Hello:

The easiest to find are the Optimara plants. They are everywhere, grocery stores, hardward stores, just turn around and you'll find them.

I recommend Optimara because they were bred to be raised by natural light and do very well sitting in a window.

It is more difficult to find a named variety but if that is what you want, take a look at Ebay. Type in African violet and look through the hundreds of offerings there.

If your city has an AV show this spring, go there and buy what you like. This is probably the best way to get into named varieties.

Nancy

AVSA lists two clubs in Tennissee, one in Memphis and one in Nashville; the link is below.

Welcome, and I also recommend Optimaras; they're particularly hardy and forgiving plants.

Korina

Okay, let's try actually *adding* the link.

Korina (blush)

Here is a link that might be useful: TN clubs (toward the bottom)

Hi, Orchid:

Where in Tennessee? I am president of the Nashville African Violet Club and we meet the first Sunday of the month at 1:45.

We have a program, refreshments and members often bring plants to sell.

The Memphis club is a good one if you are in West Tennessee.

Linda

So I gave in and bought an Optimara noid at the grocery store this evening. I think it's Barbara, it looks an awful lot like Barbara, but if it's not I still love it anyway. :p

I live very close to Knoxville, so I won't be attending club meetings anytime soon. *scratches her chin in thought* Wasn't there an AV club in Oak Ridge, TN at one point? I'm pretty sure I had thought about going, and just never did. Or maybe it was the La Leche League. *laughs*

Anyway, I'll probably repot my AV tomorrow, get all the babies off her and into separate little containers. I still have some 4 inch clay pots and my "AV tool kit", and we have some decent potting soil. It's not the optimum AV blend, but I think it will do for now.

You do realize that in 3 months, I'll have a houseful again. :: This is a very addicting little habit. ::

OK, I got her repotted, out of that icky soil she was in... and got the suckers off her and potted some of them. Some were just tiny, I just scraped them off carefully, I want her to concentrate on getting her roots into the new soil and not having babies, ya' know??? Some of her blooms are wilty now, some fell off. I figure that's ok, if she's happy she'll make more.

I'll post pics in the gallery. :)

Oh, and I guess I'll be moving in here. Hope ya'll don't mind! LOL

Hey guys, I was just wondering...if they are Optimara, will it say on the tag or pot somewhere? Thanks, Shannon

Dawn, there's always room for one more! Welcome.

Shannon, sometimes. I hope that was helpful. :-D

Korina

:) Thanks Korina.

Dang that husband anyway!! I'm sitting here hoping to give away my husband, I need the room he takes up!! I could then get a twin bed and put in two light stands where he used to sleep!! The way I figure it, I could replace him with at least 75 plants. They won't eat as much, their pots don't have to be ironed, think of the money I'll save on car insurance......
I visited your state last November, the drive between Knoxville and Nashville was the best fall foliage I saw last year. New England was a bust.

Good luck re-instating your hobby. Guard against obsession.

Barbara

Shannon, I believe most Optimara have a white oval shaped sticker on the side of the pot, purple letters. It may have the name on the plastic sleeve as well.

Sorry I got in on this a little late. Your husband threw away all of your African violets? Does he still have all of his body parts left? That's none of my business and something for you and your husband to work out. I just find it incredible.

All of the above advice is good. Congratulations on your new plant and hopefully you will have many more. And keep an close eye on that violet killer. lol

Larry

Larry -

He gave them away, not threw them away!!!

Mine is complaining about too many plants, too many violets all the time! But while I was on an out of country assignment for 6 months - he watered and fertilized them all and din't kill too many out of 250. Yeah.. I tripled the amount since then.

Cheers

Irina

PS I presume my husband to be my best and most valuable violet of them all.

Well, truth be told I would just as soon keep mine as not. I'll figure out some other place to put new plants. And God bless your husband, Irina, for caring for your plants while gone for 6 months. I did that for my husband when he was growing bonsai. We lived in Sacramento prior to moving to Maine, and I made one trip solo by car to Maine, and returned a month later to drive our rv to Maine with all his bonsai, a huge jade plant, and gigantic phil. monstera. He travels a lot, and my job was 62 miles from home, so I had an apt. in the town where I worked. I would come home midweek to water his stuff, or I transported them back and forth. They should have received frequent traveller miles.... Attrition finally had it down to about 8, and I forgot them in the van one night when I got home late. In December. Zap. No more bonsai. Did you know 'bonsai' in Japanese means 'pain in the a**"? So I figure we're even....
Barbara

Barbara -

I just got rid of the gigantic phil - turned to be it is not monstera, just phil. My realtor adopted it while we were moving - just no space in a new house for this monster.

I like you translation of "bonsai". I think it was a huge relief for you when you found them frozen.

And it is much easier to replace any amount of plants than to get yourself a good husband, even with a bonsai addiction.

Cheera

Irina

Hi Dawn,

I think I owe you an apology. I have no idea what the circumstances were about your husband giving your violets away. Although it was some what said in jest, I had no right to attack your husband. I'm sure he's a very nice guy. Please accept my apology.

Irina,

Your husband sounds like a real gem or as you said your "most valuable violet". To take care of your violets for six months and I assume without protest, is really remarkable. What a nice guy! My wife and I have an agreement when it comes to our house plants. I take care of the African violets and other geseriads, she takes care of and waters the rest of the collection of plants. She thinks gessies are too high maintenance and although she enjoys them, she would probably not have a gesneriad on her own. Even so, if I go away for a week or two she always takes wonderful care of my plants. It's nice to have spouses who get it.

Larry

i'm guessing with new young children, he was saving the violets from almost certain death due to neglect:) hard enough to find time to sleep when you have little ones, much less take care of plants!

hi leslie here. mine bought me a dresser to set both aquariums on. when we get the cats back,the reason my plants live in aquariums, i'll move his pothos- philodendron looking things into the second aquarium. that way the cats cannot get at the plants to eat them. rotten furballs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!