Mary Beth -

I am sorry that you got so disappointed with Rob's. I ordered from them several times. Yes, they send small plants, but usually his AVs catch up and bloom really fast.

Are you sure that all the problems came from Rob's? Could it be that may be the place you put them was not the best? Nobody is 100% protected against bugs, especially in summer when them bugs will happily relocate from outside - thrips are the worst. But the aphids is the easiest to squash - Safer soap does them in and is not going to poison you and family.

I had really good experience with Bluebirdgreenhouse.com - space violets or else. They grow and send healthy large plants.

Good luck

Irina

HI Mary Beth,
Most likely one of the better places to purchase starter plants is Lyndon Lyons. They are in Dolgeville, NY and many clubs purchase sale plants from them.
If you aren't in a rush for plants you could also look into going to a violet show. In October there are two. Philadelphia AVS in the Philadelphia area and MAAVS will be holding their convention this year in York PA. The first weekend in November is the Tristate AV council show at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morristown, NJ. You can check the AVSA.org site under local clubs for more info.
Fred in NJ

Here is a link that might be useful: Lyndon Lyons.

thanks for answering so quick. After some research I think my plants have thrips. So out the door they go! I forgot to ask where can I get a reasonable plant stand it will have to go into my family room so I don't want a metal (work) stand. Any suggestions? The ones I looked at where 300 or 400 hundred dollars. It's what I was looking for but to expensive. Thanks. Mary Beth

Hi Mary Beth,
If you don't want the metal type I would suggest u look for a wooden shelving stand in some place like Home Depot or Lowes or even Sears. Another good place you might find something is a second hand store or a Goodwill or Salvation Army thrift store. You can purchase flourescent lights from HD or Lowes.
Fred in NJ

Hi Mary Beth -

I fill sorry for your poor violets you want to chuck just because of the thrips. You will be throwing away your whole collection 3 times a year. Every time you open your window in summer - thrips very likely can come up. Your friends will bring you a nice bunch of flowers in winter - here they are again.

The only way to keep them out - is to have a dedicated plant room, do not open windows there and never get inside in a same set of clothes you wore outside in the yard. Yes - and cats and dogs can bring them on their fur.

I would disbud them for couple of months and spray 3 times week apart with something.

Good Luck

Irina

I to have ordered from Rob's. the majority have been O.K. However, I have three that will not blooom. One just keeps producing suckers and the others are not growing at the normal rate.

Please listen to the advice here. African violets are plants and because they are plants they will attract bugs sooner or later. Please don't dump your new plants, isolate them from you others and treat them for thrips. Thrips are very common. I don't know anyone who hasn't had them.

Hi Mary Beth,
Thrips as the last message said are a common problem which everyone gets at one time or another. I would strip the bloom off all the plants and spray the plants with Neem Oil. This should be done once a week for three weeks. Sometimes I go to extremes and have even added another week or two.
Fred in NJ

I recently bought plants from Travis Violets and was (and am) thrilled with what arrived. Nice guy, lovely plants, great shipping.

Reed's Greenhouse is good, too, for leaves.

Here is a link that might be useful: Travis Violets