"cut the blooms off before repotting"

Sorry! Wish there was an edit button!

My leafs take anywhere from 7-9 months to bloom normally.

I think the pots they're in are o.k. (for now) but yes, they should be smaller diameter, 1/3 the leaf spread usually.

Nice collection!

All but the one need to be repotted soon anyway because they're still in the heavy potting medium they came in.

So I should downsize the pots. Ha, since I can't find small pots locally this gives me a valid reason to order from an online supply and MAYBE I'll have to order a plant, too. (though from what I've read it may be too hot for a plant to be shipped to me right now)

Thank you!

Another Question: I cut the blooms off the one, is that really necessary to do when repotting or could I repot and wait to see if they look like they're struggling? Though it's entirely probable that I'll do it anyway because I don't want them to be stressed. I love the silly little plants.

Because I can't find appropriate small pots around here (in my living room), I had to order some. Because I had to order some, I had to look at the flowers. Because I had to look at the flowers, I had to buy some flowers.

I got these two:
*Ness' Crinkle Blue, semi-mini
SEE LINK FOR A PICTURE

*Buffalo Hunt, standard
{{gwi:368152}}

I found Buffalo Hunt during my search of the website, the other name was posted on this forum when I searched for blues (thanks, cajunkisses2007!).

MY FIRST OFFICIAL AFRICAN VIOLET ORDER!!! HURRAY!

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:368148}}

aharriedmom,

you have nice collection there! I generally try to follow the 1/3rd rule when it comes to pots. The pot should be roughly 1/3rd the diameter of the plant. Most of yours appear to be alright size-wise to me.

Now, there are a few other things I'd like to hit upon. Be careful and always isolate new plants from your collection. If you do not have space, a gallon-size ziplock bag can be good. You really do not want an infestation of thrips, mealies, nematodes, or fungus gnat larvae! Also inspect the new plants away from the others, and make sure you have bleach nearby to disinfect anything. Places like HD and Lowes are breeding grounds for scale, thrips, mealies, and a host of other parasites. Disbudding new plants is always wise, as is repotting in your own soil mix (granted I when doing mail-order from violet barn or lydon lyon's I have been known to leave them in their arrival pots for a month or more).

I hope this helps some.

Thanks a lot! Yes, I've definitely learned on this forum that new plants need to be quarantined. I'm excited - I got the email that my order shipped today, so it ought to be here Wednesday. I'd been going slowly crazy(-ier) waiting for the two plants.

I thought I'd add another picture of the plant that isn't blooming in the above pics.

I need to pull off the other oldest leaves but I wanted to leave them on in for the photo so people can see how it looks in the pot. She's in a 4" pot right now, I have 3" pots coming with my order so could pot them all down.

**POTENTIALLY STUPID QUESTION ALERT**
Once I pull the old leaves off, she will be/look too small for her pot. At what point do you measure the leaves to get the plant vs. pot size?

[In my inexperienced opinion] She definitely seems to be okay with my first repotting attempt, here are today's blooms:
{{gwi:368153}}

I have to say that I'm happy that once the old leaves are gone, all traces of her being from Home Depot will be gone - no more scarred leaves!

My Tomahawk had a sucker so I removed it several days ago, I'm about to post pictures of its progress in my "Is it wrong I'm excited to have a sucker" thread. Thanks again!

There is a lot of great advice here. I am also somewhat new to AVs, however, I have successfully propagated five plants from one leaf. I started the leaf in water and once I saw the first signs of a shoot I potted it in dirt. The journey began in mid October and I planted the babies at the end of April. I don't like following the norm and I made many "mistakes" so it probably would have went faster with better knowledge.

Hi,
I'm new here but, definately not to AV growing!
Over the last 37 years I've grown litterally hundreds of varieties, and thousands of AV plants!
In fact, I used to supply a local Greenhouse with huge plants that I grew under lights in my parents basement as a teenager. AV's have always been my first love.
I had a plant room with a light setup with 250 varieties, and 1,000 plants growing when I lost everything in a flood 5 years ago. I haven't grown an AV since.
And I would be glad to offer to answer any questions you may have.

My first leaf has mouse ears showing! I first noticed them on the 21st. I took pictures then and again today:

7-21-12
{{gwi:368154}}

Today, 7-26-12
{{gwi:368155}}

I started this leaf before I knew much about AVs and I broke up a peat pot and used it as the medium. Not ideal, I now know, but it seems to have worked!

So excited!

YAY! Congrats!!!

Nice!

Updated pictures of my babies! It's so exciting. :D All pictures taken today.

Momma leaf & babies:
{{gwi:368156}}

Closer-ups:
{{gwi:368157}}

{{gwi:368158}}

{{gwi:368159}}

And in some of my "maternity wards" (I got a bit carried away with leaf starting) I have visible roots. No other leaves yet but they were mostly started 3-5 weeks after this first leaf.

Good growing!

*sigh* I wish there were an edit button.

^ no other babies yet...

I wish I'd remembered which plant the pictured leaf is from. I thought I'd remember so didn't label (I'm very bad about that, even though I know better), but of course, I don't remember.

We all get "sometimers" disease now and then!

Update!

Four of the babies have been removed from the momma leaf*, who is back in her materinity ward to see if she wants to give up any more. (because I totally need more unidentified plant babies)

Three had good roots, one was like a little sucker on another. I don't hold out a whole lot of hope for it but it's in a wee cup, under a dome to see if it will grow roots. Sadly because it's soooooo tiny and rootless, I fully expect it to die.

Anyway, I'll try to get pictures later on.

~

I have to (shamefully) admit that two of the babies were removed about a week ago and were probably a little bit too small but I was so impatient with my first attempt! So far they don't appear to be doing much except not dying, and not dying is a good thing.

Ah, after I posted this, I was looking for the thread where I had said that I bought some plants from Bluebird Greenhouse. Turns out it's in this thread.

My Buffalo Hunt has flower stalks coming up. Hurray! No sign of any yet on the other two but it's okay.

~

I also noticed that I'd said (up there somewhere), "I have to say that I'm happy that once the old leaves are gone, all traces of her being from Home Depot will be gone - no more scarred leaves!" I guess I jinxed myself with that statement because I promptly fell on the older plants. Just yesterday I was lamenting the scarred leaves that I created - but they're all blooming right now and are healthy, so one day I will not fall on them and all the scarred leaves will be gone.

I can feel your excitement. I am also experimenting with leaves, I have had a few plants for a long time, but am a total newbie at acquiring named variety's. I just received a leaf order from Bloom Lovers a couple of days ago, and am watching over them carefully. I love all your pictures.
Perle.