New to African Violets!!!

Hi Violet Lovers!!!! I bought these at Lowe's about 6 weeks ago and I've been lurking here ever since! Wow, there's a ton of info to learn!!! These are optimara and it said on the tag to go there for id. So, I've narrowed the bi-color down to Millennia or Rita, I'm thinkin Millennia. The other is tough tho.....Pennsylvania, California, or North Carolina. I'm thinkin yal can help!!!

I've also been watchin the Bingo thread and it looks like yal are havin a blast!!!!! Can I play in the next game???!!!

Now, not wanted to go overboard on these till I find I can grow them and get blooms, I've got 57 plants in my watch list on Ebay!! LOL But I would like to get a couple more and this is what I want. Green, pink and/or white leaves with blooms that have glitter and fantasy. I love coral. So yal shoot me some names to look for please!!!

Here's a pic of my new babies!! I have closer shots of the blooms if that will help.

Debbie

Welcome to the forum, Debbie.
Asking for enablement is a bad idea- we're two steps more than glad to help you with that anyway!

Your plants may not be named ones, but seed-sisters of the state series. Unfortuantely, Noids just have to stay noids, but many people refer to them with their own names like "Millenia look-alike"...

Fantasy/Glitter flowers on variegated plants, eh?

Rob's Argyle socks
Ramblin' Spots (Great pink trailer with blue spots)
Rob's Outer Orbit (pink leaves, blue and pink flowers).
Laser Celebration (Wow)

There has been someone in the forum who breeds corals, I think.

Kenton
My favourite, Rebel's SplatterKake

Oh man, I love that one too, Kenton!

Don Ü

Hi Debbie,Your Bi Color does look very much like Rita.Very stunning!! If they are Optimara's there might be a variety number on the pot they came in.You can use that number to match up the name on optimara.com.Without a number or tag it is almost impossible to positively identify them.Even if you never find out exactly what their named,don't get discouraged though because they are still amazingly beautiful violets. Looks like you got the right touch.They look really healthy and happy : ) Welcome to the Wonderfully Addictive World Of African Violets.There's no turning back now.Looks like you are hooked! Welcome to the Club!! LOL
Nancy

This message was edited Nov 16, 2006 9:34 PM

Welcome Debbie,
You have asked the wrong bunch for help....LOL I know.. I did and now have the addiction as bad as all the rest of these wonderful people...now there is no turning back and it only gets worse with each pretty picture they post...
As for the bingo game yes jump in on the next one...we do have a blast.
Your NOID's are pretty love them both...........LOL.. no, I do not need more...no, I do not need more...need another plant stand..

Kenton, ohhhhhhhhhhhhh very pretty....

Hey Debbie! Welcome. Great find. Kenton gave good advise. "Like Rita" is what I would put on my tag. My choice right now for variegated leaves and fantasy blooms is Buckeyes Cherry Freckles.

Welcome to the forum, Debbie.
Your plants are beutiful!

Hi and welcome. You have two very pretty plants there. I don't see why you can't join the next bingo.

Hi Debbie!(:)

Your new violets are beauties....I have the same one as yours on the left.... I self id'd as Pennsylvania. LOL

I love your plant tags, by the way. Where did you get them?

GH

Welcome to DG! I'm glad you found your way over to the AV & Gessie forum! Looks like your plants are doing beautifully. :-)

You might want to check out the "sticky" at the top of this forum... There's a FAQ and a lot of really good links... don't be overwhelmed by the number of links, just check one out every so often. I think the most often repeated growing tip with AVs is not to overwater them, and it can also help to use a well-draining potting mix of 1 part perlite and 1 part your favorite potting mix.

I guess you've already been sufficiently warned that these plants can get addictive... sounds like you're already well hooked with your two beauties! Yes, by all means, join us for the next Bingo game... we'll probably be doing non-plant prizes until the weather warms up again, but it's a lot of fun!

