Does anyone know what this Optimara is? I got it back on 2-22-06 but when I took photos of it then they came out sort of blue. Now that I have noticed this I was hoping that someone might know what this is, since I have taken new photos.
Jesse
What is the Optimara
Optimara doesn't always name their plants, and so many are similar; I'm afraid that once any AVhas lost it's ID, it can never get it back. Named or not, these things are beautiful.
Kenton
Jesse,
That looks just like two Optimara I bought at Lowe's recently and they did not have any tags, either. Did you get yours at Lowe's?
Diane
Very Pretty Jesse :))
Yes I did get mine from Lowes not too long ago. It must have been about the same time you got yours. What I don't understand is why they sell their AVs and give you the URL of where you can go to look them up so you will know what you have. Why don't they just ID the thing when they send it out?
Jesse
very good point Jesse, especially since when you go to their site, it's so hard to precicely identify one. So many look so similar! =(
P.S. mailing out your AVSA magazine tomorrow. (I didn't forget!)
With those plants, they are more interested in mass producing as many as possible as cheaply as possible. Also, I have to wonder if the ones we find in supermarkets are culls, or "throw-aways" from breeding programs that are meant to yeild the neat varieties that get names.
Kenton
Thanks Laurie.
That is a very good point Kenton. I wonder the same thing.
Jesse
Yes Kenton your so right. Only way they can be grown and sold so cheap. I see the ones in the stores people are buying like Everfloris Space babies are $ 10.00 and the Littles and others named are $6.00 .
I think Lorry paid $6.00 for one the other day which is still less money than buying their leaves on line. Amy bought some Everfloris Space Babies for $ 10.00.
I guess if you truly want to know the names of your plants your going to have to pay more.
Yup my Optimara modesty cost me 6.00 and my rob's blue socks cost me 5.00. They also have the space babies for 12.00.
Now I have bought unnamed AVs for as little as 2.00
Yes most times the name plants cost more
I think my Everfloris space baby cost me $10 when I bought it last year at Lowes. And their other named ones usually run about $6. If you want the good ones, you just have to pay more. But in the end it is worth it.
Jesse
Your Right Jesse ! By the way how is your Space Baby doing !
My space baby is doing great. Looks beautiful although it has not bloomed yet. I repotted it into a 4" pot, one of those that you set down into the outer pot. It keeps growing like crazy. Just not blooming. Is there anything that I can do to get it to bloom? I have been in the bed since yesterday with my back and a bad headache but I just got up to go look at my babies when I got my laptop. I only saw one fungus gnat, although there could be more. But I keep my mixture handy to water them or shoot the gnats, which ever I can. LOL Hopefully they will be all gone soon or I will have to do something else.
Jesse
Hope your feeling better Jesse I know how it can be. What do you spray the gnats with ? You can let plants dry out a little not all the way. I treat soil too. Egg and Lava..
Thanks Allison. I'm feeling just a tiny bit better but still pretty yucky. Hopefully tomorrow I will feel much better.
There is an interesting discussion going on on the House Plants forum that talks about Hydrogen Peroxide and how it kills the fungus gnats. I used it last year with some Murphy's Oil soap but thought it was the Murphy's that did the trick. Now I think it was the peroxide. I'm going to add it to my mixture and use it from now on when I see the little creatures. I really do think it works.
Jesse
I bought some simple fly strips for $2.69; they've been great. I saw only two gnats today.
Kenton
I have some strips too Kenton they help !
Jesse, how much H. Peroxide do you add to a gallon?
Thanks, Linda
Peroxide is good to help your plant breath also. The first girl I bought plants from about 2 plus years ago.
She has the best qulity plants . She put it in her water.
I do sometimes when I remeber. One tablespoon per gallon is what I use.
Yes, I think that is what I used, one tablespoon per gallon. And when I used it last year it really did help a whole lot. So I am now adding it to my mixture. I was also told that it was very good for the plants because the extra oxygen molecule delivers more oxygen down deep into the soil and helps the plants breathe better. So either way, I think it will really be helpful.
Jesse
Here is my 2 cents...w/ the cost of living should it be 2.75 cents? Anyway, I have tried many, many "cures" for fungus gnats and here are my findings...send all your AVs to me...no, no, just kidding. The yellow sticky paper things, bought mine from Garden's Alive, actually work pretty well, I am happy w/ them and will continue to use them, less happy w/ Garden's Alive soil drench- to tell the truth I saw little to no change. The best for me has been Bayer Rose and Flower; I used it at half strength and the results were amazing. I did not use it on any of the seeds I am starting so my home is not a "gnat free" zone, but much better. As soon as my seedlings get a little bigger they will either be moved outside and/or I will use Bayer on them. I use H3O3 in most of my waterings, and have been told it's helpful to add to misting water- but haven't really checked that out because I don't mist my AVs. I am pretty much sold on the Bayer product and the yellow stickk paper.
All sounds good to me ! I keep trying but is 99 percent better.
See if you can pick it out from these Opitmaras, Plantcrazii.
http://www.optimara.info/
Don
Jesse
Optimara does not grow many single deep purple flowering plants like yours. One good thing !
Then does it have red back on the foliage.
Their single purple Av list is short, a good amount are little so you can count them out, some are vareigated count those out, some have red back does yours ?
and some don't even look like purple. Check off any miniatures that come up on list. And does your plant foliage match, deep green, medium, red reverse ? There won't be many left to choose from.
? But never know you could find a one and say it looks like this ...
Here is the short list of single purple
http://www.optimara.com/optimarafieldguide/violetsbycolor/purple.html
Jesse you have D-Mail too ! I fnaly got the names of your plants and leaves from Fist class to you ! Many babies and flowers wished to you ! Enjoy :))
Allison
Nope, no red on the foliage or on the backs of the leaves.
I'm still looking through them.
Jesse