I think they were purchased

critterologist said: Are these leaf cuttings you purchased or ones from your plants? I'm sure you want at least one plantlet to grow true to the parent, but the possibility of sports is interesting!

This batch of leaf cuttings were purchased, and ... as I do not yet have a blooming version of the original (that I know of) I am hoping at least one of them blooms true.

On the other hand... if one blooms true and the other is different, it will still be very interesting to see what blooms.

Normally, I would not have 'purchased' the leaf cuttings - I would have brought home blooming plants, so I was sure what I had. This time, I took a chance on cuttings as I did not have time to go to the nursery...

But I have successfully grown from cuttings so many times, I was not particularly concerned about whether or not I could grow babies... I just did not take into account the fact that (perhaps) I may come up short on having them bloom 'true.'

Is this the right place to ask about vendors, or should I start a different discussion to ask about favorite vendors? The place I used to go to in PA (Violet Barn or Violet Rainbow -- not to be confused with Rob's Violet Barn) is closed. I haven't ordered from Rob in several years, but his website looks like they're still going strong.

I'm just starting again after many years with *gasp* no AVs. I picked up 2 mini's at a local greenhouse. The AV "bug" hasn't chomped me yet, but it's nibbling. And soon it will be warm enough to ship AVs without worrying about them en route.

Lyndon Lyons website - I have purchased from them (they are in the same county I live in, just 1 1/2 hours away to drive) and they have top quality and excellent shipping. And they back what they ship.

http://lyndonlyon.com/index.ht...

I ordered from Rob's Violet Barn (Naples, NY) a few months ago and the very first plant from among those I got from him that bloomed ...was not what I ordered. (What are the odds?) He guarantees his plants to bloom 'true' but would not replace the wrong one, just refunded. Not sure I will order from him again.

I've started potting up my plantlets from the leaf cuttings. The second tray ... on the one end, not tagged individually... were grown from seeds; the rest were grown from leaf cuttings.







I still have more to repot, just need time (and need to make some more 3-oz cups into pots by melting the bottom drainage hole). I am covering the trays with domes and keeping warm, under the grow lights. We'll see how they do.

Appreciate the recommendations, Dianne! I did come across Lyon's website in my search... knew him as a breeder of course.

To me, refunding seems sufficient for a plant that doesn't bloom true. With the high cost of shipping these days, replacing would be $$$.

Wasn't the fact that he refunded rather than replaced... It was the dismissive attitude, didn't think he still had it available but wasn't worth his time to check... We are only a 4-hr drive away and I told him we would come pick it up. It was not even shipping cost to him, but he could not have cared less... Literally, would not check to see if he had it.

When I asked could I be notified when it was available... again, nope. could not be bothered. 'Too many requests to do that...'

Really? With that attitude towards customers, I am surprised he has that many. My order was a $200+ order, I would think it would be worth his bother to see if the plant is there.

Adknative, wow, that's a lot of African violets you are growing. Are they going into a greenhouse eventually or going to be kept in the house? I wouldn't be able to grow that many, don't have enough windowsills! They are real beautiful plants though, well worth having. and relatively simple to care for. Good job

Wow, Dianne. Thank you for sharing "the rest of the story".
I won't be ordering there, but they won't lose much on me. I'm only thinking of getting 2 or 3 fancy AVs.

Ditto. The rest of the story makes a lot of difference.

Although, a waiting list, I do see where he is coming from. Been burned too many times with the "please, please save the item for me, I'll pick it up tomorrow". And they seldom did. A waiting list into the nebulous future is far worse.

P.S. Not many people would drive 8 hours, over and back, for an AV. I wonder if he believed you. I have to say, I would be skeptical, too. Lots of places guarantee with refunds, not replacements. Especially, with live goods, growers can't be expected have the same things in the same sizes all year long and into the future. Gee, what if the grower sells out, and it takes two years to grow the plant?

Leftwood said: Ditto. The rest of the story makes a lot of difference.

