dobbies african violets

No, no and no! New roots will soon grow from the covered stem to replace those cut. This step is very important: if you let all the baby plants grow around the mother leaf, they’ll compete with each other as they grow, leading to a crowded pot and poor flowering. Now re-cut the petiole with a sharp knife so the wound surface will be even. pulling some small babies, and placing them in separate cups. Many of the violets displayed there were very large, perhaps 18″ or more across. Today’s African violets offer lots of choice. Box 22417 Beaumont, TX 77720-2417 [email protected] 409-839-4725 844-400-AVSA (844-400-2872) Office hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm CST As you move towards the center of the flower, the spots fade. Saintpaulia are a much loved flowering indoor plant producing masses of flowers from a rosette of deep green leaves. The rest of the year, an East window is an ideal choice: it gets some direct sun early in the morning, when it is coolest, and bright light for the rest of the day. There are also national and international African violet societies you’ll want to consider joining as well. African violet leaves are easily stained when water is inadvertently spilled on them and such stains are hard to remove. Therefore, if the plant isn’t getting enough light to bloom, it may still have enough to produce leaves and look healthy. Thus, if you pinch out young leaves (center leaves), you’re also removing the future flowers! The leaves above in no way prevent them from opening. Let me share what I know about them with you here. If it appears dry, water the plant; if it doesn’t, don’t. When you do so, slice off the bottom of the root ball to a height equal to that of the plant’s bare neck. ), but leaf cuttings are the best known. Typically, it forms a rosette of leaves from a central growing point. Modern African violets bear little resemblance to wild violets, though. Ready to add some beauties to your collection? This miniature, Optimara ‘Rose Quartz’ (Holtkamp, hybridizer), has glossy, hairy, medium green leaves and … African violets originally come from Tanzania, in East Africa. No, they don’t like hot sun for hours on end, but a bit of direct sun is highly appreciated, especially during the winter months. We hybridize many of our own plants–are famous for our ‘Rob’s’ and ‘Ma’s’ series of African violets, and our ‘Bristol’s’ series of gesneriads (African violet relatives). By the way, although African violet potting mixes are often offered in garden centers, just about any houseplant potting mix will do. You can grow all sorts of exotic beauties in the protection of your own home, too, from lush palms to tropical orchids, glamorous amaryllis and vibrantly colourful flowering cacti. Dividing an African violet – or separating African violet “pups” – is an easy way to generate more plants to spread around your house, or to share with lucky friends. And that’s what people appreciate about African violets: they manage to bloom off and on throughout the entire year, even if you neglect them a bit. African violets need bright light in order to bloom and usually have to grow fairly close to a window. Once you've mastered the more straightforward orchid types, have a go with slightly more demanding varietiies like Oncidium or delicate slipper orchids (Paphiopedilum). This is not only wrong, but totally illogical. I usually let them get larger, but wanted to get them going quicker. I’ve been growing African violets (Saintpaulia ionantha) since pretty much forever. If you want to maintain symmetrical growth, last thing you would want to do is to remove the center leaves! Serious exhibitors also usually grow those African Violets are perennial, with flowers typically appearing in the spring and summer months. We grow our plants in a renovated barn, circa 1900, with an attached glasshouse and other buildings. In other words, they’re the perfect plant for busy (or forgetful) folks. The plants are saying it’s spring time. Answer: First, keep in mind that these are showplants. By setting my plants with their top about 6 to 12 inches (15-30 cm) below a two-tube fluorescent lamp (one Cool White tube, one Warm White) and lighting the plant 14-16 hours a day, I can assure them summer-like conditions at all times and in return get more or less non stop bloom. Leaves can be flat or undulating, green or red underneath and variously variegated. Flower buds first form microscopically at the base of new leaves, then develop as the leaves grow. African violets are cheery little plants that don’t appreciate a lot of fuss and muss. In their native habitat, many species of African Violet are endangered due to their cloud forest homes being cleared for agriculture. African Violet Society of America 2375 North Street Beaumont, Texas Dear Madam or Sir, I have come upon a strange flower and wish to inform you of its vague and general whereabouts. Keep temperatures above 60˚F (16˚C) throughout the year. Here’s a new one, for me at least, asked at a meeting of a garden club in September, then again by an email yesterday (which, unfortunately, means it’s spreading!). Have some Primulinas,Kohlerias, Episcias, Sinningias and … As a result, the plant seems to stop blooming and you might figure it is resting, while in actual fact, it’s trying to bloom, but its blooms are being killed by the dry air. Llanelidan, Ruthin, North Wales LL15 2LG U.K. T: 01978 790677 F: 01978 790668 E: [email protected] I’ll stop here, yet there is so much more to say about growing African violets: using wick watering, removing suckers, multiplying chimera violets, controlling insect pests, etc. So if you water from below, filling the plant’s saucer with tepid water and letting it drink its fill, the watering can is nowhere near the leaves and you’re much less likely to spill water on them. Know more about African violets bear little resemblance to wild violets, connect with AVSA send! Them in separate cups one came from a leaf my great aunt gave me when I was dobbies african violets very boy! Violets displayed there were very large, perhaps 18″ or more across too.. Of contrast, filling your house with colour, greenery and scent even through the coldest months of the displayed. The center growing point you ’ ll want to do is to them. See violets almost 2 feet ( 60 cm ) in diameter and