I have a program called "First Class 2" (see description on AVSA website or look for link in sticky). It allows me to search a database of named varieties... I did a quick search for "foliage: pink" and "blooms: coral, fantasty" and came up with 3 varieties where the main bloom color was coral. Here are their official descriptions:

Color Magic (S. Sorano) Semidouble pink star/coral-rose blushed eye, blue-purple fantasy. Variegated dark green, cream, tan and pink. Standard

Mac's Just Jeff (9478) 09/29/2005 (G. McDonald) Semidouble coral red pansy/variable darker fantasy. Mosaic variegated medium green, white and variable pink, plain, scalloped. Miniature

Mac's True Love (9484) 09/29/2005 (G. McDonald) Single coral red sticktite pansy/variable purple fantasy. Variegated medium green, white, tan and variable pink, ovated, quilted, serrated. Miniature


Looking for any type of variegation in the leaves gave me these... Again, I eliminated the search results where the bloom had coral fantasty markings rather than coral being the main color.

Champion's Doris (E. Champion) Semidouble bright coral star/purple fantasy. Crown variegated medium green and cream, ruffled. Standard

Coral Rainbow (S. Sorano) Single-semidouble dark coral pansy/rose-fuchsia and light burgundy overlay, purple fantasy. Variegated dark green, white and cream, wavy/red back. Standard

Crazy Lace (5869) 12/21/1984 (E. Champion) Double coral-pink star/purple fantasy, striping. Crown variegated medium green and yellow, plain, quilted/light red back. Standard

Kon Tiki (7371) 04/19/1990 (B. Elkin) Single rose-coral star/violet fantasy. Dark green, pointed, hairy/variable red back. Semiminiature

Paprika (4620) 11/28/1981 (E. Champion) Single coral-pink fantasy. Variegated, plain. Standard

Rainbow's Coral Storm (R. Wasmund) Semidouble coral-pink fantasy pansy. Variegated. Standard

Rainbow's Ember Lace (R. Wasmund) Semidouble coral pansy/purple fantasy. Variegated. Standard

Rainbow's Lunar Jewels (6839) 02/05/1988 (R. Wasmund) Semidouble coral-pink star/blue fantasy. Variegated, plain. Standard

Sparks Fly (S. Sorano) Single-semidouble dark coral ruffled star/purple fantasy. Variegated green and white. Standard

Voodoo Magic (S. Sorano) Single dark coral sticktite pansy/purple fantasy, white edge. Variegated medium green, white and cream/red back. Standard

Some have photos in the database also... I was quite taken with both the name and the bloom on 'Voodoo Magic'!

How about a Vintage Wasp Coral Spider
http://www.violetgallery.com/html/catalogframeset.html
OR
GRANGER'S MEXICALI ROSE (2574) 08/03/1974 (Eyerdom) Double coral-pink. Plain, quilted. Miniature
or
MAC'S CARNIVAL CLOWN has the Single-semidouble coral pink pansy/purple fantasy, white edge :))
MAC'S CARNIVAL CLOWN (9470) 09/29/2005 (G. McDonald) Single-semidouble coral pink pansy/purple fantasy, white edge. Medium green, plain, quilted, heart-shaped, serrated. Semiminiature
or
MAC'S CORAL CUTIE -has the coral red with vairegation too !
MAC'S CORAL CUTIE - (9471) 09/29/2005 (G. McDonald) Single coral red sticktite pansy. Variegated medium green and white, plain, pointed, serrated. Miniature
and
MAC'S EXQUISITE EXTRAVANGANZA - (McDonald) Single coral red, white edged blossoms; semiminiature, variegated foliage.
OH OH ! MAC'S HOTTR'N HADES- has coral red fantasy !
MAC'S HOTTR'N HADES- (9477) 09/29/2005 (G. McDonald) Single-semidouble purple pansy/coral red fantasy. Medium green, plain, pointed, quilted, serrated. Miniature
and MAC'S LUXURIOUS LEISURE- has double Coral Pansy flowers with pink foliage !
MAC'S LUXURIOUS LEISURE- (McDonald)- Double pansies of ruffled coral with ruffled variegated foliage of pink and ivory.
and
MAC'S SHANGRI-LA SERENDIPITY -(MacDonald)Single coral blossoms over variegated foliage.
and
MAC'S VIRTUALLY VELVET (8754) 08/31/1998 (G. McDonald) Semidouble coral red/blue overlay. Variegated green, pink and white, ovate, serrated. Semiminiature

MAC'S WONDROUS WILDFIRE - (McDonald)Semiminiature Single, coral red, pansies with ovate variegated foliage

This one is real stunning ! ROB'S SLAP HAPPY- (9040) 05/31/2001 (R. Robinson) Semidouble dark coral pansy. Crown variegated dark green, white, cream and pink, quilted. Semiminiature

ALAMO FLAME (8393) 03/08/1996 (H. Pittman) Semidouble coral large. Dark green, plain. Large

ALAMO JOY (Pittman) Large semi-double coral blooms with white edging over medium green foliage. A lovely intense shade of coral.

