Here are a few photos of what's in bloom....
Rebel's Splatter Kake
What's Blooming?
Blueberries 'n' Cream - a miniature variegated trailer
Victorian Ribbons - a standard variegated chimera
Wrangler's Pink Patches - a pink variegated standard
You know that no one is going to be able to beat those photos. Shame on you.
I love when Rebel's SK gets thick anf blocky purple like that.
Lovely pictures, thanks.
Kenton
Those are so beautiful. You are doing a good job. Thanks for sharing your pictures.
beautiful
Snowrose
oh my such beautifull plants ,but Wrangler's Pink Patches
she is a knockout, love her leaves,man you sure know how to grow them they look perfect,great job
What more can I say. Just beautiful. You have the touch all right. ((((((((((droooooooooling)))))))))
Thank you and good morning everyone!
'Blueberries 'n' Cream' is a mini trailer hybridized by P. Harris registered in1986. Pat Harris has introduced many great trailers.
I got bitten by the trailer bug this year and have added quite a few varieties I received leaves from. Lots of trailer plantlets around here now and I will enjoy watching them grow over the winter. There is still one I'm on the lookout for called 'Ramblin Sunshine'. Anyone grow it?
You really grow some beauties Snowrose. WOW!! on all of them! : )
Another fun note about Blueberries N Cream is it sported to another great trailer " Both almost Vintage too :))"Pacific Pearl
Both great trailers to grow ! Your's is stunning Snow !
Blueberries 'n' Cream (6415) 11/05/1986 (P. Harris) Double dark blue. Variegated bright green and white, glossy, pointed. Miniature trailer SPORTED TO >>
Pacific Pearl (7263) 11/24/1989 (P. Harris) Double white and blue. Variegated, longifolia, wavy. Miniature trailer
You are so right, VT...'Pacific Pearl' is very pretty too. Thanks for that additional info. While I do love the standards, trailers are fun to grow as a little more informal. A full multicrowned trailer in bloom is so lovely.
All beautiful and healthy looking plants!!!
Sports are interesting to me ! P Harris is a Hybridizer of many of my favorite trailers :)
Gorgeous plants, Snowrose! I absolutely love Wrangler's Pink Patches. Wow!
Thanks for sharing.
Don Ü
Wow Snowrose!!! Those are beautiful. I really love Wrangler's Pink Patches and Blueberries 'n' Cream!!!
I just got a couple of trailers, but one is really lopsided. It's Fairy Fountain. I'll take a pic and maybe yal can help me figure it out.
Debbie
You sure have beautiful plants Snow ! Do you grow to show ?
Hi all and thank you for your kind comments :).....
I like to grow trailers myself fom a leaf as I then have more control over them from the start. Where to begin? This is what I do, so take it for what it's worth.
I find trailers grow fairly fast and I repot up as needed. Also, think about what you want to accomplish. First, I think about growing a nice full plant. This applies to all violets actually. No blooms at this point. I disbud so the plant puts it's energy to vegetative growth.... crowns and foliage only. When you are satisfied you have a nice full rounded plant, then you can let it bloom. Also important as you are growing out your plants, give them a 1/4 turn daily if possible (I go clockwise) or as often as you can to keep symmetry. All plants will grow towards the highest light source even under grow lights.
Also, always keeping in mind your purpose with a plant....for vegetative growth on all green varieties...a balanced fertilizer with a ratio of 20-20-20 is good mixed at the rate of 1/8-1/4 teaspoon per gallon of water every time you water. During the winter months in natural light 1/8 t. is probably enough as the plants won't be growing as much with the cooler temps and shorter day length. Under controlled conditions under lights, 1/4 t. per gallon is fine. For variegates, I use fertilizer with a ratio of 15-30-15. If you want to use just one, the 15-30-15 would be good for all.
