lurker breaking silence!

Hello, everyone!

My name is Alexandra. My first ever post in the AV forum happened last week, when I took the chance at strep seeds that Brenda so kindly shared. Right now, they are sown and I'm waiting, they will be my first ever streptocarpus babies. Thank you, Brenda, again!

A few years back, I had a few AVs (well, about 15 of them...). I loved them, as I had the AV bug from my mother and they reminded me of home. My father also got bit by the bug, and before I left my childhood home, there was a fierceful competition between the 3 of us! My American-grown AVs were some spoiled fat kids with lots of blooms, and very fond of Tchaikovsky. Unfortunately for them and me, when my mom got sick, sicker and then passed away, I didn't care for them as I should have and lost them all. Same happened with my Dad's back home, however he still has one.

This December, my Dad came to visit and stay with me and hubby for about a month, and I wanted to gift him some AV leaves, to re-start his collection. The weather was against my wishes, and his present arrived later, after he went back home. So, I took it upon me to baby his leaf gifts. Until I go home to visit, or he comes to our house. That's when I started, albeit silently, visiting this forum, and reading up the propagation threads and Critter's articles (I knew the basics, but I will consider myself a beginner, because of the harsh, dry climate I moved it a year ago). They are all in the process of rooting right now, and I'm waiting for "ears", as you call them, any day now.

While I don't have any pretty pictures yet, I thought it would be nice to pop in and say hello. The AVs will always have a special place in my heart, and hopefully I'll be good enough to them here in the desert, have beautiful blooms to show and new friends to see them.

Hugs,
Alexandra

(this is my father's AV and a few babies)

Welcome! Were glad you came out of 'lurking' to join us ^_^.

hi Alexandra from TX. I was in Texas about 60 years ago!! Some say I have a slight accent; but I was only 2. I have done geneology and discovered ancestors in Texas. My great grandfather Meeks was a Texas Ranger. I love AVs [but not Tchaikovsky so much; Chopin yes]. I am trying my hand at Streps. I have 2 I got from Violet Barn; they each have had 1 bloom. I'm working with an Episcia. Trouble is my climate is dryer with low humidity. That keeps me busy checking water> Cheryl

Nice to meet you Alexandra! Your violets look great!

Heya, goofybulb! I'm glad to see you here. I'll cross my fingers that you see "ears" very soon! :-)

Thank you for the welcome, and nice to meet you too!

Jannich, I might not post much until I have something worthy, but I have the forum in the fav list and stroll in when I find some free time. When I'll grow up a bit, I hope I'll have lots of AVs to share.

Cheryl, I'm not a Texas native, not even US native... I came to US 7 years ago (that's the reason the leaves weren't sent directly to my Dad), stayed in Miami for 6 years and I've been in El Paso for a little less than one year - June 2nd at 2am we'll be celebrating the "dismounting from the moving truck".
I love Chopin too! I studied piano in my young years, and even if I don't play now (my piano was left home...), I am extremely fond of piano works of all kinds and listen a lot of classical music. Thus, my plants have a "musical ear".
I also have a very dry climate here, that I found extremely challenging. Also very hot in the summer, which, by the way, already started here. Inside too, even with the evaporative AC, the air is quite dry. My plants have a humidifier added to their room...

Phoebe, I wish my violets will look nice. That's my father's, but I'm very happy you like it, it's within our family! He taught himself how to grow them, and when he was working, he used to have the most beautiful office space, with AVs always in bloom!

Critter, I'd like to be able to say, in a surprised tone: "fancy to meet you here"! But I knew I'll find you in this forum! So hello, my dear friend!

Hugs for all,
Alexandra

so gald you joined, you will love it here, great people.your violets look wondeerful.
mrsbonnie

Welcome from me too!

I don't know much about Texas, but there are a several av clubs there...maybe you could look into them and see if anything is close to you. The best way to learn about growing in a new climate would be from people already growing in that climate. Also you can get extra plants and leaves and such too and violet people are fun to be around! avsa.org and click on the left side "affiliates" find Texas and off ya go.