APPLE ANNIE (7759) 08/06/1992 (N. Johnston) Semidouble dark red and coral large ruffled star. Variegated dark green, pink and cream, ovate, quilted/red back. These all above and you can see many more beautiful Africa violets and pictures for sale at Violet Gallery
http://www.violetgallery.com/index.html
There are so many with colors in blooms and pinks and green and white in floaige and sparklies and fantasy have fun making your list !

Well, those should get you started!!

See, we told you we were friendly & helpful here... we're a great bunch of enablers!

OMG!!!! I'm in soooooooo much trouble!!!!!!!!!!!LOL Thanks for the links and welcomes!!

Hi Kenton, I know you from Clematis!! Love the Rebel's Splatter Kake!!

GH, those markers came in the plants. They have their website on them but no names.

nann, Buckeye's Cherry Freckles is awesome!! Perfect! Is it a pretty steady bloomer?

critter, I've been reading the sticky ever since I brought these home. So much info there!! I'm watching the watering as I've been known to love a plant to death.
I also think I wanna try a few leaves. That would be fun to watch em grow up!!

Violet_Treasure, thanks for all the names! I'll check each and every one out, but I couldn't find Vintage Wasp Coral Spider on that site. Is it a standard? I'll look some more a little later.

Now, a few more questions!!
I found a plant stand a few weeks ago that's 36" wide but I can't find 36" shop lights. Are they all 48"? If anyone has 36" shop lights, please let me know where you got em.
Any Ebay Sellers you would recommend??

Thanks again,
Debbie

Shop lights are generally 48". You can find 24" under-cabinet florescent fixtures, which might work for you. Or you could go with an aquarium fixture (there are 30" wide fish tanks, not sure abou 36", try PremiumAquatics in Ohio or your local fish store).

My stands were 36 I put two together sometimes . they were also 24 inchs across. But when apart I still used 48 inch double
light fixtures. They only edged off the stands a little each side and the end of the tubes give a lot less light so this was fine.
The longer the light tube you can buy the better value for your money and better for your plants .
Coral Spider is under "C" under the minatures. As VG has Minautres and Semi-miniatures all in one section.

CORAL SPIDER (J.Dates) Wasp blossoms that are deeply cut stars, slightly fluted. Medium to dark green. Semiminiature
Under A-K in Miniatures. Wait until you see the picture WOW !
I try to send the link but it just goes to main page.
http://www.violetgallery.com/html/catalogframeset.html

If your stand is where it also gets some natural light from the window, then a 24 inch fixture might be fine also... plants that like more light can go in the center, and plants that like a little less light (often those with variegated leaves or girl foliage grow better with a little less) can go on the ends. But yes, the 48 inch fixtures & tubes are the most economical.

VT, I found Coral Spider!! I emailed them to see if they're still shipping. I didn't pick a gook time of the year to ship tender plants! LOL
The plant stand that lookin at has a clear cover that comes with it to keep in humidity. I if have 6" of light fixtures sticking out on the ends that cover probably won't fit. That's why I was tring to find 3'. But I'm not gonna spend a fortune. I don't think they make a 3' shop light. I've checked everywere and all they have is 2' and 4'.

Critter, I was looking at the room where the stand will go and I don't even think I'll need lights in the winter. It's close to a south window and with the sun being lower in the sky, I'll think I'll be ok for a while.

Debbie

Oh oh, Debbie...you're in it now!! LOL And have you ever come to the right place! For most of us, trading is over for the winter but, when the weather cooperates, there are leaves and plants a plenty to be found right here at DG's. And if you don't have much to trade, there are LOTS of folks willing to send you leaves to start for nothing more than postage and a smile. That's how I got 99% of my plants. This forum is a special place :)

I know I"ll have lots to trade come spring. I have some memory problems (understatement!) so you only have to remind me to get a trade...

