Blog 2009. See new tab for Blog 2010
Adding info(even simple text) on this one page has become so painfully slow that I've created a new page called Blog 2010. Check it out. Eventually I will remove this page.
This page contains my rants, raves, reviews, etc. of all things
African Violet related.
December 30, 2009
Well, I decided I was going to make plans to attend the national convention in Raleigh, NC in April 2010. The registration info and sign-up sheets are available on the AVSA website. Some of the workshop have a limit of 15 people, so hopefully sending my forms in earlier this week will increase my chances of getting in. I hope to meet many of you there!
There are lots of tours around the area of Raleigh. I only signed up for one of them, but maybe I'll regret not signing up for more. If I'm going to travel 1000 miles, I want to stay where all the violet people and plants are. There are tons of places around Chicago I never get to visit. I need to be in touch with more experienced convention attendees to find out what those in the know do at convention.
********************************************
One more thing -- If you want to know the consequences of growing large standards, order some 18" violet rings from Cape Cod Violetry
like I did and you'll just find yourself staring at their enormous size. Somehow the rings seem much larger than the plants that are in need of them seem to be. YIKES!
December 27, 2009
I have returned from the choas at the shop that the holidays always bring. I will try to be more diligent in keeping up with both my violets and the blog. After being dumped on by 15 inches of snow yesterday and traveling back and forth to work in the winter mess, I decided to stay home today and work in the basement plant room. I'm pleased and surprised that despite already having a fairly aggressive winter, the plants down there seem to be doing well.
I cleaned up a bunch of plants while watering, and threw out a ton of blooms, buds, and many misfit leaves. After spending 6 hours down there I managed to fill a four gallon bucket to the top with plant debris. (see photo below)
For all the leaves I threw away today I saved and set aside lots of lush leaves that will get put down for propagation. I'm planning on working on plants again tomorrow so will most likely set aside another 150 or so to add to the approx. 100 from today. (see photo below)
I spoke with Andrea Worrell of The Franklin House on the phone this evening. She's getting her home ready for a visit from some violet friends from Texas for the week. We compared notes about making enough room for violets were grooming and growing for show. I'm beginning to believe that every violet grower wishes they had more room for the plant stands.
Andrea also made our plans to rejuvinate the "violet scene"! I frequently think that a primary reason interest in violets has diminished is because we've failed to stay current. We were playing a game of coming up with themes for violet shows that could shake things up a bit. I suggested "Violets, Viagra, and Windows Vista" while Andrea went for the stream of thought approach of violets and whatever was nearby and available, i.e. "Violets, File Cabinets, and a Bologna Sandwich". (LOL) We're rebels, what else can I say?!
December 16, 2009
Sometimes i get so caught up checking out all the new violet info and the groups, etc. that I suddenly realize I have to get off the computer and go actually tend to my plants!!! The trouble with growing large standards is that they keep getting bigger and bigger. I finally set aside some time today to do some much needed repotting and a lot of grooming. I only really got through one stand, and I pulled off over 250 leaves that didn't aid the symmetry of the plants. That's 250 lush healthy leaves, not the ones I yanked off and tossed out. I have at least 8 more stands to do, so I better train the dog to pot up leaves while I'm at work.
I should have taken before and after photos before i groomed the plants today, but I didn't think of it until it was too late. I'll do some before and after on the other stands I promise. Here's some photos from today.
Opera's Romeo
Cosmic
Legend 2
Ethyl's
Explosion
An embarrassing shelf of shame; too crowded to grow correctly.
Better plant spacing. After some agressive pruning, I can fit two plants of "Tiger" and two plants of "Opera's Romeo" on a 48" shelf until they grow larger and I can only fit a plant or two per shelf.
December 11, 2009
Fortunately the plants in the basement aren't the only plants growing well. I bought a small starter plant of the standard trailer "Fancy Trail" at Lyndon Lyon at the end of July. At that time it had about 5 leaves and was in a 2 1/2 inch pot. I took the photo below this evening. It now has several crowns, tons of buds (that i keep meaning to pull off) and is overflowing out of a 5 inch pan pot.
