I'd like to start growing African Violets. I've been looking around the web to see what's available and came across a site called The Violet Barn and fell in love with the minis. I'd love to trade for some mini's .. here are the ones on The Violet Barn that really caught my eye: Rob's Ice Ripples Rob's Smarty Pants Rob's June Bug Rob's Heat Wave I don't care if they are NOID, but they should be minis and kind of like the ones listed above. I have to trade: Gingers Hedychum, Costus, Curcuma, Globba Canna Chocolate Cherry Bengal Tiger Journey's End Abutilon Pictum, Thompsonii and Megapotamicum Colocasia Black Magic Coffee Cups And lots others.

I do not grow micros - they tend to be very vulnerable - but I remember Rob talking about restricting the size of the minis by keeping then in really small pots and repotting often with trimming the roots. I am thinking that if you start with the regular miniatures and keep the routine - your collection will not grow into rhubarbs. Some of the plants given the designation miniature by hybridizer grow into semis, and semis grow into standards if they have oversize pots. George McDonald plants are like this. What really drives me nuts - when the miniature violets were hybridized - the species Saintpaulia that gave these mini genes was actually a trailer. So - minis often sucker. i. Here is a link that might be useful: Dr. Robinson advice on minis

I am looking for double forms of Brugmansia, african violets and streptocarpus. I have lots of plants/cuttings to trade: Brugmansia (pink and white), Acnistus australis (blue and white), Canna indica (wild form), african violets, chirita, Streptocarpus saxorum etc.

Thanks Joanne, I had read somewhere that lighter leaves needs more sunlight, I was given a large AV once that had turned white from the wrong lighting, the woman knew I could take care of it. For the record that was a mess. At first I thought it was diseased so I kept it away from my others and removed all the white leaves and by the time I got to the newest green leaves I had an small AV "tree" with the long leafless stem LOL . Then I figured out it was just a lack of sunlight. I ended up with a tiny top and just rooted it and placed it in the East window with my others.. It was probably the best thing for it. The lighter green of mine made me question it and I just wasn't sure if it was a lighting issue. I can see what you're saying. I've rinsed it and placed it in my northern window (bright, indirect light). Funny how the growing conditions can vary from hybrids. My other 4 minis are all slightly darker in tone and has the heavier fuzz on them. They are already uncurling. Looks like you solved it! Thanks Joanne!