Toni,
Congrats on your finds, just make sure u isolate them from the rest of your collection for at least a month.
Fred in nj

Thanks Fred..They're in the back room, away from other plants.
I really like the AV with bell-shaped flowers. The picture doesn't do it justice. I also love the variegated.
The store also had a shiny red single, but I passed it up..Now sorry I did..should I go back for one plant? There were two reds left. Jewel had a 3 day sale which ended yesterday, but usually with plants, they mark them down even more..If they were 1.00 each, I'd buy them all..LOL..Not duplicates, do not want dupes. Thanks Fred, Toni

The bell could maybe be one of the belle series of optimara.

Great buys and beautiful AVs!!! And of course you should go get the red single or you will keep on thinking about it.

Lily, I wondered the same, only don't kmow Optimara plants..What I mean is, that AV isn't a common-seller here.

Thanks Lucille..We've been so busy, couldn't make it to the store. But you're right, now that red AV is going to haunt me..LOL.

Thanks for looking...Toni

Very nice finds!! I like them all! I would also go back and "check" to see if the red one is there and buy it, if it is... :)

Toni,
Forget the red ones unless they are named.
Fred in NJ

Fred..why would you not go back? LOL..Probably since you have 1000000 AV's..LOL. but then you'd have 100001.
Barb, LOL..that's what I feel like doing..
We can do this the demorcratic way and take a vote..j/k
If I have time I'll try going to Jewel to see if it's there..for 2.00, it's probably gone. Then again, they may have gotten more in stock..whewee..

I have a question that might have been answered. Sorry if it was.
Does anyone know the size of 'Midnight Valentine?' I checked, but couldn't find it. I bought it at Rob's, but they don't specify its size. I'm assuming it's Standard.'
The reason I need to know is I'm keeping a journal of all AV's. Thanks so much, Toni

Midnight Valentine (7976) 10/08/1993 (S. Sorano) Double dark red star/white edge. Medium green, plain. Large

Lay off buying violets for a bit--save the money for a copy of FC2, then you can look these up yourself. It's only $27.50 for AVSA members thru their site. Then you can look up all the thousands of plants you want.

Thanks for the description. Toni

Hi Toni,

Beautiful violets you found, and you can't beat that price. They look like Optimara Violets to me. IF they are, I would say the first one could be Modesty. The last two maybe Sami and AnnaBelle. Go to their site and see what you think.

I'm glad I helped you find some pots and I'm enjoying your violet adventure. Thanks to all your questions I learned quite a bit myself. Yes, you should have bought the red one too. It doesn't matter to me if they have names or not. I don't enter shows or do trades, so its not important. Hope you post some pictures when your other ones bloom. Violets always cheer me up.

cyberdancer

Thanks Cyberdancer. I agree about the price, label or not..LOL.
By chance, do you know Optimara Violet's website?
I agree that violets are cheerful. Another thing is they bloom year round no matter where one lives. How many other plants bloom 12 months a year? (Even in cold climates)
I haven't had a chance to go to the grocery store. If it doesn't storm I may go since that red flowered beauty is on my mind.
Like you, I haven't any intention of entering an Av in a show. I probably haven't any worth entering.
Though it'd be nice knowing the name of each plant, if I see one that catches my eye, name or no name, it's going to hop in my cart..LOL.
Cyber, are you still growing hibs? Toni

Hi, Toni,

Here it is:

http://www.optimara.com/

I hope that's it!
Barbara

Toni,
The retail sales department of optimara is selective gardner.

Here is a link that might be useful: selective gardener

Hi Toni,

Sure, the more the merrier, name or no name. You're right, violets are the most plant you can get for your money.

I have very few hibiscus this year. They are full of white fly, real bummer.

Well, I hope you find that red violet. They always bring more, if you don't.

Thanks, Barbara and Fred for providing the sights to Optimara.

cyberdancer

Wow!

Beautiful plants, and such a great price, too!

Thanks Barb and Fred..I typed in optimara.com (before posting, asking opt's addy) then clicked on somethiing that led me to Selective Gardener..I 'assumed' it took me to a different/nothing-to-do-with Optimara.

Cyberdancer. You have to rid those darn whitefly. Do you have Yellow STicky Traps? They work like a charm. Truly. You can find them on Ebay or Gardens Alive. Several summers ago my plants, (all except AV's and succulents) contracted WF. The source was a hardy Hydrangea out front. Once plants were brought indoors, those darn pests were on 98% of my plants..Especially Hibs and Gardenias and Citrus. It must have been my plant Guardian Angel at work because a few days before discovering the WF I got a 15.00 coupon from GA's. I went to their site, found the Sticky Traps and ordered 2 packets. Placed one here and there..within a week, all WF were captured and goners. And believe me, plants were badly infested. Thank God, that was the last time those pests found a way on my plants and hopefully the last. IMO, WF are hard to rid..Unless you spray chemicals all over your house, yuck, and who's to say it'll work. I have a few Sticy Traps left, but think the glue's worn, otherwise I'd send them to you..I'll check..Good luck..