Congrats on starting your leaves. Growing up (in Maryland) my mom always had a few violets and before I left home I had started growing them too. When she passed away I took her violets and we were doing pretty good except some of them had some very long necks. Then I found out about miniature violets and trailing violets and mail ordered them...didn't know about keeping new plants away from the old ones for a while and the new ones had soil mealie bugs (not the same ones as get on the top of a plant) and it spread to all my violets and I lost all my moms violets and the new ones too. I was very sad about her plants, it was like losing a part of her. I still have some house plants of hers though so all was not lost. My dad is not into plants and he wanted me to take her violets quick before he killed them.. a lady from church gave him a violet plant and he promptly tried to give it to me...I said, no it was a gift, its yours, but I did take two leaves. Well he was right, he killed it, but the two leaves grew two violets...I showed them to him when he was visiting in Nov.

Take care. tish

Alexandra, I thought you might enjoy looking at Musical Heritage Society. I recently joined. I just got "Benny Goodman does Classic". It's very soothing for AVs and others. Cheryl

Welcome Alexandra ^_^. I know you will like it here.
Lynn

Oh you don't have to have pictures of flowers to be here LOL Shoot I came to play Bingo and now I am an addict to streps... Welcome ^_^ This is a nice place to be...
Hugs,
Susan

Turtle,
I was " lured into Bingo " also, by Plantladylin...LOL..and now look!! ^_^

