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March 5, 2001-----Editor Sandy Crawford-----Issue 7 |
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VioletReflections' first anniversary is
May 2nd, 2001. Some list members
have decided to celebrate and make it live on as
as a special day. We plan on giving plants on this day to
people we don't know. Each plant will be given with a
scroll tied with a
ribbon.
The scroll will have the
logo with growing and propagating instructions. |
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It also asks each person to propagate their plant and join in the celebrations next year by finding themselves someone to give their lovely plant or plants to. We would like to find three persons each, but just one would be great too! At this date the name, ribbon color etc has not been decided, it is being put it to a vote so all participating members can have a say in it. |
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Member bio of the month Bernadine was born in Chicago, Illinois during the great depression. She sold war bonds during WWII, then moved to So. California with her parents. After high school she studied at UCLA, worked as a secretary until she went back for her teaching credential in 1969. Bernadine taught for five years. It was then that she met the man of her dreams--a widower with two small children. Now both are happily retired. He raises fancy guppies and she raises many African violets. Bernadine has been the president of both of her AVSA chapters once, and now is on the second round with the GHAVS in the San Fernando Valley. She enjoys writing newsletters for three of the organizations to which she belongs. |
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SETTING LEAVES By Don Geiss All sorts of messages go flying back and forth between VR members about how they set leaves. Our method may well be oversimplified but it works for us. Three ounce solo plastic cups are wicked with two ply or baby acrilic yarn. Wool or cotton yarn will rot. They are filled to the brim with the same damp soil we use for potting and growing plants. The formula is repeated here. One part Metro Mix 360, one part coarse vermiculite, and one part coarse perlite. The leaf stem is cut from a plant preferably the second or third tier from the center. A little quirk of ours is to cut the leaf below or above a flower stem that is true to the description. We have the feeling that a leaf cut there will have flowers true to color. Again there is probably no scientific proof to that but then we all have our little beliefs. The stem is cut at a sharp angle about one inch from the bottom of the leaf. The bleeding core is facing in the same direction as the upturned leaf. A shallow hole is punched into the damp soil. It should be at such depth that the soil hardly covers the stem. This means that it is in a position where it can easily fall over or rest against the edge of the pot since the soil is so light. The leaf is propped up slightly using two cocktail pics or some similar material. Wood such as toothpicks will rot. A name stake is also imbedded at the edge of the pot at the very tip of the leaf. We use no techniques such as soaking the leaf or placing it under a dome. In December 200 to 250 leaves are put down two for each plant whose line we wish to continue. In March when we return from Southern Texas the plants are up and most are ready to be split and potted. It should be noted here that generally there is almost a 100% catch. Putting that another way it is unusual to loose one or two leaves. While we do not pretend to be able to explain the reason for a major degree of success using that simple technique it is possible to come up with some variables. The mix is made up of more than peat moss (ground up burned bark, washed sand). I believe too much peat is what rots the stem because it holds so much water. Our watering system using 20 inch by 30 inch galvanized pans creates a humid condition which encourages the leaf success. Recently we have been using the Metro Mix 360 that has had coire added. It does not seem to make any difference in the productivity of new plants. We hear of people who are starting leaves in water. That is O.K. but we have been led to believe that it is not as efficient as leaves started in soil. A botanist told us that the leaf is really set back if grown in water. Those who do that should pay close attention to how easily the brittle roots are broken. On the other hand when the leaf is ready for splitting those who grow in soil can easily notice how supple the roots are. Baby plants are cut from the mother leaf whenever the spirit moves us although clusters of small leaves forming plants must be obvious before attempting to cut them apart. It does not matter whether these clusters have roots or not. They are still planted just as a rootless leaf might be. They are immediately planted in three inch pots and remain that way until either sold or need repotting. Often we simply remove the lower leaves and trim the root ball before replanting in the same pot. It is worth experimenting with a number of leaves in different mixes to see which is most effective in any particular environment. It is obvious that there are different successful methods for different people. Ours is what works for us. |
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The Saintpaulia language (part
one)
Acute, A leaf terminating in a sharp point Anther, the small yellow sac thread emerging from the center of each flower. The anther splits to release pollen grains containing the male elements of the plant. Axil, The angle between a branch or leaf and the stem from which it is growing. It is this point of the plant that is attractive to mealybugs. Calyx the outer series of floral leaves. this external part is usually green in contrast to the inner showy portion , or corolla, composed of colored petals. Capillary attraction The apparent attraction between a solid and a liquid. thus dry pots or try soils moisten themselves by drawing in available sources of moisture. The glass wick method of watering and watering from the saucer are based on this principle. Chromosomes Tiny hereditary bodies within the germ cells. Clon, or Clone A plant and all it's vegetative "offspring " as a saintpaulia variety and all the plants grown form cuttings of it. Compost Organic material readily available to plants, because it has been