The best time for me to buy is whenever I see a plant I want. Cost? Well I've ordered plants that have cost a total of $130 for 10 plants to be shipped. For me that cost is nothing for a plant I want. I did purchase one violet that cost me over $20 after shipping. I would doubt you can get a plant shipped before Christmas now. You may check out local stores like Home Depot, Lowes or even your local super market. If you want to order on line try Rob's.

Ron

Here is a link that might be useful: Rob's Violets

Shipping is going to be outrageous this time of year, because shippers have to pack extra well and add heat packs to ensure you don't receive frozen, dead plants. Check with your local AV club; there's always someone willing to trade, sell, or give something away.

Below is a link to AV clubs in CT.

Good luck.

Korina

Here is a link that might be useful: CT AVSA clubs

Its fine to spend good money on a plant if you know its going to be properly care for. I have to look after things for my mom and can't always be there.

I keep a few plants myself . House plants help me cope with winter and I have some nice plants. I have some noids, a few streps, an orchid and a terrarium of ferns and some fittonia. My true love is the veggie garden though.

I've checked HD, local and not so local greenhouses and the market.

Thanks for the link on the clubs. I guess Moma will have to unknowingly wait til Mothers Day.

Thanks again.

Hi erlyberd,

You will probably have a very difficult time finding an African violet at a supermarket or Home Depot this time of year. Even a small flower shop or nursery probably would not have them around this time. There is limited space at these places and these companies will fill that space with poinsettias, amaryllis, cyclamens and holiday cacti to name a few. These are traditional Christmas plants. There will be no room for African violets when they have to compete against seasonal plants.

So, you will probably have to wait until spring when African violets are more in fashion. Again, your only other option is to buy plants from a greenhouse that will ship in the winter. Rob violets is one place. There are also some dealers on eBay that will ship in the winter as you already know.

Take care,

Larry

Don't forget AV clubs! Erlyberd, is there one near you? I count five in CT.

Korina

Larry, The local stores have unmarked variety an I'm sure they must be standards. My mother wants mini's thats the problem. I bought her these standard type plants and they get too big so she pawns them off on someone. So she brought up the mini's she saw at the market last year. Now they don't have them anymore. You snooze you lose!

Yes Korina, There are two clubs that are pretty close...then again they're all close given the small size of the state. The one in Windsor is the one holding the show & sale I mentioned in my first post.

All this never would have never happened if I did'nt decide to buy a violet and a pretty pot for my mom one day! I must admit, Its starting to wear on me now! Just like the day I bought my niece a goldfish! After doing al the reasearch for her on fish care I picked up a tank of my own, then a larger one and now I have five tanks!!!!!

Erlyberd, you're what's known in the AV world as a 'sucker'. Welcome. %)

Korina

erlybird - hello,

just e-mail them contact persons from these clubs and explain your problem. They will for sure give you some phones to call because they know who grows minis. And you will get more than you bargained for. You think fish is addictive... It is not fish and it is not violets - it is your personality (and mine and Korina's and Larry's and the rest of us here).

Some people collect very strange things... I saw a very substantial collection of chamberpot lids at our relatives house.

And fishtanks are so good for growing episcias...

Give your Mom a voucher for whatever she wants to buy at the next Violet show.

Merry Christmas to you, your Mom and all your fishes

Irina