December 7, 2009
I have almost returned from from the evil land of cold and flu season!!!!
Sorry for my long absence, but I've spent the last several weeks coughing endlessly and sleeping towards a recovery. Still not 100% but I'm miles ahead of where I've been recently. My violets have been doing their best to hold out for better care. Some of my basement plants have been enjoying the cool and humid conditions down there. Here is some evidence of their progress.
(The photo on the left is one of my plants of "Tiger" on November 2. The photo on the right is the same plant on December 5. I have to get a larger violet ring soon before it overgrows the 13' ring shown in the photos.)
(The photo on the left is is "Vintage Wine" on November 3, and photo on the right is also taken on December 5.)
November 23. 2009
Sorry I've been a bit absent from my blog, but I finally caught the cold that seems to be going around. If I cough much more I think my dog "Bookbinder" may run away from home!
I found this photo slideshow on the AVSA site of the 2007 show in Colorado. It runs for more than an hour. Check it out.
November 20, 2009
Check this out! I found this image in a Gesneriad Saintpaulia News issue from the later 60's.
King's Jewels (1802) 12/01/1967 (M. Rand) Semidouble wine-red/gold edge. Supreme, ruffled. Standard
I swear that these colors are exactly as they appeared and have not been enhanced. I think the edge looks more electric green than gold. I would love to find this one.
November 17, 2009
There's been a lot of dialogue on-line about the trays I use. I feel they work great, BUT every grower has to figure out what works best for them. Below is a close-up photo that shows the drainage area below the 3 oz Solo cups and the connective watering area.
I promised to post a few more photos tonight of how Andrea Worrell transitions her leaves rooted from water (see photos below). She uses Hoffman's Seed Starter that she buys at one of the large home improvemnt stores as a potting media. She takes a mixing bowl of the medium, soaks in down generously with warm water, stirs it, and then allows it to dry thouroughly. The rooted leaf with immature plantlets is held in place in its new 3 oz cup and the fine textured media is spooned around the roots and all. Andrea said she uses the mix previously hydrated yet dry, so it will easily fill in around the roots without having to compress the mix. Th newly potted leaves are bottom watered until the media is consistently moist but not overly so.
Hope these help any of you folks out there. Cheers, John
November 16, 2009
Here's someting for your consideration while you dream away the night....
Wouldn't it be a very cool thing if it was possible to hybridize african violets with orchids????????????
November 16, 2009
I managed to score another vist to the The Franklin House (see Links) so I could get a few more photos of Andrea Worrell's propagation process. She keeps the water all the way to the top of the bottles because she believes that the leaf blade being in contact with the water will ensure that the leaf stays hydrated until roots begin to form at which point the water level is lowered slightly. As a result, the leaf becomes slightly crusted with mineral deposits from the water but it seems to help the process.
While I was there I was too tempted, so I picked up several more leaves. I'm primarily a standard-lovin' guy, but looking at those beautiful miniatures and semiminiatures who could resist? (Apparently not me!)
November 14, 2009
BOLO!!! (Be on the Look Out)....please
[Thank you NCIS for teaching me what BOLO means]
I received a request today from BBAVS friend and Blog reader, Jocelyne asking me and/or any other violet growers out there to be on the look out for a plant or even a single leaf of Murna's Miracle hybridized by Murna Kosovan of Alberta, Canada.
In seems as though (in the act of sharing violets to ensure their survival in the marketplace) Ms. Kosovan has realized that quite a while back she inadvertently gave away her last plant of Murna's Miracle and has for a while been unable to reconnect to the plant. Any help or leads would be appreciated.
I don't know Murna, but I completely support the idea of sharing leaves with growers in your area and across the country to both expand the love of violet growing as well as protect the survival of cherished varieties. Share a leaf or two today of your favorite variety and make a new violet friend!
Below are a couple new videos we shot today for your enjoyment!?
