Let's share some " Tip " and information about Trailing African violets these fun growing plants introduced in the 1950's are branching plants that have a naturally spreading habit. They grow Multiple-crowned giving them natural spreading habit this is why they can produce large amounts of foliage and many blossoms. The more crowns your trailers develope they more blossoms you will be enjoying !
*** A non-trailing African violet plant that Suckers is not a Multi-Crowned Trailer. Suckers are Deformities .Often an African violet under Stress as it's mean of survival will sucker. Poor watering habits, extreme heat, too much fertilizer, toxic reaction to Chemicals and disbudding are a few possible causes that your African violets are suckering. The plant learns to survive by reproducing itself by suckering. Most often the reason your African violets have this sucker habit unfortunately is genetic. Only thing you get do is not grow these varieties if you don't want to deal with suckers. *** Oh Laurie I read on Rob's an older varviety "April Storm"has a genetic trait to sucker :(( Rob recommends to provide good clture, mimimizing stress, avoid growing varities with this growth habit of Suckering. Which he says can be hard to know in the first place.
You can read lot's more about Suckers on Rob's Culture section and questions sections under " Deformities "
*** So now we can understand a trailer has naturally spreading habit , branching out with new crowns. Trailers Crown / have multi crowns.
Regular African violet plants Sucker these suckers are Deformities .
1950's Introduced us to Fun trailing African violets " Tips"
Back in the 1950's when African violet Trailers were introduced there was not much information out there for people who wanted to learn how to grow trailers.
Even today there is a little written material on the growing and grooming of trailers.
We can learn by study, reading, experimenting, our Sticky has lot's of trailer information ! Grow to show and other books also have information. Violet barn and other Vendors. And tips shared by each other !
Everyone should have at least one African violet trailer in their collection !
Trailers are not measures in size like other African violets. They are by the size of the leaf. Beacasue trailers are have natural nature to spread even miniature African violet trailing varieies can grow into very large plants !
There are two types of trailers avaiabl...trailers and semi-trailers . Trailers havee branches that enlongate and eventually droop over the edges of their container in a hanging manner. Semi-trailers grow sideways instead of down. Both types can be treated culturally in the same manner. Most cultivars are everblooming and with lot's of care and patience you can produce an award winning show plant with a trailing variety.
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This message was edited Mar 18, 2006 2:46 PM
Try including some of these tips in your culture program for growing trailers !
1. Keep in mind the soil, temperture, humidity, fertilizing and watering methods that you use for Standard and miniature African violets. Trailers enjoy the same type of growing conditions and soils that other types like.
2. Put only one cutting in the center of the pot when planting your trailer. Water thoroughly with fertilizer sparingly until you notice a growth begining. Put your trailer into the same routine and under the same general conditions as you provide for the other African violets in your collection. The finest trailers are produced by removal of the growing tip of a stem ( pinching) in order to produce multiple crowns and fullness. ( Now Rob's says his plants are natural growing habits of brancing and multi crowning and do not need pinching, nor do all trailings grown I fount need pinching )
Begin pinching when the plant has produced ten to twelve leaves. using a small pair of scissors or your fingers take out the terminal growth. Do not repot or get generous with the water after pinching. In two to three weeks the plant will begin to look like it is full of suckers. Allow all new growth to develop ... the branches will spread and develop the form you are looking for in these trailing varieties.
3. As the plant develops trim any branches that grow longer than the other branches on the plant. Try to keep all branches as much the same length as you can, particularly if you plan to exhibit your plant.
4. Repotting should be done about every six months Your growing environment will dictate how often you need to repot, but if you notice roots coming through the bottom of the pot it is definitely time ! Which has happened to me a few times to plants that had plenty of growth room and couple months later roots wraping around the wick and growing down inches out the hole to much surpise to me the quick growth The pot size you use should be kept in porportion to the overall size of the plant." Rob recommend shallow pots never more than 3 inches deep". The restrictions that are used to exist on the size of miniatures and semi-miniature trailers have been removed, so do not be concerned about the overall size of the plant if it is in one of those categories.
5. Leaves can be cleaned by washing them under warm water or by brushing them with a soft brush. The best plants are compact with leaves of uniform size and color. Damaged , over sized and yellow leaves should be removed. Be careful to take all of the petiole
when removing leaves...do not leaves a stub behind. Gaps that are left when leaves are removed can be filled by training nearby leaves and/or branches to cover the spaces. You will find oversized leaves are fairly common on Miniature and Semi-miniature trailers.
6. Do not Disbud Trailer :))
Happy trailer growing.
I like to grow mine crazy and messy. lol
Please share your tips. Or if you have Questions I'm sure someone here can help !.
found this interesting article on trailers by gary beck master judge in san francisco ca on trailers...think it will add to the info Allison has provided..ck it out...
http://www.laeom.com/guestgary2trailers.htm
Thanks Bob ! Excellent :)) I've read it several times but enjoy reading things over and over each time I learn more. He said some of the same pointers I did ! It's excellent !
