Flowers have changed

13 years ago

I have two AV's that have recently begun blooming again after a two month rest. The flowers this time look completely different from the way they usually do. One plant had double blue clusters but now has single lavender blooms. The other plant had double red clusters with white edges but now is a single bloom without the white edges. Neither one has clusters only a single stalk. What would cause such changes in the flower? They aren't nearly as pretty as before. The only thing I have changed is my lighting set up. The plants might be a little closer to the grow lights. Could this make a difference? Nothing else has changed.
Thanks for your help.

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Comments (6)

PRO
Whitelacey
13 years ago
Judy,

Violets frequently 'sport': that is, revert to another color and/or shape. Some varieties are unstable and will revert back to a more stable form. In my experience, I have never heard of one reverting back to its original form but I have had one or two that bloom a little differently each time. Most growers just learn to love the unpredictability!

Linda
User
13 years ago
Posted by whitelacey 6 (My Page) on Thu, Aug 8, 13 at 7:30

Yes, I love the changes :)
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irina_co
13 years ago
It can be the effect of summer heat - and after it cools down - you probably will get the normal blossoms back. Not 100% - but possible.
LunRTwilight
13 years ago
It seems a big difference, but each bloom can differ both in flower shape and color. One of mine does this. It has single blooms and nearly double blooms, sometimes at the same time. I picked it because the flowers looked double in the store. But, actually, the color is more vibrant in the single blooms and they seem to last longer. They still look pretty to me.
taxonomist3
13 years ago
I'm going to side with Irina here. Moving closer to the lights and it being summer will definitely induce warmer conditions and will often cause the flowers to be different. I wouldn't consider it a sport just yet, but rather within the plants' normal range of color based on environment. Also not repotting frequently and having the soil go "acidic" on you will also have an affect on the flower color and size as well.
PRO
Whitelacey
13 years ago
Judy,

If the changes have been caused by environment, the flowers should revert back as the conditions change. If the plants have sported, they will not revert back to the original. Many new varieties have been obtained this way.

Lun,

Many violets will bloom with single, semi- or double blooms at the same time and at varying times. It's just genetic instability. Single blooms do seem to last longer and, (very) generally, the less "fancy" the blossom, the more the plant will bloom.

Linda