Why does my AV change color?

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I have an optimara little kunzite, and it periodically changes color. It starts from the center and grows out another color. For instance, the plant will start out with leaves that are light green with a white underside. Then it will switch to growing dark green leaves with a purple underside, until the whole plant is that color. Here are some pictures. One is an older plant, one is younger. Both are started from leaves from the same original plant.

here are both of the plants together

the older plant. It is almost entirely grown out dark. You can still see some of the original leaves left.

the younger plant, with the usual light green.

little kunzite is supposed to have light green leaves. The older plant is on a north windowsill, and the younger is under a grow light near the same window. Both receive the same care. The older plant will likely grow out light green again at some point, as the original plant used to do.

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Comments (6)

snappyguy
8 years ago
With issues like this it's hard to pin down a specific cause. It may be environmental (does it ever change during the year?) or have to do with the way the plant is fertilized/watered/lit, etc. I've seen identical hybrids grown by 2 different growers that look like completely different hybrids, so cultural conditions can play a huge role.
supertinyviolet
8 years ago
I'm not really an expert (so I may be totally wrong), but I've read that AVs are extremely susceptible to mutations. So maybe it mutates over time? It could have to do with it's genetics too.

Or maybe, that breed just changes color as it ages, or with the seasons (like a tree)! I don't know though. All I can say is the plant looks fine to me, you're doing a great job :)
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Hi everyone: This is very interesting because when I purchased this AV in May 2014 it looked like a standard AV. However, I noticed that it had a lot of babies so in November 2014 I separated the babies from the Mother. At the time I didn't notice if the mother plant had any of these little leaves at the base of it's leaf stalks. (I planted the babies in 100% perlite; they were VERY small.) Now in August 2015 (!) I finally noticed those tiny leaves on the mother plant and at first thought the plant spontaneously grew them! I also noticed those same little leaves on the babies. I thought maybe they spontaneously grew those little leaves because I moved the plants to the windowsill for natural light. But I have other African violets on the same windowsill who don't have those little leaves.... So that's why I posted the question here because I have no idea what I have LOL! :O) I'm elated that these plants are thriving in my home. Some time ago, ten years I think, I had African violets that died from Aphids and root rot...I gave up on having these plants because of this. However, last year I thought of trying to have them again because I missed them. The thing I changed was repotting them in a mix of 1/2 African violet potting soil and 1/2 perlite. This mix has been working for me but I'm thinking about repoting them and adding vermiculite. Oh, and I can't remember what color the blooms used to be...Sorry! I hope the blooms grow back! I'll post an update if they do. ~Melanie
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Rosie1949
8 years ago
Is this what they call "birthmarking?" Or is birthmarking just patchy color change? Rosie
AnneCecilia z5 MI
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Here's a good description of birthmarking that I got from an AVAVS article. (I've included the link to the entire article below it if you want to read more. It's all about variegated foliage.)

Birthmarks
This isn’t a form of variegation in foliage
but simply a birthmark. It’s a genetic
condition that can be found on the
underside of leaves. An easy example is
to notice that the underside of silver
under sided leaf exhibits red staining or
markings. This is often found in multicolored
blooming varieties. By nature it
states genetically instability, hybridizers
usually set these plants apart for future
hybridizations programs. It usually
makes the prettiest plant (but may not
always bloom or grow to specifications)
as more color in the leaves usually
means more color in the blooms also.

http://www.avavs.com/varifs.pdf

I think what we can gather from this is that Laura's Little Kunzite is exhibiting genetic instability. Now, I've not grown this variety and I don't know it this is common in this plant, but AV's do some very wonderful and interesting things when they make these changes (sporting.) Of course, it can also be very annoying if you liked the variety the way it was and wanted it to stay that way, LOL. But I'd keep an eye on this one and see what it decides to become. It is very interesting!
Terry Craig
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
This doesn't apply to the foliage, but I have one that can bloom in 3 different colors all at once. I have a mini that shocked me when, all at the same time has 3 different colored blooms: solid white, light pink/white variegated and deep pinkish purple/white variegated. I know the variegated ones can bloom in a variety of different patterns of the variegation colors, but the maroon has me baffled and amazed.

I don't know the name of this variety since it was labeled with just the generic "African Violet" tag where I had bought it at a bigger name store where the people are lucky just to even know it's an African Violet period. Why do they never put an employee in the plant department of the store that knows something about plants? :-/ They seem to all throw the plants out in full sun, whether the plants, like it or not, and then under water them. ):-< Herbicidal maniacs......
Rosie1949
8 years ago
Thanks Anne! Rosie

Why does my AV change color?

Comments (6)

snappyguy

supertinyviolet

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