Bob, Gary is a friend of mine from my AVSA meetings, I got leaves of Pixie Blue from him last month and he took my Celery I think. Very nice man! I'll tell him you mentioned his article here, he also moderates the yahoo group. AVI (Af. Violets International)
He brought his project plant last month for judging and won (I think it was Rob's Sticky Wicket, but I can't remember off hand). ($5) - our project leaves are given to us and first one to grow it to a blooming plant wins (if two or more are submitted, then they judge)
I'll add that link to the sticky, thanks for bringing it up!
Allison, thanks for all that info. Is that from a source?
It's from me :)) Studing and reading and learning many
source threw the years put together out of my brain just for you :))
Except where I said
" Oh Laurie I read on Rob's an older varviety "April Storm"has a genetic trait to sucker :(( Rob recommends to provide good clture, mimimizing stress, avoid growing varities with this growth habit of Suckering. Which he says can be hard to know in the first place.
You can read lot's more about Suckers on Rob's Culture section and questions sections under " Deformities ""
Great information from all. Thanks.
Laurie the April Storm part was special for you :))
Also I don't think many people know not all trailers grow down some grow wide and bunch up :)) And this is ok no points lost like Gary says in his great Article "))
thanks Ali, added this and Gary's to our AV sticky. One in the FAQ section the other in our general culture section.
Thanks Laurie did you get the " April Storm " ??
Allison, do you have a picture of a trailer that grows wide and bunches up?
Could this fit ?
Gary put one in his Article as an example. There are lots of them :))
I did, and now I'm wondering about my 'Haiku Trail' I'll post a photo later since now I think it should be pinched out to encourage lateral growth.
How About this one in the middle Aly's Rosy Baby ?
How weird, I just got an email from Gary, his ears must be burning. Actually it was a bulk email reminder for next week's AVSA meeting!
So I told him we were just talking about him!
SOme need pinching some don't. I wrote instructions for pinching :)) Not sure if Gary's article did ? I have to read things over and over .
I just had an idea, I'll bring my Haiku Trail (which is getting very tall) to him next week and see what he says to do. If he says to nip it, I'll have a baby to put down!
Laurie why don't you ask him for some examples of trailers that grow wide and up ?
I've always known there were two different types of trailers . I just let mine grow to my liking. And all the trailers I've ever grown have been trailing crazies. :))
Good point, anyone have other trailer questions lemme know and I'll ask him!
I didn't know there were two kinds of trailers. : )
Yes there is . But i like to grow all mine full and pretty with lots of flowers :)) and they can flow over the sides if they want to also !
on the site i mentioned ..scroll up...gary has pics of diff type of trailers...Laurie..that is neat that you are friends with him and go to the meetings....sound great>>>>>!!
My trailers are still too young, but I loved all this info and the pictures are great!
Yes Laurie your so lucky. You know a long time ago many, many posting back Terry asked Av forum Memebers for a person we know to come in and help us with questions ! But know one answered her that I know of ? Something to think about.
This is great info.Thanks folks!
Wonderous trailers were introduced in the 1950's :)) Thought I'd bump this thread up . Also other great threads, links in stickies ! Enjoy trailers have been my favorite to grow. You also get more bloomes from trailers ! The more crowns the more blooms ! Fun !
I've pinched out the main center crown on some of my trailers to get them growing with multiple crowns. But I've also found that just removing a leaf or two from the center crown (as others have reported here) will also start them producing suckers, and it's a little less drastic. I take off larger leaves from time to time, especially those that are shading developing suckers. I will also pinch out a crown/sucker or two (not necessarily the center one) if I think the plant is looking too crowded, and again I find that providing more light to the center stems encourages the formation and growth of additional suckers.
Trailers take a little patience, I think, especially the slower-growing ones, because they aren't all that attractive until they fill out, especially if you keep picking & pruning to encourage them... but once they get established and fill out their pots and start blooming, they're wonderful!
Hi guys! I haven't posted here in a while. How mature, in your experience, does the trailer have to be before you start seeing blooms?
Anita
Hi Anita nice to see you !
I'd say the same as any other Av's. I've had the tiniest ones with still with Mom leaf bloom. Some varieties bloom non-stop from a very young age.
Environment and care will have a lot to do with bloom . Light is most important, proper size pots, and good watering and feeding programs. Humidity helps too !
I fount trailers great as you can let them grow any which way they want or you like them ! The more crowns the better.
I've had a "first bloom" on a single-crown trailer, then up-potted and started encouraging it to sucker, which I'm sure changes where the plant is putting its energy.... I don't seem to get blooms again until the plant has branched out and filled its new pot nicely. On the other hand, I didn't get blooms on most of my AVs all summer, so other factors are probably in play here also, LOL.
Thanks - I have a few that AV's that are blooming non-stop and others that haven't given me any yet. They all get the same light/food and water. I guess they are just like people - different personalities!
Yeah trailers are fun !Everyone should have atleast one !
Lin I fount the trailer thread !! Yippee :))
Lin and trailer lovers or want to growers did you catch this thread !