P.S. Not many people would drive 8 hours, over and back, for an AV. I wonder if he believed you. I have to say, I would be skeptical, too. Lots of places guarantee with refunds, not replacements. Especially, with live goods, growers can't be expected have the same things in the same sizes all year long and into the future. Gee, what if the grower sells out, and it takes two years to grow the plant?

I would have to say, 1) I live in the Adirondack Mts. in northern NYS, we are more than an hour's drive to everywhere, so driving a distance for something I want is normal (Lyndon Lyons is only 1 1/2 hour away, so 3-hr round trip).

2) One of my brothers live 30 minutes from Naples ...

and 3) there is an Amish store we love to shop at that is nearby, and I would drive way more than 8-hours round-trip for their bacon.

tigerpaws said: Adknative, wow, that's a lot of African violets you are growing. Are they going into a greenhouse eventually or going to be kept in the house? I wouldn't be able to grow that many, don't have enough windowsills! They are real beautiful plants though, well worth having. and relatively simple to care for. Good job

You are very kind! Thank you.

Actually, being in zone 3, my ability to garden outdoors is limited to a very short season, so I set up an indoor grow room. I will be keeping most of my AV in the grow room (with a few that I will likely give away).

I do 'not' sell plants (however, if someone wanted to cover shipping, during warm months, I may eventually just share the extras). When I was in college, I kept over 100 AV in my apartment, had to give most of them away when I moved. I have never lost my love for African violets and am at an age and point in my life where I can indulge a bit.

Don't plan to live forever and can't take them with me, so I plan to enjoy them.

When I was in Med School, I had 14 enormous and continuously blooming AVs under a flourescent shop fixture in my tiny efficiency apartment. I had never grown them before - instant success! I also had 25 miniature roses in 5 gallon tubs lining my outside walkway. I gave them all away when I graduated. They probably helped me maintain what was left of my sanity.😉

Sinningia pusilla seedlings, one to five days old. I have sprouted several Sinningia species and they are always this tiny, regardless of their ultimate size. The paper in the middle show one millimeter squares.

Those are very cute, let us know how it goes!
Saw this new hybrid of Strep at Merrifield garden center. It was released in 2023.

Diana, I completely understand! When I was in Chicago (and I am NOT a city mouse), I had an actual ginko tree on my kitchen table. AND a pair of windowboxes, and for a couple of years also a 10 gallon terrarium with coastal GA flora. I also had two saltwater aquariums (55 and 20 gal).

I got raided by the police one evening, pounding on my door, "CHICAGO POLICE, open up!!" They looked over my shoulder and immediately changed demeanor to "sorry to disturb you." Then they explained it was all the lights and the occasional whiff of incense (and probably my boho clothing), somebody had "turned me in." Wasn't sure whether to or

Hilarious, Jill! I had a 200 gallon freshwater aquarium I my tiny efficiency apartment, as well. I donated it to the Boy Scouts when I left.

sedumzz said: Those are very cute, let us know how it goes!

Barring something stupid that I do, they ought to be fine. If you remember this post
https://garden.org/thread/view...
Here they are now - gave one away, and there is another (different) much smaller volunteer. It still amazes me how much water these little plants like. Any other houseplant I would be overwatering doing such. Now I am sure I could have boosted the growth earlier with more water and fertilizer.



Back in October I think it was, I brought a different batch of Sinningia concinna seedlings to the local Ges meeting, all in the same pot and a couple with first blooms.
A member asked if he could have one, and I was tickled pink, because this man is well know among the Ges growers. Of course I said yes and pricked one out, and he offered to bring me a Sinningia pusilla, which he did just this past February. It was a mature plant, not blooming, but it had seed pods! They have matured now, and I planted the seed a few days ago. But look, I have volunteers in the original pot, too! A whole bunch on the left and two more single ones.

ooh those tinies are such fun!!

I decided to "dig" up that clump of tiny seedlings. They are all coming directly out of a spent seed pod, and no roots. Tweezers are too large to handle them or even tease them apart. Good thing I have some dental tools I picked up at a flea market.


The Sinningia reitzii stick cutting https://garden.org/thread/view... is showing some nice colorful leaves now.