November 11, 2009
I'm making progress on the 'zine. I finally decided on a title. It will be called [mite {s} ] and is going to be the size of the old violet society yearbooks chapters used to make (is anyone still making these?). I spent some time today going around collecting all the funky extras that will be attached, thereby making each issue unique. The cover will sport a unique Polaroid photo. Photo shown on zine below is just a space filler for right now.
November 10, 2009
Exciting mail arrived today from friend and Chicago violet grower Harold Appleton. He carefully photocopied and mailed to me copies of the first AVM and I believe a few issues that followed! Thanks Harold! It's funny how our interests have stayed so similar over the last 60+ years; care and culture, collecting the new while celebrating the originals, waiting for a yellow violet, and most importantly fellowship with other growers.
I've been working on my violet 'zine, so pardon me if I've been holding back on the very odd and funny things I've discovered in the old magazines. As part of the 'zine I'm working on a theory that will connect conspicuous use of hairspray with better violet growth. I have scads of pages tagged with women sporting giant hairdo's holding their ENORMOUS african violets!!!!!!! It's almost scary... or else I'm jealous (of both their violets and their lush heads of hair).
I've also been working on the novel. I'm developing character profiles, plots, locations, and bits of saucy clandestine violet gossip. I'm thinking DaVinci Code meets The Bourne Identity meets any book by David Sedaris.
(This photo from AVM June 1977 is in honor of Harold A's mail today. This plant of "Happy Harold" appears to be four times larger than the growers head!!!!!! No surprise that she's from Texas, where things ARE apparently bigger!)
November 9, 2009
Our Humble Beginning!!
Amidst the stash of older AVM's Ive been pouring through, are several older issues of the Illinois AVS "Leaves". While reading through the Fall 1977 issue on page 21, I found a brief article entitled, "Cheers for a New Club".
The article quotes Mrs. Miderski announcing that the "Barrington Bloomers" had completed the requirements to be affiliated with both the IAVS and AVSA.
32 years and were still kicking! Let's keep it going.
November 7, 2009
If you haven't checked out the group African Violet Nerds on Facebook, you really should! Ann-Marie Keene has taken over the reins and it will prove to me a fun time. I only know her via the Internet, but it's clear she's a DYNAMO! You also have to check out the stunning violet photography she and her partner Lenny produce. Quite stunning. I'll try to be smart enough to put a link to both of these on the links page.
November 5, 2009
I mentioned I rec'd an order of leaves from Bluebird Greenhouse yesterday, and it rebuilt my confidence in violet vendors. The leaves were very fresh, had lovely long petioles, and they included many unique extras!!! Check out Bluebird on the links page. Here's a photo of my leaves from them put down in a rooting tray. A mixture from large Russian hybrids to minis from Pittman.
I also stopped by Oak Hill Gardens in Dundee, IL the other afternoon to pick up more of their humidity trays. They are the ultimate violet wicking trays. I also buy my potting medium from them. They are known for growing more unique orchids than other regional orchid growers.
They sell violets too (photo below) but alas, they're all NOIDS. Very pretty nonetheless. I fell in love with one of the cattleya hybrids but didn't buy it. Photo also below.
November 4, 2009
I rec'd some leaves from Bluebird Greenhouse today and got them put down to root. I'm still looking for a few more specific leaves or plants before the real bite of cold weather sets in for good until the spring.
I'm gonna' have to have the worlds largest transplanting party in early March! I have one three tier cart filled with 12 trays of 42 leaf cups per tray. Half of another cart filled up too. Yikes! Make no plans for early March.
Attn: Sara. Claire, RC, Karyn, Frank, Marie, Linda, and Bill
Your boxes of leaves are on their way to you all. Most should arrive Friday, Bill should get his tomoorow (or so they told me). I'll send you all tracking numbers tomorrow. This concludes my spontaneous leaf trade offer.
November 4, 2009
I had to check to see if it was alright with her if I mentioned it, but I didn't reveal the last surprise that Andrea had for me before I left Monday evening. What is currently the most sought after semiminiature among show folks and collectors?? That's right --**--
Celina Dark Velvet (10013) 12/06/2008 (H. Pittman) Semidouble red pansy/dark purple fantasy. Crown variegated medium green and cream, serrated. Semiminiature (TX Hyb)
Not currently on her list of available leaves, but it might appear in your order as a bonus surprise (especially if you mention that you heard about The Franklin House on Barrington Bloomers site) see the links tab.