Let me talk a minute about fertilizer in general....again back to what we want to accomplish. What do I want this plant to do? I will use NPK 15-30-15 as an example:
The first number 15 is the nitrogen content (N).....promote vegetative growth (leaves)
The second number 30 is the phosphorus content (P)....promotes blossoms and roots
The third number 15 is the potash (K) content....promotes overall vigor
A formulation like this has twice as much phosphorus as nitrogen and potash so would be good overall but especially for roots and bloom as well. Good for variegates as the N content isn't too much to cause too much greening up. Also, ferilizers should have trace elements for plant health especially since most of us use soiless mix.
Off topic a bit, but on Eleanor's VF 11....bear in mind, this fertilizer is very weak (so, no it can't burn....mostly water) with an analysis of 0.15 - 0.85 -0.55 which means it is basically a weak blossom booster/root stimulater as the middle number (phosphorus) is almost 6 times the nitrogen.
Had enough science? lol
Yes, VT...I have shown and am growing a few large standard hopefuls for the spring if all goes well. I don't want to jinx myself. So far so good, but we all know the timing has to be right for lots of bloom. Very fun and challenging though.
Another variegated violet trailer...'Fancy Trail'....an old Lyndon Lyons variety registered in 1979 -
Oh wow!! That one is beautiful too!!!! You do an awesome job!!
I took pic of mine and I'll start a new thread so I don't hijack your thread.
Debbie
Snow,Thanks for clearly explaining what the different numbers in fertilizers mean.That always has confused me.I have been using VF-11 on my best violets but none of mine look anywhere near as nice,nor bloom as beautifully as yours.I never gave it any thought that the VF-11 might be too weak.I am going to try your method of 20-20-20 for my greens and 15-30-15 for my varigated ones and see if they give me blooms and foliage like yours.Very informative thread.Thank You!!
Nancy
Here is a quote from Lyons nursery. And yes, they do know what they are talking about....
"FEEDING - Many times people ask "Why aren't my violets blooming?" And our first response is "Are you feeding your plants?" Either lack of fertilizer or too infrequent fertilizing is one of the reasons for lack of blossoms, blooms small in size and foliage that is pale or light green. When using soiless mixes, as most growers do today, it is necessary to use a diluted fertilizer solution each time the plant is watered. We recommend using a well-balanced fertilizer such as 15-30-15 at the rate of 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of water each and every time you water. Do not think because a little fertilizer makes them bloom nicely, more will make them even better! Excess fertilizer will burn the roots and may cause hard, brittle, foliage."
Cedarnest....do you grow in natural light or under grow lights? How do you water your plants?
Snow,All my av's are on stands under lights.They are in a huge southeastern facing bow window so on days with plentiful sunshine I let nature do the job through filtered sheers.I top water all of them being extremely careful not to get any on the leaves.I know I should probably wick or bottom water but I am a real hands on person.Maybe to much so.I'm afraid I am constantly picking them up and talking to them like children . Which I am sure I shouldn't do either probably.Can you tell I am pretty goofy? LOL
Snow, Very interesting on the fertilizer. I'm using 15-30-15 now but with all of the testimony about VF-11 I ordered a bottle. Everyone that had used it seemed to think it was all that was needed and that it gave the plants a much needed boost. Do you think VF-11 is too weak or should it be alternated with others.
Touching and talking to my plants :)) I always knew who everyone was , where and how they were doing :)) They love it when I sing to them :))
Were so lucky to have so ny great growers and help !
I like the AVSA web sight... When ever anything goes wrong not growing the way I like I go back to simple basics :))
Avsa has a great article "Why Won't My Violets Bloom?
Plus basic care and all other information you can even ask questions !
http://www.avsa.org/Faq.asp
Sounds like you are just as 'goofy' as I am! lol! You sound like the perfect violet enthusiast and grower.
We've all heard the expression "plants are like people" and in many ways they are. Plants growing in controlled conditions under lights are more like athletes instead of couch potatoes and have a bit more food requirements. The reason I asked about your lighting is because if one grows in only moderate natural window light, perhaps 1/8 teaspoon per gallon of tepid water may be enough epecially during the winter months when temps are cooler and day length is shorter. Sounds like you have a very nice set up with supplementary grow lights as needed.