Lynn

~~~~Hi Alexandra!
I just popped on here to see what was going on...haven't been on much lately, and found a post from one of my favorite new friends (you!)!

So, though I don't visit real often, I welcome you to this forum, too!

Well, thank you all for your welcoming words, it's really nice to be here! Sorry for the delay in answering, but I got caught between working against a deadline and getting sick and...

Cheryl, I looked on their website and didn't find anything about how much the membership would cost, but if it does, it's not the right time for me now... I am fortunate to have been raised in a house where there was a lot of music, and so we have lots of music to choose from and listen to right now. But I'll certainly look for Benny Goodman's classic approach.

Lynn and Susan, I noticed a few bingo threads while scanning for AV info, but I have to admit I didn't understand a thing.

My dear Nan, I'm so happy to see you too!

Tish, I don't know much about Texas either, but I'm learning... I looked for several plant clubs here (AVs being one of them), but all the TX ones are too far. Maybe the closest is one in Tucson, AZ. Hmmm, I wonder what takes to start one?
I'm contemplating a membership for AVSA, but it will probably have to wait until June. My monthly plant (and plant related budget) is limited, and with the heat that's coming, I think May will be my last month buying plants, until fall.

I already made my list and I'm waiting for May 1st now... I love growing things from seed or cuttings. This time, I'm going for AV minis and semiminis, and a few names that mean something to me... so I have a question for you all: do you know any AVs that have "goofy" or "loco" in their names? I only know of Loco Jo, and soon she'll be mine, mwah-ha-ha!

Hugs,
Alexandra

Did someone say B-I-N-G-O?!? Oh, I feel an itch coming on!

Welcome, goofybulb! I too, got into AV's last year when I read one of critter's articles!

Somewhere I read about a "roaving" AV club in Texas - mainly because of the distances some people would need to travel. I know when DH was almost transferred to Lubbock, the closest AV club was somewhere in NM!!!

I've read an article in the last few months on steps to take to start a club . . . let me see if I can find it . . . here it is! http://www.avsa.org/Library/StartAClub.pdf (ok, it's an old article, but I did just read it the last few months!

Did I miss something? What happens May 1?

Hello, Syrumani! I've been lurking on the AVSA site too, thanks for the link.

LOL, what happens May 1st!... I have a monthly allowance (otherwise I don't have any self-control), and usually it gets spent the first day (OK, maybe 2 days) of the month... then the whole rest of the month - 28-30 days of it - I plan and dream of my next month's have-to-haves.

SOOOOOOO, I have already prepared my wishlist for May, and come the 1st my itchy fingers will place an order... that includes the Loco Jo AV (leaves).

Alexandra

I see . . . I thought . . . just maybe . . . that you were going to sneak down to the club show/sale in San Antonio!! ^_^

Hi goofybulb! You are on the right forum for av's streps or whatever else you have! These people know it all, and are more than happy to help! Hey, they helped me get blooms! AND THATS A LOT!! LOLOL I like your monthly allowance on plants thing! I know about how much I'm going to spend but seem to co crazy in the beginning, I think I may adapt your monthly idea! That way I have to really think about how much I really want it! My DH will love love the idea!....Ok not gonna share it with him yet!!

Bingo??? Who said that??? I played the last game, it was so much fun!! This was my 1st. I will play again for sure!! So, who's gonna call who's gonna play??? LETS PLAY!!! Syn. and HB Gran are the pros! They have a post at the beginning of the last one I think, that explains it.

Laura H

Well, I was going to wait until June or July to suggest it, but if interest is there . . . we shall see!! ^_^

Alexandra, it's like a book club. No membership but they send you a notice of a selection [you can get a free one of your choice too]. If you don't want it you can just decline. You pay for it after you get it.

Alexandra - there is also a sticky thread in this forum for Haves and Wants. You could put your wish list there, then update as needed.

Thank you, Laura, and all, for your kind welcome! You guys and gals, I will need to find out what's with that bingo, everybody talks about it... but I'll probably watch one to understand, plus I'm too new to participate.

Syrumani, I've noticed the wants/haves thread, but I cannot post yet, as I have nothing yet to share. I couldn't just post "wants" and no "haves"... Maybe towards the fall...
It would have been nice to go to San Antonio, but I'm pressed by time until the 13th, so it will be another time... You're in San Antonio! Well, we'll figure out another time, maybe, to meet!

Cheryl, Thanks again, I'll look into it.

I'm counting the hours until hitting "place order"... Yay! This time it will be minis and semi-minis!

Hugs to all,
Alexandra

Welcome to the gessie forum Alexandra! Great bunch here!

So, I KILL all AVs I come near after 6 mos if not sooner, however I could really use a photo of 'Tchaikovsky' or 'Chopin' for a Dave's Garden article I'm planning to write: the music-lover's garden! Just Dmail me if you have one, please, thanks!

I did not understand Bingo when I got here either but it is easy and when we play again you have to join... It is FUN... Summer is always crazy with people coming and going but we all pop in at one time or another.... Welcome again.
Hugs,
Susan

Carrie, I don't have a pic of them, you could find one on wikipedia for sure. What I can do, is take a pic of some CDs, that have their faces on. You name it: Tchaikovsky I have a box, that (still) looks lovely, but no face on it... and then you name it: Chopin, Mozart (another nice-looking collector's box, this time with his face on), Berlioz, Liszt, Haydn, Grieg, and many more... I'll send you a pic tomorrow morning, and if you want, we'll talk more.

Susan, Thanks again for the invite! I watched the RR with lots of interest, but couldn't participate yet (though I understood this one well).

My AV leaves seem to move very slowly. Only two, so far, grew ears. I lost several to a weird thing that started either to the top or middle of the leaf, then spread and killed the whole leaf... for some of them I lost all the leaves of that cultivar... (out of 14, I have only 9 left). Maybe it's me, but it seemed a lot easier in the past...

