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African Violets

what's your largest african violet?

17 years ago

I suppose there could be different ways of determining 'largest', but I have a 'montgomery silver frost' which is (I'm not kidding) 13" across, from left leaf tip to right leaf tip. It's in a 5" pot (!) but is very happy. It blooms regularly throughout the year and is (obviously) one of my favorites. I bought it as a small starter plant at the Sacramento (CA) african violet society spring show in 2004. It only had 2 leaves then! I also have a noid from the grocery store which is 5" tall, but there's more than one crown in there and I need to split them up. It looks like a bush...

Anybody else want to add anything?

Amanda 'romando'

Featured Answer

dogflower

12 years ago

This is an old pic, about 2 years ago I think but it now measures 25" across with the largest leave being almost 5" long. I love the "bush" look!

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:365937}}

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Comments (14)

cork_oh
17 years ago
Please post of pictures of your largest african violets, if you have them.
Thanks
minibot
17 years ago
There's a photograph of a huge one at Rob's Violets homepage(bottom). It's wider than the woman displaying it! My one violet wants to grow really large, I can tell. My darker purple ones seem to be bigger. I took a bunch of leaves off one because it was about 14" across, now it's about 12" and I've put it in a selfwatering ceramic to try out that route. I kinda like 'em big, and I'm also enjoying my minis but nothing is blooming yet. I'm happy to have something for the mini pots I have though!

minibot
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As far as leaves growing "up". That is called reaching. Usually due to insufficient light. Insufficient light could also account for the lack of bloom. But here's the thing. You and I may think light is adequate. but these violets sometimes disagree and they show it by pouting and when they pout there are little to no blooms. I have moved a violet many times because I thought they were in a good light spot....but they disagreed. When they are happy they will let you know. So just maybe they are trying to disagree with you. Move 'em and see what happens! I don't get a whole lot of bloom from my violets during the winter for instance when the sun is not so bright. I just take what they give me and enjoy it. When spring is here they really step up their game! You should see the buds I am getting now! And I am soooooooo lacking in the "remember to fertilize" arena! I just can't imagine what my violets would do if they were on a more consistent fertilizer program! Wowser!!!! As far as your preference for soil less culture no problem there. The internet is FULL of ways to accomplish that. I would love to not mess with soil. But I have to go with what works for me. Between soil culture and wick watering, I am not doing too awful bad! As far as river rock. I know there is a type of rock (look up hydroponic culture for African violets). They use a kind of rock that is porous and actually soaks in water so it can slowly release that water back to the violet roots. Maybe that is where you are trying to be. As far as the moss, I like that stuff. Maybe you could mix some of it in with the rock I am talking about to make both go farther. Although,,,,just had this thought. If that is what you want to do, have you tried mixing moss and perlite? Perlite is under $5 per good size bag and would go farther than the hydroponic rocks. But you could always use a combination of the three to stretch everything. Hmmmmm now my brain is in overdrive. Maybe try to mix your rock, perlite AND moss! That may be a good combination. Ok let me slow down. If you are using moss and stones/rocks you probably should use a wick system and use fertilizer water every other filling. One thing I would do with my plants is not overhead water the way you do. One reason being it is more important for the roots to be sustained than water to be on those hairy leaves. Plants take water and nourishment up through the roots. Yes I know that leaves can also absorb water, but the main pipeline is through the roots. Please understand everything I have written is strictly IN MY HUMBLE OPINION ONLY. Everyone experiments and has a preferred way of growing. I only say what I say based on the problems you present and maybe combining ideas we can come up with a solution! But do post again. I want to see how all of this works out! Rosie
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greenthumbgardener
17 years ago
This is what makes life interesting. Wouldn't life be dull if we all enjoyed the same thing? When my AV's get too large, I take cuttings or take off the offsets and discard the original plant. This way I have more room for variety. Of course, I do this when my wife isn't around, or I get the evil eye, so to speak.
tyclin_gmail_com
13 years ago
this post is about 5 years ago. but I was just interested in knowing what the biggest african violet could be. Then, I measured mine (one of several AVs). It is 20 inches from leaf tip to leaf tip. So my AV is about 20 inches in diameter.
jerome
12 years ago
20"?!! That's enormous!
Jenn Whitfill
8 years ago
my african violet is huge too... and it has outgrown it's pot. I would like another african violet pot, but much bigger. you know the one with the 2 parts to it and you add water to only the bottom portion... it's easy, and my plant loves it.... do you have any suggestions on where to get a huge pot for my african violet? :) thank you!
HU-556685255
5 years ago
I have two that measure over 15 inches
irina_co
5 years ago
15" is a very good size, not nearly close to the record - 36" - but much more manageable.
aegis1000
5 years ago
I had a violet which measured 15" across for some time. I received it as a plantlet gift from a vendor. The name tag said Ma's Waterfall. It grew this big for a few months in a 6" pot, and then began to lose its outside leaves to the point where I placed it back in a 4" pot.

Ma's Waterfall in 6" pot

Ma's Waterfall in a 4" pot
irina_co
5 years ago
Healthy Waterfall...

I think we all need to try once in a life time to grow an XXXL one, mark it as accomplished... and never do it again...

It is really not that hard... start with a good strong baby of an XL variety, keep it under the lights, mold pot it in a next size plant every 3 months and disbud it all the time .Remove baby leaves and suckers. In 4-5 months ,,, you are getting an XL, in 2-3 more - a rhubarb.
1beautylover2012
5 years ago
My April in Paris was about 23" in diameter and the leaves are huge! April in Paris is on the right. On the left is Pastel Glitter - can be large too, but not like April in Paris

I am not a tiny person - 5'8" tall and my hands are not small, but the leaf covers my hand

But the blooms are gorgeous!

Comparing to the leaves size they could be larger, but still beautiful

I love large plants, but can't afford to keep the natural size of this plant.
irina_co
5 years ago
Stunning blossoms, very healthy symmetrical rosette... 2 per shelf.

NOPE! Takes too much real estate....
Paul MI
5 years ago
My largest? Rob's Slap Happy at a whopping 4.25" in diameter. LOL

I don't do the large AVs. I have too many other plants -- orchids, carnivorous plants, cacti/succulents, et cetera -- to have the space for the big AVs. Did have one years back that was about 12" or more in diameter when I got rid of it. Was a deathrow rescue from Lowes ... possibly about 5" in diameter then. Put it in one of my terrariums. Kept getting bigger and bigger. Finally ripped it out as it was muscling out the terr's other inhabitants. Sent it down to a forum friend in Florida who wanted it for her lanai.

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