what do you do when the flowers start fading? I went to pull one off and I pulled the whole flower stalk off and it had more blooms on it! :(
What is the maint procedure for this? I didn't see it in the sticky's. also, do AV's flower all the time.? Is there a period when they don't bloom?
Thanks
Patricia
question regarding AV's flowers
Ok I cannot answer all of your questions, but I feel your pain! In my past life, before enlightenment, I too pulled off entire flower stalks w/ unopened blooms! Nearly made me cry. You should remove spent flowers as you see them and I like a nice pair of VERY SHARP cuticle scissors! I am sure others have their favorite tools and probably more proper, but I bought the scissors specifically for the AVS and they never get used on anything else. I even clean them occassionally!
If you listen to these folks they will tell you that AVs bloom constantly w/ little down time; however I have not been able to attain these results and I have no evidence that Allison or Begonia don't have 4 or more of the same plant and just keep showing which ever is in bloom! As you might have guessed, mine do not flower all the time.
Funny ! Some of my plants do bloom all the time. They will bloom fresh blooms for month or two ad by the time all spent flowers are gone new buds are coming up ! If I had more light room I'd have more that would do this though many of my window plants do. But most of my light stands are full of leaves and babis.
When I have spent flowers I just gently pinch them off.Might help I don't have much strength in my hands so I can pull th stem off. Or you can just cut tem off.
Ditto
Thanks for the info. I'll go thin the dead flowers now so the new buds can see. I have been afraid to touch them since the "accident". One more question please; I have mine in a windowsill and they (larger ones) each are in their own little plastic tray to keep the wood protected. For humdity I have been keeping water in these. It is not deep enough that the flower pot tray (Where you would water your AV's at the bottom) is taking in water. Just below that thinking this is providing humidity. I have 9 AV's on this windowill and 6 are treated this way providing humidity for all. Is this good enough? I am limited on ways for humidity as this window is in my living room.
Thanks
Patricia
some of the others will be able to answer i am a newbie myself. just wanted to say good to see you on this board! you will learn so much from these people! i know i am. i have 2 a.v's right now and many leaves down. i will learn from your questions as well.
kelly
I am realy enjoying this and really learning a lot. I have to make myself get away from this website and get some work done.
Isn't it lots of fun? I think so and I'm so glad that I am part of this family here at DG.
Jesse
I laughed so hard at the idea of Allison having 4 of the same plant and just showing whichever one was in bloom, I had tears in my eyes - poor Allison, the better you are, the more abuse you got to take, eh?:))
Reminds me of a neighbour across the street, years ago; when we moved in, she had the nicest miniature red roses blooming in an urn at her front door, and that bush just seemed to bloom forever - just kept on going and going...I finally got close enough one day to realise they were plastic - boy did I feel silly!!
(Made me glad I kept forgetting to ask her what the name of that red rose was...)
I know how silly.
Like I have room and money to have two of each. 99 percent of my plants I grow are blooming and grown by leaf for the joy of new life and sharing and rare and the most exspensive costing ( I search for the best leaves and plants to progate just for the joy to grow and the big thrill of sharing) . I keep a very few.
In our tiny little one bedroom trailer single wide we paid a whacking One Thousand dollars for I am storing 4 of each plant to make them look like their blooming all the time . lol
Do you know if you pick up any African violet book it will clearly tell you an African violet of maturity will bloom all the time .
Look at Nanna's plants she has the most GOrgous ever blooming African violets and I'm sure she does not have 4 of each either. lol
Now if I kept all my two plant stands for my ( My plants meaning " JUST FOR ME TO KEEP" ) plants yes I would have dozens of blooming plants all the time. But I rarely keep one let alone two. ( except if it's a baby , I put many leaves down of Special plants as lot's of people ask for the same plant or type , believe me if it's a Special plant many people ask for one !!! )
So my plants stand are 99 percent babies and leaves. These are grown for joy and the joy of sharing,.
I am trying to empty a stand inorder to keep some plants I'd enjoy keeping one of but the babies just keep growing and I am not well enough to package everday , one box can take me 4 hours to package.
I will never forget the day Laurie helped me package about 6 large priority boxes of plants . We worked together pretty much non-stop 4-5 hours. So it takes a lot of loving caring time not just the 6-9 months to grow the babies Oh how I wish I had someone three times a week to help me pack. :))
Someone asked me which ones are keepers . As I've never seen a bloom a Gesneraid I did not love !
A keeper is a plant someone else does not want. It can be my most favorite plant and if I don't have a leaf, or a baby to share of this plant I will send my only plant !
Thanks Cheryl you are a dear Peep ! Someday before Fall I am going to get a box to you too :))
Hugs, Allison
I'm just waiting for my fantasy step "Party Girl" to bloom - I had no idea there was any such thing as fantasy flowers before DG and seeing your AV blooms, Allison, and now I am staring at that flower 300 times a day, muttering "Open up, already!"
I've never seen a fantasy bloom up close, so this is really exciting!
Cheryl
Oh WOW Cheryl ! I can't wait :)) Can you take a picture please when she opens ! You've never seen a Fantasy flower in person ! You are in for a treat. You will never stop starring at it :))
I'm already making excuses to go into the kitchen so I can gaze adoringly at my other streps that are opened up!
Do you have a lot of Streps ? Do you grow any by leaf ? The ones I grow by leaf I give away. But now people gave me lots of different leaves I will keep one and give the other babies away. I got four new Streps. Three from Anna " Spider" and one from Jan " Jannich" I am so Blessed ! They spoil me. I will grow babies from them all to share :))
Hubby is going to move the TV entertainment cneter and put up two 8 ft window shelves for my Strep's and gessie's. I like growing them all in natural light they do so well ! I am so excited :))
Hugs, Allison
Patricia
Sorry for crashing in on your thread.
I only have a few, and have just started trying to grow two noids by leaf - my other ones are so small, I'm afraid to cut a leaf off - some only have 3 or 4 leaves!
Yes maybe better to wait. Sometimes I am finding even with Av's when I take leaves off the plant grows even faster. :))
Violet_Treasure don't apoligize. I am enjoying the conversation. I would like my question answered though about the humidity.
Patricia
Sounds like your doing a good job with the humidity. As long as the plants /wicks are not sitting in water. Some people put their plants on moist pebbles. Or little glass of water around them.
Here in Florida even with A/C going non-stop I am lucky I have a good amount of humidity !
Thanks a lot! i am learning that AV's are not to be feared as much as people think. They just have to have their "few" requirements met and they are happy. now if I can just get up enough nerve to try an orchid. i need to go to that forum and post a few questions i guess.
thanks again, you get the best info from people with experience!
patricia
I have grown thousand's f varieties of African violets by leaves . I could do it in my sleep. But I have never had luck with Orchids. Good Luck !