Thank you, Rad. Now, the problem is finding a home for them..LOL..Toni

Toni,

The main sight (Optimara.com) is where you can find the variety identification photos. Selective Gardener is where you can purchase the Optimara plants.

Thanks, no need to worry. I have yellow sticky traps. My hibiscus are outside and I just let Mother Nature take care of the problem. I don't have space to overwinter them, so no problem there.

cyberdancer

Cyberdancer, I was browsing through Bluebird Greenhouse supplies. They sell Yellow Sticky traps. 10 cards for 8.99. Each trap is 3x5..
I then went to Gardens Alive. I can't find the yellow traps I got way back when. They've replaced shapes with another a decorative trap called Pot Stickers, They look like butterflys. 10 traps and ten twist ties for 9.95 (I think that's a tad too high.) They don't list size either, which makes me suspicious.
Last, I went to Ebay..The sellers have the best prices. For instance, (don't know if I can mention names) sell a set of 15 traps for 2.80 plus shipping.
Type in 'yellow sticky traps' in the search window.
I hope you give these traps a try, Toni

Cyberdancer, I was browsing through Bluebird Greenhouse supplies. They sell Yellow Sticky traps. 10 cards for 8.99. Each trap is 3x5..
I then went to Gardens Alive. I can't find the yellow traps I got way back when. They've replaced shapes with another a decorative trap called Pot Stickers, They look like butterflys. 10 traps and ten twist ties for 9.95 (I think that's a tad too high.) They don't list size either, which makes me suspicious.
Last, I went to Ebay..The sellers have the best prices. For instance, (don't know if I can mention names) sell a set of 15 traps for 2.80 plus shipping.
Type in 'yellow sticky traps' in the search window.
I hope you give these traps a try, Toni

Toni -

yellow sticky traps are good for monitoring - if you have fungus gnats for example - some of them will get trapped. Not for eradication though.

I wouldn't spend the money on them. You can monitor for thrips and fungus gnats yourself. The gnats are flying - and the thrips - if they are present - shed the pollen all over the blooms, especially purple ones.

Irina

Irina, I don't know if/how traps work for thrips/fungus gnats but Cyberdancer mentioned whitefly on her Hibiscus.. Yellow Sticky Traps capture WF, and fast..believe me, my Hibs were WF hotels until I set out traps..there were literally hundreds of these creatures living on each leaf. Yuck.
Traps are inexpensive, and better yet, no chemicals..The glue is called Tanglefoot. As far as I know, Tanglefoot is harmless. (I'd have to research ingredients for verification.)
Like you said, thrips and FG's aren't eradicated, entirely, using traps..thank God, my plants never contracted Thrips, and it's been years since seeing FG's. But I can honestly say the traps killed off all WF.
Why would you not invest in a trap, Irina??? Toni

Toni - hi -

I tried yellow sticky traps - and you see some of the fungus gnats attached to them - if you have fungus gnats - but not ALL of them. There are still plenty flying and not (shame on them!) sticking...

I am not sure that thrips are attracted to yellow - you always see them on purple flowers.

Praise the Lord - the only whiteflies I see - are outside on my tomatoes. And since the tomatoes are not in greenhouse - whiteflies are not killing them - there is enough natural predators chomping on them and keeping them in check.

So let's say = traps work - but not on all pests and not necessary eradicating the whole population. Only stupid ones.

Irina - all in Monday blues

Irina, what's this Monday Blues? Your feelings or clothing? Hope it's your clothing.. :)
I've never used yellow traps for anything other than whitefly, and that was one time..hopefully the last.
Some people say they catch fungus gnats, but if a plant is really infested to the point gnats are flying around their houses, how in the world can they possibly capture thousands of those creatures???
Not to mention those that linger in the soil..I dont think it's possible..
But I can honestly say thoe traps lured and captured every whitefly on my plants..Hundreds, maybe thousands Irina..I cried watching groups sitting on each leaf. I swear, when that catalog came in, seeing yellow sticky traps for the first time, something, a feeling, came over me..I normally don't fall for ads, and never buy insecticides..EVER. for inside or out. The WF's were upstairs and down. So, I can't speak for others, but they worked for these clowns. Maybe they were the stupid ones..LOL..
How are you doing? BTW, we stopped at the grocery store, Sat..the red violet was gone..boohoo. But didn't come home empty-handed..bought 3 hardy Mums, an Ardisia and Velvet hanging Philo to add with another, less compact plant.
I also ordered Episcias..they came in today..trying to find care on Episcias is difficult..there's even very little info ini my plant books. Oh well, something will work.
I hope you're well..Toni

Toni -

Monday blues means too much work,clients are coming, not enough time and I am out of disk space again.