If you would get water on the leaves, no real big deal. Just blot up with tissue and keep out of direct light until dry.
Oh Hedi Lyon'sl are great growers I love reading their articles and their plants ! Some of the old journals most all of them always had pictures and great reading !
I feel you need well rounded care. And again the basics all growers use. A plant needs the same things we do to be happy.
Lyons nursery also says " Sorry wish I knew how to do quates I don't won't to be copy someones material .
~Adequate light is very important for abundant bloom.
But here is the whole link with info above from Heidi's posting too :))
http://www.lyndonlyon.com/Hints.html
Seems every grower likes different foods they enjoy using for their plants. I myself do . I like Optimara's, Peter's, Dyna - gro, Jacks, Eleanor-Vf11 and few others.
I have had good results to be honest with all of them when giving my plants everything else they need !
Now I do not have any good windows nor plant stand or lights but only have a few plants.
I grew plants that bloomed well in natural light and under gro-lights. I do know the more hours of light the more blooms I got. I did get more blooms in Winter when it was cooler.
It's all fun ! If it's not broken keep doing , or try different methods to see what's best.
VF-11 is not too weka to use all the time. Our lawn, garden bed, plants inside home never looked better than a few years ago when I was able to buy it by the case and we used it on everything!
You can always feel free to call Eleanor and ask her all the questions you like get enough food to last( 8 oz bottle FREE) 8 gallons use it on a few plants with same light and other growing conditions for FREE and see how your plants like it !
Susan...since you ordered it, you may want to try it on a couple BUT remember the analysis is only 0.15 - 0.85 - 0.55
Might be OK as a foliar feed as is so weak....couldn't hurt I wouldn't think.
Thank you so much, Susan. I think as far as white edged (geneva) fantasy blossoms go, Splatter Kake is hard to beat. Wish me luck on something I just did the other day. I have a plant blooming of Buckeye Dogwood Spring which I love the large variegated foliage but the blossom is a rather plain pink star. I decided to cross the pollen from Splatter Kake (also a star) onto the blossoms of B.Dogwood Spring. The resulting plantlets will be variegated but might have more interesting flowers. At least, that's my hope.
beautiful plants. pink patches is awesome.
oooOOOHHhhhh, Snow, I like the sound of that cross! PLMK if you need help growing out the babies... I can make room under the basement lights, maybe only for one flat over the winter, but the light shelves are quite available from Memorial Day (planting out time) until next Feb/March.
Thank you, Jannich!
And thank you, Critter! With any luck, I may have to take you up on your offer. I've got my fingers crossed. I should be out there shopping today facing the mobs but this is so much more pleasant. Have a good weekend.
Oh, Snow, I keep meaning to Dmail you... but while I've got this thread in front of me, just wanted to LYK I called Park's again... turns out our trays are on backorder (not mailed on the 22nd as somebody there had told me) and should go out next week. I'll keep you apprised!
Hey Snow, Are there any updates on the Splatter Cake and Dogwood Spring?
Good question... I was pretty excited about the possibilities with that cross!
I had a first bloom on a 'Rebel's Splattercake' plant this week... solid purple, with a white edge, no trace of pink at all. It's still stunning... will have to wait to subsequent blooms to see if it's a sport or not (grew it from a leaf).
Oh Critter .... Post a photo please! I bet that's really pretty with solid purple and a white edge!
Love that mini trailer 'Blueberries & Cream', oh and 'Fancy Trail' .... so pretty! I am thinking of buying a trailer to try my hand at. I've never tried the mini's or trailing AV's. And that 'Wrangler's Pink Patches' is on my "Wish List" .... That is a real Beauty! I WANT that one! I'm going to google and see if I can find a source for that one! I don't have any AV's with the variegated foliage! Really Gorgeous!
Thanks for posting those great photo's!
Lin