Another two things I've decided to start doing as a result of reading all these old violet magazines:
a) Start a zine about violets and the folks that grow them. (zines are sort of like an underground magazine, slight tongue in cheek, mixed media, occasional sarcasm, very limited editions) Anyone interested in contributing should contact me at john@barringtonviolets.org
b) Start writing a novel on the same topic!!!! I will be the main character and be boldly handsome with a deep baritone voice!
November 4, 2009
My visit with Andrea Worrell of the Fox Valley AVS (part 2)
Okay, so where did I leave off in my adventure? My last post mentioned that Andrea's growing methods are different than many other growers. First, she starts all her leaves in very small bottles of water. They stay there until they have roots and a cluster of new growth. From there they move to small clear solo cups of potting medium that appeared to be very fine and perhaps mostly peat. All plants stay downstairs, isolated from all of the show plants, until they are fully rooted and growing.
From that point, if they seem worthy of further work, the plants are once again examined for any pests or pathogens, and then take the long journey through several doors and staircases to the upper level plant room. When I asked Andrea what she uses for fertilizer, expecting to hear about some exotic imported substance she buys in dark alleys on the violet black market, she tells me "I use Miracle-Gro"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I may have said somethin' like, "Ya' mean like from the hardware store or Walmart?".
While I have spent time reading countless AVM articles on levels of urea, NPK ratios, dosage levels, etc., Andrea's growing her champions on Miracle-Gro! This is why I love talking and visiting violet growers from all over. Some things seem overwhelming in books or on-line, but then someone sets you straight and it all seems crystal clear.
Once upstairs the plants take their place under the lights. Most have leaf support rings allowing her to easily grasp, turn, and protect the leaves without having to reach under the leaves for the small pot. Between the pots are dozen of small recycled tins holding water to raise the humidity. Andrea top waters each and every one of her plants.
Now some of you may know that I tend to shy away from most minis and some semis because I have large hands and struggle with basic plant grooming on that scale. I love the look of a well-grown mini in full bloom. They have the appearance of delicate gems in Tiffany's window, but they scare me much like being around a gang of chihuhuas with their delicate little legs. One false step and ........!
This is the point where Andrea gifted me with her only spare duplicate of her favorite grooming tool. This long metal stylus is the only tool she uses to remove leaves for show prep or for sale. Andrea said she would be lost without it! It allows her to get into the center of even the smallest mini and precisely remove an errant leaf, disbud for show, or swiftly remove a sucker. It's as if I was Luke Skywalker being handed my first light sabre! The mini growing force is now with me!
Thanks again to Andrea for the visit and hospitality. It was great fun. I know she has plans underway to expand her offerings on her website, so check it frequently (see links).
(pictured above: the infamous sucker plucker, and three more shelves of plants)
November 2, 2009
OMG! My visit with Andrea Worrell of the Fox Valley AVS (part I)
So I rec'd an email on the BBAVS site from Chicago-area grower and nationally recognized "show-er", Andrea Worrell of Downers Grove, IL (see her site, The Franklin House, on the links tab) about the post where I mentioned my recent Ebay acquisition of past copies of the AVM. She told me that she had the motherload of much older AVM's stored away and asked if I was interested. I WAS INTERESTED!
Andrea said that she was getting ready to head out to the Lonestar AVS show in TX this weekend, so if I wanted them this week I could come and fetch them before Thursday. That was last night, and I was there this evening.
You should all be very jealous at this stage, not only for the stash of magazines I was about to adopt, but for the chance to see the growing process and champion stock of this maven of the awards table. I had been dreaming of this day for years! It is the violet equivalent to getting an invitation from Oprah to drop by her house for pizza and beer nite. You gotta' go!