thoroughly decomposed through fermentation brought about by the action of bacteria. Cordate A leaf form roughly heart-shaped and notched at the base. Corolla The unit formed by flower petals. Sometimes these are separate as in the geranium and sometimes they are united as in the saintpaulia. Crenate A leaf margin marked by rounded scallops Crock A fragment of a broken earthen flowerpot. If you fit a few overlapping pieces together in the bottom of a container to form a drainage area through which water but not soil will pass, you call it crocking. Cross- pollination. The transfer of pollen from the anthers of one variety to the stigma of another variety. Cultivars Special plant forms that have originated or are maintained only in cultivation. Cultivar names are never expressed in Latin and they should not consist of more than two words. Thus 'Blue Boy' is a cultivar of Saintpaulia Ionantha and is set apart by single quotation marks. Cutting A piece cut or broken from a parent plant for the purpose of obtaining additional plants of the identical type of the parent. Dentate A leaf with a toothed margin. Entire A smooth-edged leaf without grooves, scallops, or indentations of any kind. Flat. A
shallow box in which seeds or cuttings are started. The usual
size is 16 by 22 inches with a 2- to 4- inch depth. Bottom
boards are separated one-quarter inch to permit drainage
Credited to: "The New Complete Book of African
Violets" by Helen Van Pelt Wilson |
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Reporters needed! The newsletter needs someone to look for items to be put in the newsletter; like contacting someone for their bio and recipes and to keep tabs on the goings on. Articles don't have to be written--just the facts! Please contact Sandy or Rachel. Member bio and recipes volunteer is needed for the April and May issues. Please contact Sandy or Rachel if interested. Also, if you haven't done so, remember to put your bio page at the VR website. You may include links to your business.
This month's quip: why some people approach your table at a show and ask whether the flowers are real?
If you would like to contact AVSA
to get information on how to receive their bi-monthly magazine or to order
the Master List or First
Class, you can go to their web site: |
Congratulations to Pauline for winning our 7th vr-bingo game. Her prize was the 15 varieties she chose to make her card. Two bingo's were called in this game and had to be put to a tie breaker. Pauline won with the name Pacific Pear. Tina has said she will include a leaf of that variety as well. Look for the newest sponsor list to come out on the 15th of each month.
Welcome to all new list members. Today's member total = 265
New columns being started that need your input. One column will be entitled "You know you're addicted when..." Please send how you know you're addicted to Sandy to be put in future newsletters. The second column will be an answer to a question. The question for the next newsletter is: How do you label your violets? Hearing how others do things helps give the rest of us ideas |
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---The Kitchen
Korner--- Pumpkin rice pudding recipe |
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Chat with…. Chatting is a great way to get to know the other members. Unlike posting messages, you will get real time responses, suggestions and answers to any of your questions or anything you would like to discuss. We do not have any topics set for each chat session, and we just chat whatever members want to talk about. You do not have to stay for a full hour. You can drop in and leave whenever convenient for you. What a chat keeper does is to stay in the chat room during the scheduled time to chat with any members who wish to visit the room. Please look out for reminder messages to be sent out 1 day before and 1 hour prior to the chat session. Reminder messages contain times. keepers names and a link to the chat room. Please drop by to say hi if you get a chance. It is a lot of fun, and I guarantee you will be back again soon! Please look out for reminder messages to be sent out 1 day before and 1 hour prior to the chat session. Reminder messages contain times, keepers, and a link to a chat room. Please drop by to say hi if you get a chance. It is a lot of fun, and I guarantee you will be back again! We are always looking for new chat keepers, so if you are interested in holding chat sessions please e-mail your desired time schedule to me at yfcs@home.com. It is fun to be a chat keeper, and one of the great benefits is that you can learn so much from members in each session!
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a leaf cutting |
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* Want to know more about the VR members? Want to share some info about
yourself? That's what the VR Web Site is there for! (Click the graphic) * All members are free to add their own bio page or provide a link to their own website/homepage. You may also advertise your business there! More info is available on the website and in the VR Website Folder * VR Web Site was launched November 12, 2000. Current count (March 4, 2001) of member bios is 18. Add yours too! ~Isabell |
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Classified Section |
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Order 6 or more 9 inch leaf support rings - shipping FREE! Order 6 or more Oyama pots (any size) - shipping will be a flat rate of $2.95 Order Pro-Mix with the Oyama pots - add $1.00 to the $2.95 for each 5 quart bag All the supply prices can be found in the catalog at http://www.violetgallery.com |
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With all the new varieties being added to your collections. You may wish for a way to help keep all your information organized. Our list member Will Cronk has written a fantastic program called "Stpaulia." He offers a full working demo version, for 30 days. Try it you'll like it. When you decide to purchase it tell him you are a member of VioletReflections. We have already met the criteria of the special price so your program would be only $20.00 (USA). Think about it, it works with the Master Variety List program and is a wonderful way to keep notes and pictures of all your violets. I use both programs, I would be lost without them.
Will Cronk Orders Sent To:
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