Fantasy Variations and Chimeras ?

18 years ago

1. Can someone tell me if 'Bob's Omega' is a Chimera? I just got it and the stripes are so strong on it, I think it is a Chimera, But it wasnt in the description when I bought it on EBay. It is in great shape and blooming all over the place. and more stems coming. IF it is a Chimera....do I have to do anything special to make it grow and bloom?

2. About fantasy bloom violets. I love 'Quite Riot'. I bought one that has such a wild fantasy bloom and HUGE bloom,I had to get more. So I have bought 3 more over the past year from the same grower, the 4th one came today, and sure enough it is like 1 of my other 'Quite Riot' plants. Tons of blue blooms with only tiny specks of white. Doesn't look like my white splashed 'Quite Riot' that got me hooked on them. Are fantasy bloom violets a 'crap shoot' in the bloom department? You could get all blue, all white, my blue with specks, or like my terrific white and blue splashed one? Is it JUST 'Quite Riot' That does this? Or do all fantasy bloomers do this? It just depends on the 'gene pool' of the plant?. And you get whatever the plant whats to put out that particular bloom cycle? I was about to throw out the 'blue speckled ones' today, then I got this exact same plant and bloom today on this new Quite Riot! So I am just wondering if it is ONLY 'Quite Riot' that does this,or do ALL fantasys do this,...and you get a different pattern each time, and it is a 'crap shoot' what you will get? The one 'Quite Riot' I have that has HUGE blooms, and the wide splashes of white and blue blooms, I thought it was a different variety. BUT it looks like 'Quite Riot',from all the pictures I see of its blooms all over the internet. So I know its right.

And I doubt a grower would have the wrong name on the same plant 3 times! Who has been growing and selling for 30 years. He sells the only BIG violets in full bloom,that I get in a 3in pot, instead of a stupid 3oz solo cup and no blooms!! For the same price!

Anyway...what's the story?. And if someone else is growing 'Quite Riot' and is in bloom, maybe you could post a picture of your blooms? And I could see if my fantastic one is 'Quite Riot' or not. I wish I had a cheap digital camera to post a picture, but I don't, and posting a picture is out of my league.

This also happens with my 'Funambule' violet. I get all blue blooms sometimes, then I get the great white splashes for 2-3 bloom cycles. BUT the one I got today, has more variegation on the leaves, but nearly all blue blooms and only specks of white, but it is a big plant and full of variegation on the leaves, but I dont care about that. Same grower of all 3 Funambules. My oldest one blooms blue with big white splashes. But the 2 that came today, are nearly all blue and variegated leaves. I know they are the right plant. Time will tell if a different growing climate will give me my great fantasy blooms I am looking for. But I wanted to ask you all if there is something more going on here that I just dont know about. Is it JUST these 2 varieties? They are just unstable varieties? And I will get different blooms everytime? Boy this is a long one!

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Comments (5)

fred_hill
18 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Hi,
Bob's Omega is not a chimera. It just has a nice stripe down the center which can be reproduced by leaf cuttings.
Do you know that it is a vintage violet? It was registered in 1980 which makes it 28 years old.
At one point in time I grew Rainbow's Quiet Riot with great success. It never changed on me, now I am growing Funambule which has remained the same for over two years. I passed out leaves and plantlets of the hybrid to many fellow club members and they all seem to be growing true.
It is true that Fantasy blossoms are a bit unstable in some cases but have not found that with these two hybrids.
Fred in NJ

Here is a link that might be useful: my Funambule
bspofford
18 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Stan,

I have a question for you about #2. You indicate the name as Quite Riot, not Rainbow's Quiet Riot. The only reason I question this is because of the source of purchase. If your seller has indicated Quite Riot, then I would assume it is not Rainbow's Quiet Riot and maybe a sport. I too have purchased from the same buyer and was disappointed in the long run. He has a lot of noid's that he gives names to and sells them. Doesn't mean they ain't pretty.....

Barbara
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floridabear
Original Author
18 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Hi Barbara. I dont know what a 'Noid' is..but I got one of them from a different grower just 2 weeks ago as a free gift for buying so many plants. It is just named 'Noid Mini'. It just bloomed a simple little pink pansy type tiny flower. That isnt the grower I got my Rainbow Quite Riots from and my Funambules. It is Rainbows Quite riot..I was making it shorter. I didnt think it made a difference. They are all Rainbows Quite riots.
floridabear
Original Author
18 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Fred. My 'Funambule' bloomed just like that last month, after it took like a 4 month 'rest'. I think it needed more light,because I moved it and it took off growing then blooming. The blooms also range on it from nearly all blue with tiny specks of white, to that great blue with big streaks of white like in your picture. And my one 'oldest' Rainbows Quite Riot looks just about like your Funambule picture everytime it blooms, which is nearly non stop. But all the other are blooming nearly all blue with only tiny specks of white.

I have found that it depends on how hot/cool and how much sun the plant gets, changes the amount of white and blue fantasy mix. Which is odd to me. Because now that it is summer they get a lot of light and now they all bloom nearly all blue. Yet in the winter, with less light, they all bloom , but usually I get a lot more fantasy mix on the blooms. The Funambule is the opposite. I get less fantasy on the blooms in the summer, and more in the winter and spring. But I thought they might be unstable crosses. But if yours is blooming like that all the time. I have some kind of odd ball plants, unless you grow under lights? Mine are all getting natural light.
bspofford
18 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Stan,

A 'noid' is short for 'no identification' or 'no ID'. Any plant that has not been named, or the name has been lost, then becomes a noid.

And not to be picky, but it is Rainbow's QUIET Riot, not Rainbow's QUITE Riot.

It really can make a difference when using names. For Example "Hot Lips' is red with a white edge. "Baker's Hot Lips" is white with a red edge. So it is helpful to use the entire name.

Sounds like your plants are doing well. Good growing.

Barbara