Well, it's now after midnight and I surely need my beauty sleep, so I'll leave you with this teaser and another photo (see other photos on the main home page) until tomorrow night.
Judi DuPont, if you're reading this, you were right! Andrea goes against most of the mainstream methods of growing spectacular violets, and has so many rosettes throughout her home and plant room that they're peaking out from underneath bookshelves, spilling out of boxes, and papering the walls! She was an absolutely gracious host, and sent me home with not only the magazines (perhaps 100!) but bags of carefully labeled leaves from any plant I admired. She also gave me a VERY SPECIAL GIFT that I'll tell you about tomorrow when I go into greater detail in part II of this adventure. The photo below is a cluster of some of her collection of marvelous mini's and semi's.
November 1, 2009
On a happier note, I repotted both of my plants of "Tiger". It seems that my concern about the pink foliage was the result of looking at them under the plant lights!!! :)
I got these plants at Lyndon Lyon at he end of July each in a 2 and a half inch pot with 3-4 leaves. As the photos show, they're growing rapidly. The leaf support rings shown underneath the foliage are 13" across! Hope they keep growing. I've given them some prime space under the lights.
November 1, 2009
AAAAAAARGH! I get so frustrated at vendors that sell and send poor quality plants and leaves. I rec'd a shipment of young plants this past summer that was almost encrusted in pet hair of some sort. By the quantity of it, I'd say it was something very hairy! The plants were almost too small to brush agressively enough to remove much of it. I did my best, pitched the rest, and made a note to never order from them again.
This morning I set to the task of potting up several sets of leaves I had ordered from a well-known vendor. I had an entire order of leaves from them freeze a few years ago in perhaps Jan. or Feb. I let them know but never heard back from them. I was disappointed but convinced myself that ordering in winter was foolish of me.
This recent order was the first since that experience. October in IL is perfect weather for receiving leaves. Not too hot or too cold. I sat down this morning and began opening the 50 or so labeled leaves and was quite surprised. All of these leaves were from standards, yet many of the leaves are the size of a small semi. Many of the leaves had petioles cut to 1/4" short! That leaves almost nothing after the petiole is trimmed and readied for propagation. Surely there was a longer petiole on the plant! Cross another vendor off my list.
(The Sharpie marker cap and the penny are for a size reference. These were before I had to trim the petiole)
Wrangler's Pink Patches (6230) 05/20/1986 (W. Smith) Double light pink pansy/darker center. Variegated dark green and dark pink, pointed. Large?? (DAVS 858, TX Hyb)
(Were these from the center of the crown?? Why not send me the cut crown?!)
October 31, 2009
Happy Halloween! I know it might seem weird, but this evening as I handed out candy to all the costumed children in the neighborhood on my front porch, I also handed out to any of the adult chaperons walking with the kids a labeled, potted, bagged, and ribbon-tied rooting violet leaf with a culture folder from the AVSA. Stapled to the top of the bag was one of our groups calling cards with a note offering to help repot once the new babies filled the pot. I'll be curious to see how many of the neighbors take me up on the offer.
The new AVM arrived in my mailbox today! That's my trick or treat reward. Better yet, it has a couple small blurbs I wrote and submitted to the editor. BBAVS hits the limelight!!!!!
Earlier today I stopped at the post office to pick up a box from a well-known online and convention vendor. It's chocked full of leaves of Wrangler's and Apache hybrids I plan to pot up tomorrow morning.
October 30, 2009
I recently won an Ebay auction for 31 older issues of the African Violet Magazine. I enjoy reading all the articles, but the large photos are a great bonus. I totally crave the articles that feature interviews with hobby growers around the country. It makes me think that our club needs to establish a library.
In preparation for our November meeting, I've been reading all of the articles in the AVM's on genetics and hybridizing. I keep reconsidering which two plants I want to cross. Making notes on dominant traits. It's kinda' fun.
On violet chat the other night I was chatting with the moderator a lot(maybe too much), because others weren't typing about anything violet-based. I found out some info about a few of the Australian cultivars. Still wish I knew more. I wondered what had come of the Tinari's Greenhouse since their passing, but no one knew. I wonder if Volkmann's is still in business? I'm starting to collect more Wrangler's, Allegro, and Apache hybrids.
