I don't have an AV yet.

17 years ago

Just to be up-front about that. =) But I am thinking of someday getting one, and I would like to work out some of the logistics first.

First, is there a good index of varieties somewhere? I looked at a couple of dealers' pages, but I didn't see what I'm looking for. I suspect it's because what I'm looking for is pretty much a nondescript noid, not the sort of plant one would be proud of having hybridized. The sort of plant that would lead a German governor in Africa to call it a violet. The sort of plant that would evoke the little violetesque guy in my {{gwi:375714}}. Probably the only reason I haven't already killed an AV in black-thumbed ignorance is that all the ones I run into at the grocery store are at least frilly-petaled.

The next (and biggest) problem is that I want to keep it in the worst possible location: the bedroom, with a west window whose blinds are usually closed. I know, I'm a bad person, but that's where the Matisse is. It's only going to be one plant, so no rack system is in order or anything. The current room lighting is a cheap little 60-watt floor lamp (no overhead lights in there) with the strongest compact fluorescent I could find in the campus store when I was in college (which is of course still much less than the lamp could handle). It's pretty bright. So I was thinking perhaps I could replace that lamp with one of those medusa floor lamps and point one or two of the heads toward the plant. With CFs of whatever luminosity and color and whatnot the gurus here would recommend. (I'd have the other lamp heads for room lighting.) Before I start checking out lamps, does that even sound feasible?

The last concern (at the moment, anyway) is potting. It seems to be a complicated issue. I've looked at a lot of the recommendations posted, and the Oyamas seem the most me-proof so far, although I'm open to other opinions. Looks aren't really important, as I'm probably going to stick the whole thing in a terracotta anyway (see print above, plus the fact that it's rapidly becoming a decorating theme with me somehow). I found a site that sells them in sets of three, but all three the same size... anyone know of a place that has sets of consecutive sizes? Seems like that would be convenient for potting up as needed. Otherwise I guess I would get them piecemeal from eBay.

Any other points I should consider in the, well, consideration phase? I'm not sure I'm ready for a plant with so many requirements, and before I get one I want to be pretty convinced I won't kill it.

- Lali

Comments (2)

larry_b
17 years ago
Hi Lali,

The African Violet that I would recommend for you is Pixie Blue. You can see pictures of it from the following link:

Pixie Blue Images

It is a small trailing Violet that is reasonably easy to grow.

I see no reason why a compact fluorescent light wouldn't work. You basically need to have a light source that does not get hot. That is why incandescent grow lights do not work well for African Violets. By the time one gets the light close enough to the Violet, to meet its light requirements, it is too hot for the Violet. I would suspect that you will need to have the light source around 1 foot from the plant. This you may have to play around with a bit. There is also something called the Intelligent Plant Light that you might consider. You can find one at the Violet Showcase. You can look at it and see if it fits your needs.

As far as pots are concerned I wouldn't try to get too fancy in the beginning. Personally, I prefer plastic pots because they keep the plant from drying out too fast. There is no reason why you can't use terra-cotta though. You just need to make sure that you pay attention to the violets water needs.

What I have tried to give you above was information for you to succeed. You said that you were not sure if you are ready for a plant that has so many requirements. If you're not sure then I don't think you should buy one. Please don't take this the wrong way. I'm not trying to be condescending, but I'm getting the impression that what you really want is an ornament to complement your Matisse. If it's an ornament you want I would suggest you go and buy a silk plant. You might be much happier with the results. If you do want a plant, realize that it is a living thing. It will not do well just because you want it to. It will do well because you give it the right environment in which to live.

I hope this helps,

Larry
lalibellule
Original Author
17 years ago
Aw, that one's a cutie. Reading the descriptions, it sounds like the blossom adjectives I'm after are "single" and "plain". "Ovate" comes up for that one, too, but I'm guessing that refers to the leaves. "Reasonably easy" is of course another good one. I ran into Rob's page of "species" violets, and there's a semi-mini trailer there that looks like a possible pixie ancestor.
Don't worry, until I am sure, I won't get one. I'm just sounding the waters at this point. I probably wouldn't get anything before spring, but if I decide to go for it I want to have my supplies and my strategy ready. I wanted to check the feasibility of the lamp theory now, though, because I need to replace the current floor lamp soon. I'll check some more stores, too, to see if I'll be able to find the Oyama pots locally (which I doubt, but we'll see).
I'll skip the silk, though. If I decide I'm too inept for a flowering plant, I'll probably get a philo or a pothos for that space, once the rescue peace lily is healthy enough to find a new home and stop taking up half of my dresser. ;)
Thanks for the pointers! GardenWebbers are gurus. =)
- Lali
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I don't have an AV yet.

Comments (2)

larry_b

lalibellule
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I don't have an AV yet.

Comments (2)

larry_b

lalibelluleOriginal Author

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lalibellule
Original Author