took few pics of the av's i got..

another one

and another

and last one

Jungle, looks like you have one of the infamous noid thumbprints, several of us have one just like it, and there's a thread here somewhere all about it, I'll try and dig it up.

Does that last one have girl foliage? Either way, I might need to beg a leaf.

he he...what's a girl leaf.....rofl....help!!

begonia of course you can have a leaf...

Jungle, check out our sticky regarding girl leaves, Ali has a link to one of her threads explaining it all. (don't worry, a month or so ago I didn't know the difference!)

Thanks for the leaf, when things warm up, we'll hook up a trade. Of course I'll be in Miami end of next month too!

begonia...cool..maybe some of us can get togther when you're down this way..

Oh my goodness Bob do we love girl foliage :)) you out for some treats :)) Please check the thread out it's long but I know myself and a few of us here want every girl leaf we can get. lol HEHE ....
Yes my husband loves me he has to do everything for me. lol But he knew what he was getting into when I met him and he rescues me out of a Nursing home about 4 years ago. I could still use a walker then wow seems like yesterday and we never expected to have this long together. Only God knows :)) My hubby has to do 100 percent everything. Clean, shop, laundry, take the dog out, feed me, shower me, change the sheets,
cook, ( I drink mostly Boost no food) dress me , turn on my computor..everything. Gosh I knw he must be tired.
He worked full time when I met him but left to work part time me needing 24 hour care ..and Jan, 2004 had a heart attack and his health went down fast but he still manages to take care of us :)) God is powerful and I never gave up on fairytales :)) I feel getting to know African violets has given me so much joy their one of the reasons I'm still here :)) They sure are a joy !
Allison

This message was edited Jan 8, 2006 7:37 PM

Oh yes Bob sorry to go on and on about my wonderful hubby :))
Bob your plants are gorgous ! Allison

HI all! I'm still around! I've been helping and watching my husband build my Christmas present. I'll be posting pictures of on this forum it tonight, but til then I'm keeping it a secret! It's not completely AV related, but they'll benefit from it, too! Allison knows what it is, because I let the secret slip in my dmail to her. LOL It's super!

Junglebob, those AVs are super beautiful! If you ever put down leaves, please put down a couple for me of the third and fourth ones you posted. I love the color of them!

hadfield, thanks for the welcome and compliment on my AV! It's still my only one, but later this week I should have plenty more, thanks to Allison!
I've seen lots of people with that same plant shelf, too! I love mine! Still haven't gotten anymore lights for it. Just not enough time to do everything I want to.

See ya soon, everyone, with pictures of my Christmas present!
RG

Neat! cant wait to see your shots.

allison...african violets are a joy...and just these few days i've been on this forum has been a real blessing to me....all of you folks are just wonderful...and i did go take a look at girl leafs....and i'll be on the lookout for them for all of you....R.G..you are more than welcome to some leaves that i have...

junglebob, thank you for your generosity with your leaves. I'm about to start really learning how to start leaves. so I'll let you know when I'm pretty good at it and see if it's a good time for you to share leaves. Isn't this fun, all of us learning and sharing together? I love it!

I posted pictures of my Christmas present here on this new thread - http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/566727/ Hope you'll all take a look!
RG

RG Amy :)) Get some 3 oz solo cups amd soil-less mix,( Perlite) ( I like one part soil-less mix Av soil mix, MG with 2 -3 parts perilite) permentant maker for writing names on cups . All my plant boxes come with bags of named leaves :))
Named plants too ! Everyone must grow by leaf HEHE
It's a wonderous joy no one should not have to go without and then you always have babies and leaves to share with others so get ready :)) Plus when ever you get plants you should always put a leaf or two down, it's insurance the plant may not adjust in it's new home, and also the Best thing about growing African violets is sharing them !
Also read up Miniatures are harder to grow, take more care , more grooming, re-pot more often , harder to find and buy, watering more often but less...on and on. Most new people can't grow Minis I never could , once I learned I love them ! And all their challenges. So get ready :)) Go to the Stickey :))

so good to hear from you all..bob

I forgot to get the solo cups last time I went to the store, but we're going again tomorrow, so I'll be sure to get them then.
What exactly is soilless mix? I believe the MG potting soil is considered soilless mix, isn't it? So would I just mix so much perlite with so much MG potting soil? Such dumb questions, but I've gotta learn somehow!
I've read what you've said about minis, Allison, and I'm going to print it out so I have it close at hand at all times. My mini is still doing great and blooming so pretty, except that I accidently bumped it and knocked off two of the unopened blooms. Grrrr! I was so mad! I figure with all of you here to help me, I'll do just fine!