African Violets

[Swing]

Do any of you remember your Mom or Grandmom, or yourself raising African Violets on the window sills or a small table near a window?

I've been thinking up though about the 70's or so, they were everywhere, and now I barely see them.

What about you?

 

[timmie]

yes my grandmother also grew them. she had a green thumb. i haven't thought about them in years. thanks angie . brought back some more good memories of her.

 

[dademoss]

African Violets, and Shamrocks. It sure has been a while since I have seen any.

 

[Patchouli]

My grandmother grew them, big pots of them. I grew them sometimes. There is a really cool nursery within an hour that sells a few different kinds. You have to get there early in the spring to get the unusual ones. Big box home improvement stores sell them in the spring too, usually white, pink or purple flowers.

When I keep different colored ones near one another, they end up changing and mixing colors.
After 1-3 years, something happens and mine die. I forget to re-pot or to water or they don't get enough sun.

 

[Bacpacker]

My mom still grows them as do we. Beautiful plants and they are very easy to make starting from.

 

[Swing]

I never was all that good with them, but Grandma on Mom's side was good with them. Always had 3 or 4 around. The double flowers were so frilly.

 

[Bacpacker]

Doubles were always nice to find. To grow new ones we always would take two leaves off and bury them under 1/4 to 1/2 inch of dirt and keep them slightly damp and in good light. Usually within a few weeks they were growing and producing new leaves. Took them a while to bloom.
Looking back I never tried taking leaves from plants with different color blooms to try and produce hybrids. That might be worth playing around with.

 

[Weedygarden]

My grandmother had one window in her kitchen, facing north. The window sill was lined with pots of African violets.

I have a fairly green thumb, but I have never had success with African violets. I will take hints if anyone grows them successfully.

 

[NannyPatty]

Plant them, put in North window, water occasionly and feed if you remember and forget them. Some of mine are 20 years old and I've divided them a few times. Most of the time I forget to feed them for months, but they still just bloom like crazy!

 

[timmie]

my grandmother said to never let the leaves get wet when you water. she always had really good luck with them. she never let anyone but her water them . OH and she always talked to them.

 

[NannyPatty]

my grandmother said to never let the leaves get wet when you water. she always had really good luck with them. she never let anyone but her water them . OH and she always talked to them.

My sister in law is a florist and says the same thing about getting the leaves wet. However, I'm not very careful and my violets are not sale or show worthy. I do try to keep them dry but fail esp with bottom leaves. I just keep the older leaves pulled off and they don't seem to mind too much.

 

[Patchouli]

On mine, leaves would get white spots on them where the water hit them, then that leaf would rot.
So you have some currently, NannyPatty? What are your flower colors? Some leaves are so dark green, while others are lighter.
I think I'll look for some African violets soon.
Also, I love regular violets. They grew in our yards back east and were good to put in salads.

 

[NannyPatty]

I'll post a pic tomorrow. Purple and pink I think. I don't intentionally get water on them but it does get on them occ. They need to be re-potted desperately. I have 5 or 6.

 

[viking]

This is a neat thing about violets, not sure this applies to African Violets, but the Romans used to make wine with the flowers, I knew where some wild violets were growing and I picked a few and ate the blossoms and leaves, they smell and taste awesome, great for salad

 

[COSunflower]

I used to grow alot of them in my north facing kitchen window. When I went back to work full time I took them to my school room. I gave alot of them away and not sure why I didn't keep any for home. I've been thinking about them and the shamrocks too lately. You used to see them EVERYWHERE!!! I haven't seen either one in a long time. I will have to watch for or order some I guess!!!!

 

[Swing]

Maybe we all find one and start making them popular again. Post photos here, and Facebook or Instagram, if you do IG or FB. I may have to go check out getting a cutting or whatever and try.

 

[Dutchs]

Grandma Evilsizer had them in the windows. She talked and sang to them. She said that's why they were so healthy and beautiful....I miss grandma....A lot.

 

[Patchouli]

I got one! But posting the photo is not working out for me.

 

[Patchouli]

 

[NannyPatty]

Here's mine. I forgot to post them yesterday.

 

[NannyPatty]

View attachment 4836

Looks nice and healthy!

 

[Patchouli]

Yours are bounteous looking! Pretty foliage and flowers. I saw some at lowes and was not impressed. So I got a bromeliad.

 

[NannyPatty]

I'v had mine so long that I don't remember what varieties they are.

 

[Patchouli]

Makes me wonder how many varieties were lost due to just keeping the easiest ones propagating.

 

[COSunflower]

Beautiful!!!

 

[Meerkat]

Come to think of it I haven't seen those in awhile.

 

[Patchouli]

Come to think of it I haven't seen those in awhile.

What, bromeliads? I used to have a few of them. Before kids I grew houseplants. There used to be little house plant shops you could buy all kinds of interesting plants.

 

[Swing]

Those are pretty. I like the ones edged in white, too. I may have to go to Lowe's or Home Depot or a garden shop and see about getting one. Heck, might even find one at Walmart.

 

[Patchouli]

I think the best way for watering them is to sit them in deep water so they can soak up the water through the bottom of the pot. Eliminates the spotting and rotting of the leaves.

 

[Patchouli]

That was in March I posted a photo and my African violet is still blooming. I pick or snip off the dead flowers and it keeps on going.
Has anyone gotten any new ones?