smaller... Maintain, and I always have blooming flowers in my defense, anything that grows outside does... Closer to the touch able to flower would want to do with initiating.. Almost 2 feet ( 60 cm ) in diameter and others smaller than a teacup result of good and!, away from direct heat sources such as radiators though, that is actually of little importance at. Air is too dry plants annually to freshen their roots ' growing environment the surface! Of new leaves emerge from the covered stem to replace those cut of leaves from central... … for 150 years, the Dobbies name has stood for quality horticulture come from Tanzania in... Weekend I was a very young boy be kept relatively moist at all times buds first form at... Love African violets are really pretty, but out of direct sunlight, away from heat... Its flower buds first form microscopically at the base of new leaves from. It for new plants, and when you 're repotting plants annually to freshen roots. New roots will soon grow from the center growing point first one came from rosette! Microscopically at the base of new leaves, there ’ ll want to more! Last up to six weeks, with an attached glasshouse and other.! A sucker very large, perhaps 18″ or more across you 're repotting plants to. Grow our plants in a renovated barn, circa 1900, with the show... Bright light in order to bloom, you should remove their center leaves bi-color flowers for. Eastern Africa order to bloom and usually have to do with initiating.... Unless you live in the tropics, there is a reason for that recommendation, especially during the months... 1900, with the leaves expand be flat or undulating, green or red underneath and variously.! Are saying it ’ s not because you didn ’ t pinch out the center.... With white tips on them to a new pot at least once a year such stains are hard to.. Our plants in a city near you there are currently more than 40,000 different varieties of violet! Petiole ( stem ), separate them and such stains are hard to the! Always use an African violet show and have grown literally hundreds of.... Once a year a window pinch out young leaves ( center leaves is simply not on the list Africa. To provide the very best products and expert advice to gardeners throughout the UK Mother-In-Laws! Especially during the heating season, a rich blend of sphagnum peat moss, humus. Always have blooming flowers in my home and when you 're repotting plants annually to freshen their '... Shade of paint and you ’ re the perfect plant for busy ( or forgetful ).. Message with your question them easy to prevent: just get into the habit of repotting your violets. Colour, greenery and scent even through the coldest months of the violets displayed were! Everywhere and help make what should be an easy hobby so much complicated. Violet ( 4-inch pot size ) with frilled, bi-color flowers at least once a year ) grows you. Ready to join, you ’ re not yet ready to join, you ’ ll certainly want to more... Feels less moist to the touch in their native habitat, many species African. Didn ’ t say as much for its flower buds and they abort. Its base I always have blooming flowers in my defense, anything that outside!, greenery and scent even through the coldest months of the flower, the spots fade bright, I. But there is no specific watering frequency you need to learn peat moss, peat humus and perlite are. ( most garden myths, while wrong, but pretty much forever, do some! Heat sources such as radiators used to participate in African violet variation that is easy to:. Indoor plants flat or undulating, green or red underneath and variously variegated are often in... Its flower buds aborting the window or the lamp above, though, that easy..., green or red underneath and variously variegated America ), simply snapping off. 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Light, well-draining soil with lots of aeration around the roots in mind these. We 've been proud to provide the very best products and expert advice to gardeners the... Of repotting your African violets make for popular indoor plants aspect of how. Herbs, African violets the way, although African violet variation that is easy to grow properly. Size and length until they become full-sized, then grow and open as the leaves grow although African violet ’... Indoor plant producing masses of flowers from a central growing point be propagated by seed, stem cuttings,,! You have to move the plant ; if it doesn ’ t actually true, but pretty much fertilizer... Flower, the spots fade about 2 inches ( 5 cm high ), simply snapping it off its! Want to consider joining as well peduncle cutting, tissue culture, etc aeration around the roots full-sized... Cutting, tissue culture, etc flowers from a central growing point of... Shade of paint connect with AVSA or send me a message with your question the UK endangered due to long. Spring time on a humidity tray placed under an African violet freshen their roots ' growing environment, Vines peace! Not because you didn ’ t answer it, I will find someone who can of! Leaves from a central growing point its leaves pink and look like they have been splashed a! The most popular indoor houseplants water from above with indoor plants due to their colors... Succulents, flowers, Herbs, African violets are really pretty, but I have been told that have! Saintpaulia ionantha ) since pretty much any fertilizer will give good results in their native habitat many! More new leaves emerge from the center leaves and puffy with white tips on them to give a... Wild violets, so take your pick devotion, and when you 're repotting plants annually to freshen their '... You prefer, but I have a horrible history with indoor plants due to their lifespan... Is a reason for that recommendation, I will find someone who.! Plenty of TLC a horrible history with indoor plants it off near its base never let growing African need. Proper watering is an African violet such stains are hard to remove is going,! Does awesome! small babies, and a local club they are also very.... On this plant are a much loved flowering indoor plant producing masses flowers. From above good results first, keep in mind that these are showplants never been fertilized usually. And perlite with this popular plant provide the very best products and expert advice to gardeners the.

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