I repotted all my AV's and they are doing nicely ..but ..do you pinch the center out of these are do you let it grow ..Is this not where the flowers start from ? I know this sounds like a dumb Question ..but have to ask so I dont mess up ..I pinched out the second picture Ill sent ..but didnt do it to this first one till I make sure..would apprecite any help....
Pretty plant ! Do you know its name?
I say do not pinch the center out.
Allison ..Its a noid I seen it bloom when I first got it along with 5 others they were all beautiful ..then they stopped blooming I started reading about suckers and 2 or 3
more plants growing in there and sure enought..When I looked it was a big mess I cut some out and replanted some threw some away ..finely got a timer to keep my lights on for 12 hours ..I think im ready to grow some now..but Im scared to let some thing grow that is a sucker and mess up the plant again
Is the pictured plant one that you pinched, or not?
Its the one I did not pinch Ive tried twice to send the other one but Im scared to punch the send button to many time and have three post up here..lol will try to send it below
The first picture apears to my old eyes not to have a crown ?? But looks like new growth ?
Your second picture plant looks fine. They both look shiney and healthy pretty plants !
gingerose - Other than plants called 'trailers' or 'chimeras', African violets should be grown single crowned and should NOT be pinched in the center. It was good you removed the suckers however. It seems many of the noid types such as Optimara and Anthoflores have suckers when purchased. Very common and not unusual at all.
Now, on the second one you pinched...most likely several new crowns will grow to replace the one you pinched out.
The first one you didn't pinch has such small little center leaves. Keep your eyes on that one. If the center starts to turn pinkish, greyish, extra hairy, or distorted/deformed then you might have more problems than you want. Was this plant in very heavy bloom when you got it? Sometimes the center leaves can just be depleted from all the energy going to the blossoms rather than the leaves. In any case, keep a close eye on it.
Sometimes it takes a little while plus some trial and error to get the hang of growing violets but we learn from what we do right and a whole lot from what we do wrong. Happy growing to you...
Snow
I've always pulled off the very bottom ring of old leaves when a av quit blooming for a extended period of time. I'm assuming this makes the plant re-direct it's enegeries it was putting into supporting those old leaves into more blooms....but then you know what assuming does.*G*
P
Thanks for all the advice ..ladies..
SNOW : the one in the first picture had a crown in it but "Not Knowing" because it looked like a bunch of tight curled leaves ..I just plucked it out..now its starting more leafs in side ..which I will take Allisons advice and let her grow ..the second one I plucked 2 leafs that were in the center..I need to get me a book thats shows in PICTURES what is a tight crown ..and what is a sucker. .on the first picture would you pull the two leafs that are big (on the bottom)to make the plant even?..Thanks for your help ..Im learning even tho my poor babies ..oh well lets dont go there..Faye
bigred That's good grooming !
Faye you are doing a great job growing your new plants ! You sure keep them clean and healthy :))
There are many, many good books out there. I gave all my old journals and books away to several people here and there after enjoying them for years and reading and re-reading :))
The two threads into our forum here are stickies and many links to answer all your questions with pictures until you may get a book !
I'll find some of the links that you might njoy andpost them here for you :))
Happy Fun growing is the number one thing !
Thank you Allison looking forward to your links
Snow : thanks for making that clear that i need a crown in the kind of AF. Im growing ..If two crowns come in should I dispose of one? thanks again for your help..
OK I'll find pictures . The extra crowns Suckers can be rooted in their own little pots for a new plant ! If you like more than one crown there is no rule saying you can't have more than one ! It just takes away from the shape. My huband has a nice ole fashion one he's been growing outside for awhile and he has a few crowns it blooms a lot and looks like one of those old fashion African violets Gransma grew ! I've read in several books one I gave to Any she posted about it here in a thread some where . It said something like if you enjoy your plants with more than one crown grow them like that and don't let anyone tell you you can't. Really it said this. lol
I know this was not your questions just a cute thought I threw in hope you don't mind :))
And traling African violets do have more than one crown. let me go get links and pictures !
So much great fun information on the internet !