I'm waiting for another leaf batch soon, sometime next week. I'm quite worried now, since this time they are only minis and semi-minis. Hard to keep the air humid, and if I do, they kick the bucket because it's too much (I didn't spray the leaves, I just moved my trays close to the sink).

Hugs,
Alexandra

Alexandra, do you keep your rooting leaves covered? I find that really helps with the humidity, and may also keep any mold or fungus spores floating around in the air from landing on them and possibly causing trouble - plus if they are covered, they stay moist, you don't have to water as much and sometimes not at all.

I buy those disposable cake pans at the grocery store, think they come in all sizes, and you can get them with clear plastic lids. A set of 2 in a 10" x 12" size usually costs approximately $3.

Here is a pic of a tray of mini's I just finished doing, they are in little one ounce cups, so I could fit alot in one tray. For somereason the side of the lid facing the camera turned white from the flash, but it is really just clear.

Thanks, Alexandria, but I could get pictures of the composers no problem, it's an African violet named Tchaikovsky that would be great!

Carrie, sorry, my bad. Misunderstood your post.

Jmp, I only had one leaf set covered, the only mini from my first leaf batch. That one also suffered 2 leaves loss, now there's only one left. I think I was so worried that I will not be able to provide enough air humidity, that I made the wrong choice - placing them too close to a water source.

This is kinda how it looks. Should I remove the Momma-leaf in this particular case? The earlings are very small, but my worry is if the thing happening to the Momma can extend to the little plantlet.

I understand your technique, and that's what I'll do with the new ones when they arrive (probably Wednesday!). I have small cups (probably 1oz) ready and waiting.

Thanks,
Alexandra

I heard that you should not remove the mama leaf until the babies are much much bigger with leaves the size of dimes. Though I had marginal success in the past growing violets from leavse, alot of them died, and I think it was because I removed the mama leaf too early.

In this case, I don't know if that leaf being the way it is could harm the baby plant. You might be taking a chance removing it, but on the other hand, if you leave it, it might rot and spread the rot to the babies. I don't have an answer for you, as I am too lacking in experience. Someone here will know what the best thing to do would be.

Also, with rooting cuttings of most plants, the smaller the pot and the less amount of soil the better! You want as little wet soil as possible around the new roots, they can't use all the excess moisture in a large amount of soil, as a result everything stays too wet, too soggy, and your chances for root rot increase. Those little one ounce cups are perfect, especially for mini or semi mini leaves. I use a 2 ounce for standards.

Wait to remove the large leaf until the plant is larger, at least dime sized ears.

I root all my av leaves in 1/2 perlite and 1/2 vermiculite in a 3ounce solo cup. I can't imagine growing big av leaves in a 1 oz. cup......I have some of them and they are soooooooooo small.

Some of my leaves I root in my soil less mix, the rest in 50/50 perlite/vermiculite. I lose very few AV leaves using either method. I think the baby plants that come up from the 50/50 mix are a little bigger than the ones in soil (these are from leaves stuck on same date).

I, also,stuck two batches on the same day.Those in soil made babies first,but those in 50/50 soon caught up to equal or larger size ears.

Thanks, all, for your input.

I started my leaves in a mix of seed starting mix and perlite, I guess those cups I used are 3 oz (not really good with the oz measuring)? To my defense - or getting ready to be virtually beaten, each and everyone of them had 3 leaves to start with (a couple cultivars had just 2 to start). Watered from the bottom mostly, though I know of one instance I watered from the top, and messed the evenness of the soil line!

The tiny mini leaves I placed in (again, guessing) a 1oz little thingie (about 12in diameter and 1.5in high), and I covered them, because they seemed so much more fragile and easier to dehydrate.

Sally, I know it's best to keep the Momma-leaf longer, but this one is weird-looking, like it's rotting. Should I still keep it?

More leaves are on their way now. Wish me luck, so I don't screw up again! And please keep your suggestions and comments coming!

Thanks,
Alexandra

If the momma leaf is soft and mushy, it is sink or swim for the babies now. Try giving a gentle tug on the momma leaf. If it comes right off, then . . . there you go! If there is resistance, you could try and cut off as much of the 'rotted' part of the mother leaf as you could.

Sorry, I missed the soft part. If I think the momma leaf is ill, I remove it, sorry I messed that up! I agree with Syru.

This message was edited Jun 16, 2009 5:07 PM

I agree with both Syru and Sally,but I am a little confused about where you said they each had 2-3 leaves.Were they individual leaves or actually small plants? That could make a lot of difference!
I really don't think it makes that much difference if your little cups are 3 ounces or smaller,as long as they have drainage holes and a light mix.If you dome them,be really careful about watering......I recently lost a few prized leaves,because I domed them and they stayed too wet,just because I was busy doing other things.That never happens when I water root or just put them in a little cup of soiless mix without a dome.

Lynn

Hi Alexandra ,


It sounds like you should be added to the next RR , then you can get some different leaves and plants to get you better started , everyone here is so kind and generous and there are a few great people here that live in Texas too and I am sure they can help you with tips for the hot dry climit , haha not me as I am way north of you but all you need to do is ask not just read what others are saying , it is great to have you join us , I am new too and feel right at home now with all these lovely , kind people so please feel at home with us all , WELCOME !!!!

Connie

Alexandria, you are in the driest part of Texas. I lived in New Mexico and flew out of El Paso for many years. We have a lot of humidity in south Texas unlike you but we will all try to help you out.............