LETTING GO

Bonjour,

I have noticed since I started collecting African Violets about 2 or 3 years ago, that there are some strong plants and some weaker ones.

There might be many reasons for that. One plant will do its best at one place  and you are very happy to give one of them away.  Then, in its' new environment; it won't do anything. Why? I think  it's one of nature's mystery's.

It is very important  to be able to discern when it is time to simply let go of that plant, even if it is one we loved so much.  I went through that period myself. After a few tries, you really don't know what to do with next .

It is harder to see a loved plant diminish every day than really say to ourselves, "Well, that's it, I did my best , and really must forget about it". We think that we made a mistake somewhere along the line with that plant. I call it experience. So there is nothing lost.

At the same time, it gives us a chance to try with new ones and other kinds of gesneriads. Then, we discover that we are very lucky with some no matter what we do.  They are a real success.

I especially wrote this article about "letting go" for the beginners and even for the rest of us too. Maybe, we now only have 8 or 10 plants and we don't want to get rid of any of them.

One day, that leaf or plantlet may come back to you by trading or winning it at a meeting. You will try again and maybe you will succeed with it.

That's the pleasure of working with live plants. There will come a time you will have too many.

So don't lose your time with those that are giving you a hard time and be happy with the rest of them.

A simple opinion:

Madeleine - Quebec

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