African Violets and Gesneriads:African Violet Care & Related Links Fun to Grow and Share

begoniacrazii Northern California, CA(Zone 9a) Dec 30, 2005

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This message was edited Jul 14, 2006 5:33 PM

Post #1946439

begoniacrazii Northern California, CA(Zone 9a) Dec 30, 2005

Reserved for our FAQ section

PLEASE DON�T POST IN THIS THREAD

INSTEAD PLEASE POST SUGGESTIONS FOR THIS STICKY HERE OR DMAIL ME (BEGONIACRAZII)
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/565122/

If you have a FAQ that isn't addressed below and want it added to this thread, please DMail me at http://davesgarden.com/mail/pmail.php?user=begoniacrazii. to have it posted here.

In this post, you will find links to Vendors, Outside sources of information and Plenty of AV tips and �How-To�s�

BUT remember, There is plenty of information right here on Dave�s Garden. You can find it by doing a Search. Click this link to begin your search http://davesgarden.com/forums/search.php

Here you will find a list of member contributed and compiled information and internet links pertaining to African Violets, their care, culture and much more. This thread is for everyone who whishes to know more about African Violets. Please feel free to contribute to this work in progress.

One of the best parts about growing African Violets is the ability to share them with others. It�s fun and simple and so many can get such joy in simple act of passing on a leaf or two with another AV enthusiast.

African Violets; Grow, Share and Show!

If you would like to know more about Gesneriads in general, please go to the Gesneriad FAQ & Links thread here. http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/565223/

African Violets - FAQs:

Q. All this different AV terminology! Where can I find a glossary of terms?

A. Optimara has an extensive list of AV nomenclature. You can visit them here. http://optimara.com/optimaraglossary.html

Q: Why do my AV's look wilted?

A: It could be under-watering or over-watering. AV's are a little tricky in that, when they're parched, they droop (like most plants). And when they're over-watered, they also droop! In exactly the same way! So it's important to check the soil of a drooping plant before deciding it needs a good watering. AV's like warm water, and they hate to have any water on their leaves, so watering from the bottom is often recommended.
links to thread about wick watering: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/541027/
or http://www.rachelsreflections.com/wicking.htm
link to thread about self watering pots: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/468389/
link to thread about top watering: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/562551/

Q: Should I clean the leaves of my AV's?

A: Yes! Dirt on the leaves can block light and encourage mites. You can use a very soft brush to remove dirt & debris from the leaves. AV's also appreciate being rinsed with a gentle shower of warm water from time, but be certain to thoroughly dry the leaves afterwards, especially the crown. Water droplets on the leaves can produce lighter discolored spots, especially if there is a draft, and water on the crown can lead to crown rot. You can find more here http://www.rachelsreflections.com/violets2.htm

Q: What's the best way to pack plants and leaves for shipping?

A: Here�s a packing primer http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/502752/
or look to Rachel�s Reflections site for more on shipping leaves http://www.rachelsreflections.com/shipping.htm or plants http://www.rachelsreflections.com/PackPlants.htm

Q: Why aren't my AV's blooming?

A: Light, fertilizer, and repotting can all encourage blooming. Refer to these threads:
From the AVSA site: http://www.avsa.org/VioletBloom.htm
Why Wont My African Violet Bloom http://www.plantsonpurpose.com/CULTURE.htm#Why%20Wont%20my%20African%20Violet%20Bloom

Q: What in the world is a �Girl Leaf�? Are African Violets girls and boys?

A: In a word, no. Girl Leaf refers to a type of leaf. Types of leaves are described on the AVSA web site. http://www.avsa.org/BlossomFoilage.htm

Q: What's a chimera?

A: A Chimera is a special breed of African Violet. It is a spontaneous mutation resulting in an AV with a bloom which has a bi-colored 'Pinwheel' appearance. Chimera AV's cannot be propagated by leaf, but rather must be reproduced from a crown or peduncle cutting. More on the subject here http://www.robsviolet.com/standard_chimeras1.htm and here http://www.rachelsreflections.com/chimera.htm

Q. What is a NOID?

A. NOID stands for No Identification (NO ID) generally speaking, it means that the plant may be a cultivar but it doesn�t carry a tag with the actual name. Very hard to identify a violet without a tag due to the fact that there are so many cultivars out there. But NOID or not, they are still beautiful and often favorites even without a name tag.

Q: How can I identify my NOID AV?

A: You can't. It is not possible to make a firm identification from photographs or descriptions. There are over 20,000 registered varieties, the colors in photos can be inaccurate, and descriptions of colors (especially "blue" or "red") are pretty subjective. Many "supermarket" AV's are grown from seed rather than propagated vegetatively, so they won't have a name. While it can be fun to try to see which variety your AV "looks like," it's a good idea to use terms such as "look-alike" or "noid" on your plant labels when you didn't purchase a plant with a name tag.

Q. What is a �Sport�

A. A �sport' is what we call and African violet which has had a spontaneous mutation. You'll notice that it has physical characteristics that are markedly different from the parent plant.

Q: What's this about trailing African Violets??

A: Many of us first "met" trailing AV's on this forum and became fascinated with them. They are no harder to grown than standard AV's, but there are some useful tips about training and shaping them.
"Advice on trailers from The Violet Gallery" http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/554832/

Q: Can I really grow a new African violet from a leaf?

A: Yes! It's fun, and it's easy! Rob has a step by step lesson with photos here, http://www.robsviolet.com/violets_by_leaf.htm

Q: What are all these different types of AV foliage and blooms?

A: Leaves and blooms come in many forms. Refer to the next thread with �Links� below for Leaf Types and Flower Types. Scroll down to Leaf Types

Q: I still need more info where can I read more!

A. Gary Beck from San Francisco answers many of your questions and more!
Click the link to his Q & A page. http://www.recipegoldmine.com/gardengary/african-violets.html

I need some advise and info on growing a trailing AV, is there a good link?

A. Yes! more by Gary Beck on growing and judging AV trailers can be found at this link.
http://www.laeom.com/guestgary2trailers.htm

Still want more? Take a look at the FAQ from Rob�s Violet Barn. It�s very comprehensive and a worthwhile read!

http://www.robsviolet.com/faq_page_1.htm and look at their illustrated �How To Lessons� http://www.robsviolet.com/lessons.htm

This message was edited Apr 17, 2007 8:16 AM