What a surprise to learn many African Violets hobbyist are just like me!! Our interest in the lovely plant goes back many years, we grew so many pots of violets it became an overwhelming task; plants, pots, light units were all stored away.
“Never again!” was the silent resolve until one day…………………..not sure exactly what happened but the bug bit hard!!
Out comes the “violet stuff” that has been packed away. Tighten’ them shelves, wash dem pots, trek to the garden center for the prepared mix and some extra perlite! There is so much to do.
Oh why did I sell all my African Violetmagazines on ebay? Wonder how much has changed in the past few years? Are my favorite hybridizers still hard at work? Gotta’ rejoin AVSA.
Hey, I don’t have to wait for the catalogs now! Just go online and WOW!! (the pictured plants are gorgeous) I can not believe how the cost of things has changed!! Leaves used to be 50 cents, plants $2 for the really special ones, shipping cost was negligible!!
Yep, times and prices have changed, but already I feel that old anticipation to see a gorgeous 8 inch semi-mini with a gleaming crown of beautiful flowers.
Color is great, but no ordinary NOID (no name) this time round..No sir, my green darlings will have registered names. Since there are no growers or clubs with which I can associate, the required cash outlay demands that I start with a couple of small registered starter plants and an assortment of 20 pedigreed leaves from a dealer I recognized off ebay.
The assortment of leaves arrive on one of the hottest days of summer, with baited breath I open the box, expecting to see mush. Low and behold, I pour out 21 packs (got a bonus) of fresh, crisp leaves….all labeled! I am on my way!!
Most of the afternoon is spent carefully labeling containers; putting down those precious beginnings of a new collection. Finally, they are snuggling in the nursery; soon there will be babies to share, blooming plants to admire! I dream!
I wait, and I wait! Why don’t I see little ears on those mother leaves? I wait some more!
I have got to see some color; in desperation, I go to a home improvement store to find a couple of blooming Optimara violets (NOID). I wait.
It took forever, but one day there is a little ear on one leaf!!! Everyday the trays are examined, one by one babies appear. Then I wait!
Will those baby leaves ever get to the size of a nickel (or even a dime)? I wait impatiently!
Memories of good experience in the past always speed events of the good old days. With violets, it is no different.
When separating babies this past week, and revisiting records on the mother leaves, the realization hit. These little treasures are right on schedule!
The separation of clumps is taking place EXACTLY three months to the day of the original putting down of leaves.
A reasonable schedule of development is: roots during first month, ears during the second month, by the end of three months there should be enough growth for the babies to be separated from Mom.
African Violets -- Yes You Can Grow Them 
yeah my dad will like this
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I am glad you feel it is worthwhile, hope he will keep visiting..more to come.
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