Toni -

they are for trailers. ANd they sure grow well in them.

I.

They could also be used for plants that are 15 or so inches across.

Nancy

Thanks..
Irina, is there a reason plants grow well in Pan Pots?
Is there a difference between using a PP opposed to a regular plastic pot?

Nancy, when you say plants, do you mean AV's?
15" across..As far as I know, I have 3 trailers..I hope there's a time a Pan Pot will be needed for my 30" trailer..LOL..
One thing I never thought to look for when ordering AV's, was a 'Large' trailer..Is there such an Av someone knows offhand? Toni

Toni -

by the size of the leaves trailers can be mini, semi-mini and standard. But since their stems are trailing and spreading - you can grow a large plant with time and dedication. The largest trailer I saw on our show was Saintpaulia pendula, AV species - grown in a tray I would say about 20 inches. The leaf size is medium - but the stems are "creeping".

Fot the purpose of showing and growing under the lights the easiest ones will be semi-minis. Rob's trailers are very good, the older variety Cirelda can be spectacular.

AVs have shallow roots and they bloom better if they are rootbound. The deep pot - they do not reach the bottom - and it can be a problem because the water is not getting absorbed from the bottom of the pot, soil settles and the roots do not breathe well. If I have a pot I want to use - and it is too deep - means the depth is larger than diameter - I usually thread a wick, put a layer of perlite on the bottom, and than add soil.

Hope it will help

irina

Hi Irina, thanks, you've given me some great advice, especially regarding a layer of perlite.

Is the Saintpaulia pendula a standard? That's a good size, but I wonder why leaves grow on the small side???

Yesterday, Thursday, the pots ordered on Monday were delivered..I'm so glad you guys informed me about pot sizes.
Last night I finished repotting all AV's. This included, discarding old soil, (measuring foliage/diameter) mixing fresh soil then repotting in clean pots..

One problem I discovered, many new plants, especially Large, were vastly overpotted in excess soil. (These were potted at the nursery.) After discarding soil, I was shocked by the amount of wet soil on the bottom, and roots were small and/or little in count, in comparison to container size. Thankfully, I was able to repot in correct size pots, even though it meant 'underpotting'. Mostly Large, and many Standards.
I also did a thorough inspection for pests..thank goodness, 'notta one.' (S) Toni

Toni -

Saintpaulia pendula has leaves under 1 inch. But if you want to grow species - you need to do some research on which varieties like what - they have their preferences. The second - they bloom beautifully - but - they are mostly blue and always single.

Since you are interested in LARGE - i grew several standard trailers. Cherokee Trail - variegation - to die for, not very floriferous - but when it blooms - the flowers are out of this world - plae pimk and double, good to eat. Candy Fountain - all the time tries to grow single rosette for me, very floriferous, very interesting crown variegation. Sky Trail - unkillable, single bright blue flowers on long skinny stems, can be grown into a spectacular specimen.

Good job on your new arrivals! But - still - be vigilant! You need to isolate even if you repot. In big nurseries - they spray everything with chemicals - but eggs still can be there.

Good luck

irina

Hi Irina..How are you?
I wouldn't mind one Species. Room is an issue, but after talking to hubby about building a 3 tier shelf on the window, he's thinking about it. One that is adjustable.
To be honest I have no idea where Species are sold. If you know of a place will you let me know? Ebay?

Vintage are other AV's I'd like to see..I have a few, 25 yrs...Fisherman's Paradise for one.

I have a baby Cherokee Trail..Hopefully, it'll grow out into a beautiful plant..Do you hang your trailers or keep them on shelves?

When you say blue violets, (Species) I'm sure you referring to purple. lol. Right? I don't think there are any true blue AV's, let alone pre-hybrids. Right?

Irina, do you have any pics of your plants? A website, perhaps?

All AV's are on shelves and sills..The newer plants are in 2 windows/shelves..Now that autumn is rolling in, and outdoor tropicals will soon be brought indoors, space is going to be an issue.
When I repotted (every single) AV, I removed each plant and sifted (carefully) though soil..there were no signs of insects, (that I could see) though I know bugs have a way of hiding, not to mention eggs. When outdoor plants are brought in, all I could do is pray, and hope my Plant Guardian Angel is guiding each plant.. :) Toni

Toni - hi - replying:

