Most of the Frerette's are vintages , if not all of them. therefore, they tend to be scarce as newer is always in demand. I think Miss Fredette left us many years ago.

Linda

As Linda said - Irene Fredette passed a while ago - and her plants are now over 25 years old. Wonderful plants - good rosettes, gorgeous blooms.
George McDonlad is our contemporary - he works with minis and semi-minis - and his goal - is fancy flowers on small plants. I would say his plants are not always easy to grow for the show - and they have long flower stalks - flowers seem to float above the rosette.

Thanks, Linda and Irina,
I just realized, Irina, that the word "rosette" refers to the
whorl pattern of leaves! I thought it referred to the blossom
shape! Thanks for the info, I will be on the look-out for
Fredette's, now that I know more. I saw a photo of one
that I would especially like, it has leaf variegation with a
double pink blossom. I don't know the name. There is
also a Ruth Bann plant
that is similar that I cannot find, either.
Joanne

Joanne,

You don't re-pot to reduce acidity. Peat becomes more acidic as it ages and you re-pot to replace with newer peat. As for the tea, I was trained as a hort. scientist and as a result I am skeptical about certain growing practices. I know of nothing in tea that is beneficial to plants. I have had a few people tell me that it works for them but no-one has ever said what is the beneficial aspect of tea. Plant hormones? NPK? Soil additive? I have never found the answer and so remain skeptical.

Linda

Linda
Good to know.
Joanne

Joanne, I just found this older post. I'm wondering if the Fredette you are talking about is China Doll?? If it is, I have one and could send you a couple leaves.

Just thinking, tea would at least be chlorine free by the time it's filtered, boiled, steeped and 'aged', so there's one plus for tea dumping ;-)

Thank you, Aspedsm,
That is very kind! I would like to get some leaves, but will have to wait. Because just
now I had to toss a plant as itt had
thrips. So I will wait until I can get everything cleaned up
and am sure my collection is safe. (I brought in some plants from a store that I guess I did not isolate long enough.)

@ Karin, The resolution of the discussion of tea was not to use either tea water or tea bags on indoor plants. The used tea bags can be used as compost in a garden in the summer. But they are not sterile and might contain bacteria.

Joanne