African Violet

[orchidlady]

Someone gave me this African violet 4 years ago as a gift, and this thing just never quits . I'm sure it is just one of those grocery store wonders, but puts on a good show.



Susan

[cindiras]

Wheee! a pretty pink one! You must be doing well with it to keep it in near continuous bloom!

[eaglssong]

Susan, African Violets aren't the easiest plants to keep going, and this one's beautiful. It brings back fond memories of my Mom. She had the most beautiful African Violets, and tended them lovingly. What's funny is, she would have been scared to death to even attempt orchids, but she would have been great at it.

[margo]

This is soooooo beautiful, Susan!!! I killed quite a few some years ago... They are not easy to grow! You are doing a wonderful job!!!

[Brutal_Dreamer]

We have one that Diane gave us a few years ago. It used to do well, but lately it just kinda sits there and makes tiny leaves. I probably need to repot it and give it some fertilizer. How do you care for yours, Susan?

Cheers,
BD

[orchidlady]

We have one that Diane gave us a few years ago. It used to do well, but lately it just kinda sits there and makes tiny leaves. I probably need to repot it and give it some fertilizer. How do you care for yours, Susan?

Cheers,
BD

Quite honestly, I don't do much. It sits on a windowsill with a high intensity fluorescent light along with some Tillandsias. If it starts to feel dry, I water it. Occaisionally if I have any leftover orchid fertilizer water, it will get some of that. I think I need to probably repot it soon. I have to admit it is a very pretty plant.

My mother grows African violets also. She is very jealous of this plant. I just wish more of my orchids would bloom like this .

Susan

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Thanks, Susan.

Cheers,
BD

[Maggie]

BD, I had no luck with African Violets until one time I was going away and I put mine on the gravel floor of the greenhouse. I came home and they were looking wonderful so I left them there. Now they throw leaves or seeds, and others come up in the gravel so now mine are all just growing in the gravel, no pots. They get watered and fertilized with the overflow of the orchids each time I do them. I love this way, their flowers are bigger and better than ever in a pot and 'user friendly'. Actually they are directly under my phalaenopsis

[pavel]

Take a series of pic, Bruce -- including a pic of the stem.

I find av's more difficult than orchids. The only place I have easy success is in terrariums. (And amusingly enough, I've had innumerable av enthusiasts tell me that "You can't do that! You'll rot them out!" Yeah right. I had one I later sold on Orchidbids. It was over a foot (30 cm) in diameter in my 55 gal tank. Had to get rid of it because it was 'muscling out' all the other plants.)

[mohi]

I've never had luck with these plants... They just don't grow for me!... I had a variegated AV with double white/pink flowers... Gave it to the greenhouse keeper in our university and now its exploding with flowers... He even made clones of it!... ah too bad...