October 27, 2009
I'm pleased with the progress my plants are making. After losing most all of my plants in spring, I've been rebuilding my collection. I allow plants to have an initial blooming period to ensure that they're blooming true. I've been trying to stay diligent in grooming plants to maintain their symmetry.
I throw out any immature leaves or leaves that are damaged, too mature, or otherwise compromised. That said, I put other healthy leaves down to root, which is how I now have almost 600 leaves rooting with about 60 leaves on their way to me in the mail from a trade!!!!!!! (There, I feel better getting that off my chest!)
(above: I spaced out the top shelf. Have to attack the lower shelf now)
(above: I love Vintage Wine! Hoping they get even 2 to 3 times larger)
(above: Should my Tiger foliage be so pink? Yes, I see that sucker I have to pluck)
(above: their first blooms were simply pale solid pink, but now Austin's Smile is blooming true with the contrasting edge.)
October 26, 2009
Here's a photo of some new friends of BBAVS that are shown holding their plants of S. rupicola I sent down to Kansas City, MO for them. Violets growing in the office is bound to lift the mood. Happy growing ladies.
(left to right: Patti, Teresa, and Sarah)
October 25, 2009
Check out the size of the bloom of "Spectacular Blue". I placed it on top of my diet coke so you would all have a reference point. Huge!
October 24, 2009
Thanks to a tip from a mutual violet friend, I discovered a new source for violet leaves. Andrea Worrell has started selling violet leaves off many of her blue ribbon champion stock. (check out her site from the links page) She mostly offers minis and semis, but even with my preference for standards I couldn't resist ordering.
I suspect many of you that have been regular readers of my blog here already know or have heard of Andrea. She was recently described to me as a rebel grower that seems to break all the rules and has closets full of award rosettes to justify it!
Here's a photo of my newly received shipment of leaves put down to root.
October 20, 2009
A few months back I finally took on the task of tearing down an over-grown S. rupicola. I received it as a gift three years back in a small solo cup from a generous member of the North Shore AVS. It yielded 18 crowns that I set to root and countless leaves that I thought I'd try an experiment. The crowns quickly rooted and most are already blooming. I tried something a bit different with the leaves.
I had purchased a rooting tray from a wholesale greenhouse I shop at nearby. I saw them using this tray with plugs of a brown dense Oasis floral foam to root cuttings of streptocarpella. I bought a few trays and soaked the foam for one tray in preparation for the leaves. The strips come with small holes that allowed the petioles to slip right in. I had so many leaves aside from the 18 crowns that I filled the flat with 72 leaves and threw away the remaining 100+ leaves.
Well fast forward and it was evident that the leaves were well-rooted. I could tug on a petiole and lift the hole strip, but no signs of new plantlets. Finally i decided I had to investigate and cut into the flat of leaves.
I believe that the dense foam was too compact to allow the plantlets to spring forth. I've started the process of cutting away portions of the foam in the hopes of allowing new shoots to better develop. I sent several of the crowns off to a group of growers in Kansas City, MO that are new to violets as an office project plant. (photos to follow in later weeks)
Here are some photos of the rooted leaves in the strips of floral foam.
October 18, 2009
I came up with the idea that it would be interesting to try to maintain a collective inventory of violets grown by BBAVS members. I started by adding my list, but I haven't added the plants recently acquired in PA. Check it out on the new tab to the left labeled Violet Varieties We Grow. Other BBAVS members are encouraged to send me their list via email
(no snail mail lists please).
If I have a variety you're desperate for, drop me an email and I bet I can find a leaf to spare!
October 15, 2009
Here are some more photos we took at the Violet Gallery in PA.