Here is just a littlt bit hope you enjoy :))
Here's a pretty picture of a trailer with many crowns. Nanna shaped it and grew it extra special beautiful ! The more crowns the more flowers ! Isn't beautiful !
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/566264/
Rooting and Starting Suckers
http://www.rachelsreflections.com/violets3.htm#rooting%20and%20starting%20suckers
picture of a Sucker
http://www.rachelsreflections.com/crown.htm
Removing Suckers
http://www.rachelsreflections.com/suckers.htm
This sight does have something just about everything !
http://www.rachelsreflections.com/index.htm
This link is a great culture link show with pictures !
http://rainbowviolets.com/id4.html
If you go here there is growing culture about everything and you can ask questions too ! But from here; http://www.avsa.org/Faq.asp
Photographs of Growing Problems " You will se a big colorful picture of a plant with suckers and suckers off the plant.
There are African violet plants called Chimera that can only be Propagated true to blooms or true to foliage if a Chimeria Foliage plant by sucker or by bloom stalk basket baby ( A little sucker like baby that grows on a flower/bloom stlak) Here is a link shows good pictures of how they take the crowns off and pot them for new plants. There is no need for you to remove the crowns of other African Vilets I just wanted to show you the good pictures !
Chimera Propagation
http://www.rachelsreflections.com/chimera.htm
From Rob's Violet Barn
Question: The crown of my plant stops growing and divides into 3-4 little sucker-crowns. The plant seems to be dividing at the crown and I can't seem to distinguish which one is the true crown. I had a plant do this previously, and when the two crowns were large enough, I split them and got two plants.
Answer : http://www.robsviolet.com/faq_page_6.htm#crown%20suckers
Question: I've had problems with compound crowns in trailers, also occasionally a compound crown sucker in a miniature. This occurs even in plants that haven't been subjected to any unusual stress. Also, leaves from these plants will produce offspring with this same habit.
answer ; http://www.robsviolet.com/faq_page_9.htm#crown%20suckers
Question: I have a couple of violets that always seem to get extra sets of leaves growing from the center of the plant. Eventually, I have to divide these plants when they get bigger but the problem will reappear. What can I do?
ANSWER ; http://www.robsviolet.com/faq_page_8.htm#crown%20suckers
Thank you Allison I love it with all the pictures ..I think I know what a sucker and crown looks like now ...and my timer is working on my lights ..yea..!!!!now my AF .will have 12 hours of lights..
Your very well-come ! I love reading and looking at the pictures ! Enjoy your plants great growing job and your lights working ! Have fun !
Allison: From another novice AV grower, Thank You for posting those links! So much great information. I have to bookmark those links so I can go back again and again, since my the older I get, my brain doesn't retain much for long! LOL.
Thanks again!
Lin
Your well-come Lin ! I am the same way . I enjoy reading things over and over. Especially anything to do with growing plants !
Were going to be trying a lot of different seeds and plants this New year !
LOL Allison: It's not that I enjoy reading things over and over .... it's that I don't retain a lot of info for long, so I have to go back and re-read stuff to refresh my memory!
Lin
Oh Lin I'm sure this is my thing too ! lol I can have my phone in my hand and go looking for it. And have my glasses on and can't find them. Poor Hubby is no better he puts the dish soap in the refrigerater and butter went bad in the cabinets, he bought new paint and rollers and lost them it's cazy sometimes.
I do re-read to retain :)) but also when articles give me lots of intrest !
I keep wondering why in the afternoons I keep watching Still Standing and Reba over and over each day when their all repeats. lol
If I can post a link or a picture that might be of interest or help for just one person then its worth it :))
Happy Growing :))
LOL Allison! Too cute! I hope I don't find the butter in the cabinets or the soap in the refrigerator! I misplace my glasses and car keys all the time! And, we have 4 cats, all indoors .... and sometimes I get so panicked thinking one of them got out because I can't find her, and she will be almost right in front of my face, looking at me like "I'm right here, why can't you see me"? They don't come when you call them like dogs do! LOL.
Lin
Oh Lin he just did the butter the other day . It was a new big tub and he had to go buy more. Sometimes he worried me. Friends, Nurses..says he just has so much to do and on his mind taking care of me and all.