My congratulations - you found a weak spot in WF! They are stupid and like yellow.

Really - no insecticides!! Try Neem Oil, it is not chemical and a good preventive for mites, powdery mildew etc. And Nancy R. advises to use diluted with water Clorax to drench the soil to get rid of fungus gnats, springtails and what-not. Soil mealy bugs will be resistant to it. If you do not use serious chemicals - you can as well chuck the plant - or cut the crown, wash in Clorax solution and try to restart it in a strict isolation.
Episcias are not difficult. They want warmth and high humidity. Stuff your new arrivals in a fish tank - you can buy a cheap one - on the garage sale for example - or 10 gallon tank in a pet store. They do the best there.

Happy growing

Irina

Howdy Irina..You'd best get some rest and dinner..(S)
Being Tues, I hope your day is better..No Tues blues. Disk space? You're computer's out of disk space? Oh oh..not good.

Really NO insecticides..Not even Neem..it smells too much like bug spray..Irina, I don't like/use Citronella. Yuck..Not even the Geranium or candle..It smells like Raid.
I use Fish Emulsion (which contains fish oil) on plants, mostly in fall before they come back indoors..I spray on leaves with other organic, (things-around-the-house) ingredients..(dish soap, ground citrus, ground garlic, etc.) Havent seen a bug in years..well, occassionaly in winter, I'll find mites, but clean and spray (with my concoction.) Voila they're goners.
The only insect I can't find a solution for is Mealy.

Oh we have fish tanks..I used to breed fish...
Because our house is hot, would placing plants in a tank be too warm/hot??
What about soil? Fertilizer? Do you grow your Episcias the same as AV's?? Thanks so much..

Neem oil is not an insecticide, it's an oil that comes from a plant.
Here: read all about it.

Tony - Neem doesn't smell like bug spray to me - kind of fried onions...

Mealy bugs - the best treatment is Dumpster. Then - they do not like alcohol, so if you keep spraying the leaf mealy bugs contaminated plant with diluted alcohol - eventually they disappear. And the root mealy bugs - If you cut the crowns off - rinse them in diluted alcohol - and reroot again - it can possibly work. Or not.

Episcias like it hot. They start dying under 60F. They are much happier above 75F. Soil can be the same - as for Avs, the terrarium only variegated ones - some growers keep them in long fiber sphagnum moss instead of soil.

For me - biggest issue is low humidity. It is dry here...

Irina

Still not enough terabytes on the system...

M3, yep, I know Neem is a plant. I'm not saying it's unsafe..it's just that Fish Emulsion works similar to Neem, and it's something I've been using as fertlizer and (Scale) insecticide/preventative for 3 or 4 years. I'm not saying Neem doesn't work, not safe, or people shouldn't use it. If it does the job that's all that matters.

Irina, actually it's been a long time since I smelled Neem..They use/d it at a local green house we visited. I asked the owner about the odor and she said they sprayed with Neem.

I agree plants bearing Mealy belong in the dumpster. LOL. I'm not polking fun either. Thankfully, in all the years growing plants, I can count the number of times a plant contracted that disgusting insect on one hand..2 Purple Passions (one variegated) and a banana tree. can't recall the other plants..The last was the PP. That was about 3 or 4 yrs ago. If a plant has mealy, it goes in the trash.
Some ppl use Rubbing Alcohol, but like you said, if RA is constantly used, eventually bugs will become immune. Either that or eggs are in untreated areas and hatch when least expected/environment is just right.
One person sprayed his entire plant with straight RA..A couple days later, ever leaf dried up..Sheesh.

Irina, do you work for the CIA??? LOL..How many 0's are we talking? 12? 15? Is a terabyte the same as a trillion or 3 zeros up? Toni

Toni -

yep - terabyte is 1000,000,000,000 bytes. For comparison - 2000 bytes = 2 kbyte is one page of text.

Long ago they were saying that the largest software users are weather prediction, geophysics and star wars. Star wars are gone - hopefully for good. I am #2.

Bugs cannot get used to the alcohol, no way. It curds the protein in their bodies. The same way as a frying pan affects egg whites. You cannot get used to the fryng pan.

I presume that fish emulsion smothers scale and they cannot breath through the fish glue. I do not think it will help against mites - they are so fast - they can pick their noses and start breathing again. I am not sure they are breathing through their noses - may be through their butts though. Neem works in some other way - I think they lose their appetite because it is so yucky and the young ones cannot molt - so the old skin becomes too tight for them and they choke.

TGIF

irina