Welcome!!

Jacki

OH Debbie I hope you get that beautiful awsome plant ! If not you could go on Spring waiting list :))
I use to ship year round with insulation and heat packs but I'm not progating and growing anymore or I'd ship you a big box. I know lots of people will be happy to send you boxes in the Spring !

WELCOME Debbie!
Im sorta new to DG also and I have learned soOoo much from the wonderful people here! Your plants look great! Im definately hooked on violets and Icant seem to stop collecting more. I bought a shelf unit at Wal-mart that I use, I also purchased the 24"undercabinet grow lights that work well with that type stand. The lights were pretty inexpensive....$9.99 each and I used wire ties to keep them in place. I have also started leaves which so far I have 2 babies poking up from the mother leaf! Thats my first attempt on the leaves and I figure if I can do it anyone can. I collect the vintage/rare violets and this spring I hope to have a bunch of babies to share with everyone here. Here's a pic of my plant stand and light.

WELCOME Debbie!
You will find DG a wealth of information as well as a wealth of wonderful people!
I thought I had a big collection when I had 36 plants - all noids. Now I have 130 - mostly named, but did not part with any of my noids! LOL
This is one of my favorite noids!

Jacki, your right, I'm in it now!!! LOL I've won 2 on ebay and I'm hopin to get a few leaves to play with this winter. I couldn't wait till spring!! DGers are awesome. I've loved it ever since I found it last spring.

Violet_Treasure, I've seen some of the big boxes you've sent out! They are awesome!! You are still growing your own collection aren't you?

violet-grower, your shelf looks great!! Did you get that in the plant department or is it like a bakers rack or something? The one I'm looking at is at Lowe's.

Wow Ccino!!!! 130???? I have 2 but I know me and that will quickly change! Your noid is beautiful!

Debbie

If I remember it was in the hardware area at Wal-mart,and the price was around 25-30 bucks. I am going to have to purchase maybe 2 more as my collection is growing. I also have the "greenhouse" indoor shelf, that comes with the plastic covering. I use that one for my leaf babies and I bought a seed heating mat.

VG no I'm not growing anymore. I have a few Av babies left one Senk's green and white blooming wasp with her first two buds ! I have a Mini Minx . Red Bandito . A Sport blooming of Little Stinker , couple babu Strep's grown by leaf that have not bloomed yet, some Alsobia Cygnets, and Epsicas I still have as they keep shooting out babies ! I have a few Begonias too !
Maybe in Spring I will order some Optimara Little Av's that come in the wishing well with suction cup that sticks to the window just for fun !

Violet-grower, yours with the 'greenhouse' is like the one I was looking at. It is 3' wide, but, since I can't find 3' shop lights I went to Lowe's and got a 4' wide baker rack with 5 shelves. I'll take a pic when I get it together. It'll hole lots of plants!!!

Oh, I went to the AVSA meeting on Monday!! I now have 6 leaves down and a new little AV with a name! Fisherman's Paradise. Here's a pic

Beautiful plant :))

baja220.. I love the colors of thouse leafs on your Fishermans paradise,just beautiful..Gingerose

Oohhh, nice plant!!

Violet Grower:

Thanks for posting that photo of your plant stand you got at Wal-Mart .... after seeing your post, I went right to WM and bought one! I had moved tons of my house plants inside because we had a couple of cold nights here down in the low - mid 40's. I had plants on every table and every windowsill and still needed room! We have 4 cats who love the windowsills, so needless to say that wasn't a good spot for my plants (the cat's will knock over anything that's in their space)! I put my stand in front of an east facing window in the study. I love it so much, I plan on getting at least two more!

Thanks again for the suggestion! I'm fairly new to DG (2 months now) and .....

I LOVE THIS PLACE!

Lin

I forgot to post a photo the other day of my new plant stand. I sure Thank Violet_Grower for letting me steal her idea! Here's my one stand .... I might go today to go get another one! And, my cats are back to being "Happy Cats" again, since it freed up their window space!

Lin

Beautiful plants and stnad !