1. I am OK - still at work
2. source of species - check www.belislesviolethouse.com -
Marcia Belisle carries a lot of interesting stuff including older AVs. When you look at her list of violets - check on the registration year or number. Everything that is more than 25 years old or the ML number less than 5100 - is officially "Vintage".
3. My trailers are on the light shelves too - so I cannot let them hang. To my regret the windows are not very bright. I would love to hang my columneas.
4.You are right - purple. They always have a bit of red pigment in them. Even pale blue is actually kind of lilac-lavender.
5.No, I do not have a website.
6. When you are bringing plants from outside - you can bring something you can see in your soil - soil mealy bugs and grubs - weevil larva is bad. But most possibly you can bring spider mites and leaf mealy bugs. Spider mites for sure - and mealy bugs especially on hoya. So - I would hose your tropicals - and spray at least with neem oil 3 times with one week between - and keep them in a separate room as long as possible. Means - it would be better - to have living room for tropicals only - and spare bedroom for gessies.

Beware of hubbie - when your collection reaches 1000 plants - he will start complaining.

good luck

irina

ROFL, Irina..Beware of hubbie..LOLOL..I'll have to paste a sign on my forehead. Funny you should mention hubby because he's off work every other Monday..The Episcias came in yesterday when he was here..In fact, he answered the door when the mailman dropped them off..he said, "more plants? What type this time?" LOL

Thanks for the site..I'll have to check it out..I'm straighting the house, stopped to take a break..Then make dinner.

What do you mean you're still at work? Do you sleep there? LOL..Do you work wkends? I hope NOT. When do you find time to care for plants? While sleepwalking, right?? (S)

I'd like to find a 1953 or 1949 yr AV..

You don't have any bright windows? My Columnea is hanging next to a Lipstick plant in the upstairs bathroom. West window. Underneath grows a Maid of Orleans Jasmine and Spiderwort. Had a variegated Night blooming Jasmine but it died..It was so pretty..I can't keep the Night bloomers. Columnea needs a good amount of sun, including direct to bloom. How do you keep Columnea on a shelf???

Irina, do you think I live in a mansion? LOL..There are no spare bedrooms or any other spare rooms for that matter..every room, minus the back bathroom (NO windows and definately no space) the DR, (birds room) and son's bedroom, (he has an iguana that would love to devour foliage.) There are no rooms to isolate.
But don't worry..I hose outside AND inside the sink. Otherwise spiders and EARWIGS would hitch a ride inside, and both are insects I cannot tolerate..NO siree Bob..I fear spiders to the point it's an obsession..LOL..So, each plant is hosed separately, until water seeps out the bottom..Air dried than I spray my home-made concoction along with Fish Emulsion..Fish Emulsion is actually a organic fertilizer, so when it's sprayed on plants, it's also a great, last of the year, foliar feed.
A woman who owns a citrus nursery in FL turned me on to FE used as an insecticide. She uses it on citrus trees to prevent/kill scale. Since it's naturally oil-based, it works similar to Neem.
Trying to isolate 300-400 plants is hard to do, especially in a small-mid sized house..
I normally don't take Hoyas outdoors, but we had new windows installed a couple wks back, so they had to go outside..I planned on bringing them in after windows were done, but they like being outside..many are in bloom. Soon, they'll be hauled in along with other plants that normally don't go out.
I'll probably start bringing some plants in, in a wk or two. Winter!!!
Get some sleep..lol..Toni

Hmmm... mansion you say... if it comes with a cleaning lady or 2 or 3!

I like spiders - at one time one very industrious spider covered 2 of my starter trays - and sure he was catching fungus gnats better than any yellow sticky trap. Earwigs - nope. They can stay outside,

Oops - need to go!

irina

Yep, a mansion ='s 5 cleaning ladies. Butler's too..if we're going to dream, might as well include it all..breakfast served in bed. Nice, huh?

Ohhhh, spiders. No thank you. We saw a teeny-weeny spider, teeny as in 1/16"- 1/32", hanging from a stringy webb..Of course, of all people, I walk into it..thought I was going to have a heart attack..LOL.
IMO earwigs are outdoor roaches and should stay outdoors. The dote on soils. As soon as a plant is set outside, they migrate under the pot..I don't know when or even if they roam looking for food, but I never see them out and about. Wonder what they eat???
Are you still working??? LOL..

Earwigs eat everything - other bugs, rotting fruit, petals and pollen of flowers. They are presumed beneficial - they eat a lot of pests. They are active in the night time.

Breakfast in bed? And guess where all the crumbs go? Cleaning lady - that's a worthy dream.

I like spiders. They save us from flies and mosquitoes - and spiderwebs are works of art. Let's not destroy them with our faces,it feels kind of ticklish. ;-OO

I