Fun, No Stress Spring Leaf Trade Update

Hi everyone, I have not been around very much, so I thought I would check in with you! Hope your plants are all growing so you will have plenty of leaves to trade! Remember, we are shooting for the first Monday in May (or about then). My suggestion is to send your leaves USPS Express Mail.

Email me if you have any questions. Have a great week! Blessings, Pam

Hi Pam,Nice to see you posting.I'm ready and waiting for the trade:)

count me in, i love to trade.
mrsbonnie

Hi Pam ... Yes, my leaves are "getting" ready for the Swap.

Hi Pam,My plants are growing like mad.They must know spring is coming.LOL Just this past week they have really kicked into high gear.Hope my partner has room for "Lots" of leaves and stolons.hee hee

Mine are growing like crazy too! I just did a good grooming over the weekend, so by the time the trade rolls around, I'll have plenty to send out. Spring is definitely just around the corner. I have almost 40 AVs blooming now or getting ready to bloom!

Stephanie

I have a question, I have plantlets that I can send in place of leaves, would that be ok too?

I hope that ok Maureen,because I was planning on doing the same : )

It works for me..... : ) Sounds good!

Thanks Pam : ))

I'm sorry, but I have forgotten how many we are supposed to send. Don't laugh--you'll be old someday!!

We are doing 4 to 5 sets of leaves and a small, inexpensive AV related gift. : ) No laughing here. : )

1gardengram - don't worry, your not alone:-) A friend at works calls us "sieve"

I know I have a few extra plantlets. I can't wait for this trade!

I am glad we can send plantlets! I thought someone told me only leaves! I would like to send some fresh cut leaves, rooted leaves or little plantlets too!

Am I remembering that it is supposed to be 5 little bags, 2 per bag?

Yes, Lin, the leaves go in ziplock bags or something similar. And we did start out saying just leaves, but if what someone has is plantlets, so be it.

: ) It's all good. That's why it's the no-stress trade. : )

Ha ha. : ) Pam

Are NOIDs OK?

I think I remember that Noids are ok, since a lot of folks have Noids ... most of my AV's are Noids. I only have 3 or 4 named ones.

Noids are fine. : ) Pam

Pam, count me in....I just found 16 new mini's yesterday ......thanks. I may have plantets of Annabelle by then and the rest will be leaves....some pretty noids, too...

Ok, who's getting ready? My lucky recipient will be getting beautiful plantlets that I started from leaves in November. They are so pretty. Plus leaves of others. I wonder who has me???

Am I right in that we are supposed to keep it a secret whose name we got to send to? We're supposed to put a note in the package when we mail it with our DG user name?

I have so many leaves and plantlets, most are Noids. I have recently bought a couple of named plants, do you think it's too late to put down leaves of some of them now? I just hope the person I get realizes I am a novice at this ... I have been told that when you cut the leaves for rooting, that you should cut on the diagonal and it's not good for the babies to grow behind the mom leaf. Well, I wish I had known that before I got started. A lot of mine are growing behind "Mom". And, someone said to cut mom leaf across the top (take about 1/3 off) to keep the stem from growing tall. So much to learn!

But, it's fun!

Lin

HI Lin. I think it's a secret, until they get the box (do I have it right?) Noids are pretty plants too and they are allowed so not to worry. I think it's too late to put down leaves, but don't worry this is supposed to be leaves (unrooted). The only reason I'm sending small plants is because I had so many that I was rooting before this spring trade was set up. I'm only going to be sending a couple of plants and the rest will be leaves that are freshly taken from the mother plant. I will send the whole leaf and the recipient and recut the angle cut at the desired length when they receive it. On my leaves I do with with half the top cut off and one whole. So far I notice no difference in which roots faster or better.

Thanks Maureen!

And, if I remember correctly for the swap, it's 5 zip lok bags, 2 leaves per bag? 10 leaves or plantlets total? Or do we send more if we want?

Lin,
One of my prettiest avs is a noid that someone will be getting leaves from real soon. All in the eye of the beholder. Right? I am planning on sending more, but to think of it, I hope it's OK. Some people might not want more than 5 sets. ??? Good morning.
Laura

Good morning, Laura. Probably just about everyone would like more, more, more. But......be careful not to feel bad if you receive the required five bags, period.

I have a question..............

Can leaves be sent safely in a bubble envelope?

Any opinions would be great,

Maureen,I am not sure if a bubble envelope would prevent the leaves from being damaged.I have never sent any that way so I am curious and hope someone who has will tell us if it worked alright.

I have a question too..lol..of course I would.I always think too much.Anyway,I am wondering if it would be ok to d-mail the person I am sending too to see what plants they already have so I can try to send leaves or plantlets of different ones they don't already have instead of duplicates of ones they do?Whew I am out of breath after that sentence.I know the person I am sending to has many av's because I have seen pics posted here from time to time but they don't have a tradelist of haves or wants on Daves I can peek at .Any ideas on this or should we just not worry about it? I know I won't mind one bit getting ones I already have but didn't know how everyone else feels about it?
Nancy

Thanks Nancy, I received leaves one time in a bubble envelope (wrapped in more bubble pack) and they arrived fine, but I don't know if it is considered a "safe" method of packing.

