I had to take a picture to share this violet with you all. She is one of my favorites; the flowers are light pink and frilly. So pretty...in pink!
Optimara Louisianna
A closer look at the blooms.
Don she is beautiful ! Did you grow her by leaf ? Thanks for sharing !
Thanks Allison. :) No, I bought her at a Garden Center here in the Okanagan, Art Knapp's. Every time, I look at her, I can't help but smile.
Don Ü
Oh I can see why. She's a smiley girl as pretty as can be :))
Oh my but that is "Really Pretty"!! Looks at all those blossoms.What a Beauty!!! How come my garden center never carries anything that looks like that?? I Love It!! : ) Nancy
What a pretty plant and container! I'm starting to put more of my av's in the selfwatering containers also. They are much prettier than my stands full of deli containers.
Nancy B
Thanks, Allison, Nancy and Nancy B. Yes, she is a beauty and blooms for such a long time too. I have had such good luck with the AV self watering pots. I'd love more of them, but I can't get them here in Canada,unfortunately, and they are kinda expensive too. But I going to use plastic 4" pots with wicks and try to find attractive containers to put them in.
My Glitter Fountain is starting to bloom now, so I'll post pictures of her in a few days. :)
Don Ü
Love her Don. I think Optimara plants are very hardy.
I agree Optimara plants are wonderful !
Lovely, Don, especially in the nice pot! Just beautiful...
I have to laugh as I can totally relate to the deli containers for reservoirs. I have most all my violets/gessies that way. Very practical and functional but definitely not the most attractive. I do have one of my old violet favorites 'Willodene' with the shallow deli container hidden inside a nice ceramic cache pot. Must say it does look so much better.
Speaking of Optimara. Has anyone ordered the Isabell from the Southern Bell Series?
I almost did and almost ordered a new Annabelle with her BUT did not can't aford nor can't take care of but gosh I was tempted. THeir beauties !
I hear you. How are you doing, Allison?
Smiling waiting to see more of your beautiful bloomers ! Did you ever get Isabelle ? I did share all of my Annabells plants, and leaves by the dozens hope some others get Anabelle bells blooming soon ! They are Stunning. I maybe more tempted if we ever get our home sold and move in our new dining room is a nice shlef with a light if they were still selling them months from now or in the Spring hmm maybe !
I did get Isabelle. She suffered a bit in shipping and many of the blooms were a little squashed and old. But I trimmed her up and she will make it. Can't tell about the color of the pink bloom just yet. It is on the pale side. Hopefully in two weeks the new blooms will be open and I can share a picture then.
I am remembering your wonderful counsel. I have her seperate from the other plants. I gave her a good bath and have put some systemic bug killer in her soil. I didn't use neem because of the many bloom stocks that are coming up. Other times the neem has discolored the blooms, especially light colored ones. My Annabelle is getting ready to bloom again. She survived the mystery bug episode.
I am sure that Isabelle will be on the market in the spring. The belle series seems to be good business for Optimara. Hope your house sells soon. You deserve and need a blessings.
I don't re-call the few people that got pest one person said mealie bugs and one got thrips from Selective Gardenrs. I have always isolated but never had a problem with their lovely plants !
I'm glad you got her hope she has deep pink bells for you !
I just purchased 2 Optimara Louisiana leaves. I hope they turn into a beautiful plant like yours. I have not been having very good luck with leaves...Im determined though! I seem to be doing something wrong, I took some leaf cuttings from my other violets and about a month 2 of them have ended up blackening(rotting). I am not watering them. I have them in a domed plastic birthday cake thingie. I have them on my indoor greenhouse shelf so they get morning sun. I do not see any excessive condensation, in fact i see no condensation. Im using really light soil with lots of perlite, and peat moss with miracle grow soil mixture Well...im going to to try again with my optimara....wish me luck! Yours is just BEAUTIFUL!
I like to use light soil mix with about 60 percent perlite for growing by leaf !
I have tried every method around all work. The one that worked best for me was using 3 oz. solo cups . You must put a hole or two in the bottom. I fill the cup with soil-less mix. I use a fresh cut leaf not old, and not a baby leaf. I like to cut the stem about 1/2 inch or shorted but never longer than one inch. To play it safe cut it straight across. I gently place the leaf into the middle of the cup filled with soil-less mix. and push the leaf down until it touches the soil. Then I water threw well until it drains with warm water. As winter comes I even use hot.
Place leaf cups under lights, window with morning light. The cup must be kept warm . If it is cold and windowsills can be 10 degrees colder in the winter than a room. I do not cover anything. I tried many times but always ended up getting rot. Also if you do cover good idea to have holes in the cover or lift it a bit.
I fount if my leaf pots got good air circulation, warmth, light, and was not wet but I did not let them dry out I never had a problem and babies grew real fast ! Good Luck ! There is nothing like growing by leaf !
Lovely little Optimara! Nice grown
Good luck, Allison. You do such a good job in propagating. Maybe the leaves were tired to begin with.
Thanks Dawna.
Don Ü