October 14, 2009
I arrived back home tonight from a quick visit out east and a return side trip to The Violet Gallery in Pennsylvania. I took some video that I'll share here for folks to check out. I'm a terrible videographer it seems. I HATE THE SOUND OF MY OWN VOICE! I sound like a high-pitched mouse. YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Both Brenda and Mahlen Petry were quite gracious. It was a treat checking out their growing space. I picked up plants that our club members had requested in addition to several for myself. We had emailed our lists ahead and they had everything packaged for the ride home. Every plant made it home just fine.
October 8, 2009
We had our October meeting tonight in Barrington, and worked on propagating streptocarpus. We were excited to welcome two new visitors, Janet and Cindy! We hope you'll come back and consider joining our humble clan of violet lovers.
Keep an eye out in an upcoming AVM for one or two small blurbs I submitted for publication. We just sent in our dues and application for becoming an affiliate group of the Missouri Valley African Violet Council (MVAVC). We spent a good deal of the meeting swapping violet stories about plants we love, growers we've visited, and shows both recently past and upcoming.
A few of the members we're gearing up for the fall orchid society show at the Botanic Garden. While I love orchids, the violet collection leaves little room for other interests. I was at an orchid greenhouse early this morning picking up a few plants for the shop, and there are few things as breathtaking as a 50' bench full of blooming cattleya and paphiopedilum.
I took a few short video snippets of our strep propagating and will try to get them posted in the near future.
October 6, 2009
I had the pleasure of spending the better part of an hour speaking with Pat Hancock on the phone this evening. She is STILL struggling with an injury she sustained at the Ohio AVS show when a large panel fell on top of her. (We're rooting for you Pat!) We shared stories of how we became involved in violets and dogs.
I'd been eager to speak with Pat about her experience with foliar feeding. She had mentioned it briefly in an on-line chat forum on the Violet Reflections group, but i wanted to understand it better. Pat was quick to say that once a grower begins a routine of spray foliar feeding their plants it must be maintained on a weekly schedule. To miss a week might be survivable, but to miss two or three will, in her experience, result in inconsistent leaf size as the plants grows and develops.
Pat also stated that you need to use a good water-soluble fertilizer such as fish emulsion at a rate of approx. 1/8 tsp. per gallon of very warm water. She advises that you allow the plants to completely dry before turning on the florescent lights. Pat uses foliar feeding when she's wanting to give young plantlets a boost in preparation for selling plants at a show, but doesn't generally use it on her mature plants.
I love Buckeye violets! The large variegated foliage looks magnificent even if you're keeping the plant disbudded. Andrea Worrell, If you're reading this, Pat says "hello".
October 5, 2009
I'm going to try to post a video here of our visit to Lyndon Lyon Greenhouse this past July.
October 4, 2009
I traveled out to Aurora today to attend the Northern Illinois Gesneriad Society and Fox River African Violet Society Display and Sale in the courtyard of Fox Valley Mall right outside of Macy's.
Saw some familiar faces and met some folks for the first time. I tried to get a group photo but we couldn't seem to get everyone together at one time. Gary Mikita (Out of Africa) had plants for sale along with several other members of both societies.
Here are a few photos of plants Judi DuPont brought for the display.
Heartland's Heirloom Lace
Ma's Flammable Water
Optimara Modesty
Tomahawk>
October 3, 2009
Following our state show a few weeks back at the Chicago Botanic Garden I returned home energized at having met several other violet growers and having seen many lovely plants.
Harold Appleton had a charming plant of "Happy Harold" on display that caught my eye. The contrast between the variegated foliage and the very dark blooms is striking! I felt he got robbed by only being awarded a red ribbon on that plant, but his spectacular plant of "Linda Darnell" won best trailer and best vintage and looked dramatic on the court of honor table. I want to get a plant of "Happy Harold" soon.
Andrea Worrell won best AVSA collection with a striking trio of miniatures, and Patsy Harms won Best in Show with Wrangler's Faded Jeans.
Congrats to them all. I love meeting violet growers! Simply stated, we understand one another. I'd like to send a shout out to Lana and Judi for our visit together at the show.
Family and I are traveling out to Trenton, NJ to see our uncle in about a week. I'm hoping to get the chance to stop by the Violet Gallery in PA. on the way back.