Note sure about the other question, you will have to wait for av Pam to let us know.

Good question about bubble envelopes for leaves! I hadn't thought of that. I wonder if the bubble envelopes go through those postal machines where they get the postage stamped over? If they do, I would think it would smoosh leaves, but then again I'm thinking since they sell those bubble mailers for protecting stuff, maybe they don't put those types of envelopes through the machines! If that is the case, those bubble type mailers would be perfect for mailing leaves!

I remember someone saying the swap would be 5 zip lok bags, 2 leaves each bag, but if some of us are sending a combo of leaves and plantlets, those folks could use a small box. If it is just leaves, it would be nice and less expensive if we didn't have to try to find a box, but could ship them in bubble envelopes! It's kinda hard to find real small boxes.

And, I think you can send more than the originally specified amount if you want, it's just like Gardengram said, but some will only be sending the 5 bags (10 leaves total.) And, I keep forgetting about the "little something" extra ... I think it said we could include some type of small gardening gift in our box. I really need to go back and find our "original" thread about the swap and read it again! I don't remember things 5 minutes after I've read them sometimes!

LIn

P.S. I can't remember, but I may have already told the person I got, that I got their name in the swap? I need to go back and check my past dmails to be sure! :) Either way, whether we know who we are receiving from or not, this is still a whole lotta fun!

Gardengram,
Receiving the 5 bags total will be just fine with me. It's all in fun to see what we'll receive, but I think Nancy has a good thought too. That might take some time for some of us though that have TOO MANY to list. A thought would be (although it would take the surprise out of it) to let the person know what you are thinking about sending them and go from there. ???

To clarify, when do we mail out packages out?

Thanks, Laura

I believe it's May 1st.

To be safe all plant material should in boxes and shipped priority mail. Priority mail boxes are free.
Even boxes can get damaged. Make plants and leaves are packaged proper and nothing moves in box.
Many times PO people leave boxes out in rain, cold, hot sun .
If you use a bubble Envelope or small box chances are if it's like our PO people they shove them into our hot medal mail box by the road those things in hot sun can burn up dry up plants cuttings in just a few moments.
Nothing more sad than being excited opening a box of plants/cuttings to find them dead.
Always share your best .. what you would be excited to get.
Guess I'm too new and late to get in on this trade maybe next time !

Ask Robin...maybe another person is late too and wants to trade too.
Laura

Hi Everyone,
I know I'm probably too late for this. When I first saw it I didn't think I was worthy :)
I've bought quite a lot of new plants lately and I have my pretty noids so now I have about 30 plants.
Anyway if you have an odd number and need another person I am available. Otherwise I'll just catch the next trade.
I hope everyone has fun!

Sue

Yes I am late on this also and would like to join if I can... LMK...Thanks

Hopefully avpam,,our organizer.. will check in soon so you can all join in the fun.I hope RobinEggs,Glamourpuss and Bluepoppy can still join us and anyone else that might want in.The more the merrier right?

Hi...sorry I have been AWOL. HA! Life is too busy............glad we are all excited. Here are some brief responses to previous conversations.....

It is ok to send more than 4-5 things, but remember to only expect the minimum amount in return.

I have received leaves in a padded envelope and I don't suggest it. I much prefer a small box. Just my humble opinion.....others may feel differently. My suggestion is sending your packages US priority mail.

More in a few minutes......glad spring is here. : ) Pam

Here are the original guidelines for the trade. It has grown to include small plants, too. remember, no stress trading is the key!!!! I am trying to match up a few latecomers and will do so if possible. May 1 was the approximate send date. Would you all prefer April 31, and May 1 or May 7 and 8? These are both Mondays and Tuesdays. Mondays are the best mailing days to me. Let me know which you prefer, because I can't find if I set the exact date. Happy growing. : ) Allison is still in on the trade, btw, and she is excited. Blessings, Pam


Basic Guidelines for the trade are: Keep it simple, 4-5 sets of leaves, pest-free preferred (ha!) and one small AV related gift. The leaves can be AVs or another gesneriad (gesneria?), such as a chirita. NOID AVs are welcome, so everyone should be able to take part in the trade, if they wish. If you want to wait for a trade with plants and all named varieties, no problem. This is just a good way to learn a little more about AVs, etc., and have some fun. AV gift could be a small pot or AV tool, or notepad with flowers on it......

There will not be a wish list associated with this trade; and please do not post hints once you sign up. Just plan to be surprised. : )

Please sign up by responding to this post by February 1st. I will list the participants, gather addresses, choose recipients randomly, and dmail you the information about the person you send a box to. When I list the recipients, I will add some additional information about shipping, etc. Shipping date will be May 1 to avoid any freezing issues. Gives everyone time to grow more leaves, anyway. : )

Recipients....must isolate. : )

How funny is that? I found the mailing date in my own dmail. Ha....must come from having a teenage son who is graduating in a few weeks.....too much to do.....company coming, too..(runs around in circles pulling at hair)...........Let's say April 31 or May 1 as the shipping date. May 1 works if you are shipping a short distance. April 31 if you have a longer distance. Of course, if something comes up and you cannot get your package off on time, please dmail me and let me know, or dmail your trade recipient and let her know. It will all work out. Pam