Thanks for that update! Was in our Lowes a couple days ago and they had about 6 violets that had good leaves but not one flower. And without a tag I don't know what it is. So...........Rosie

Well ... I visited my neighborhood LOWES again (for a cross-cut saw), ... and I saw the same MySensation plants there. They were still in bloom, and looked fairly well preserved, ... though some of the plants around them were showing signs of Thrips. The MySensations looks to be fairly hardy ... to survive so well out in the wilds of the LOWES Indoor Garden Shop.

Lots of great information, aegis. Thank you.

Wow, thank you so much aegis, for all that info/ advice you have provided. I have never seen green flower on an african violet plant before that is why i grab couple of them.

I notice seedpod on my av " mysensation" and several more developing. How long these pod become mature to pick.

Thanks everyone.

I think that it takes a few months.

See the following discussion ...

My First Seedpod ...

We should warn you, though, that the plants you may grow from any seeds you obtain may look far different than the the parent plant (MySensation).

If you want a copy of MySensation, ... best to put down a leaf from the plant ....

"If you want a copy of MySensation, ... best to put down a leaf from the plant"

Thanks, aegis and that's why I got a leaf from Rosie.

Thanks aegis1000. Theres not much to do in winter. I might try sticking some leaves into some soil and see if it roots.

Mine rooted in water.

Great to hear your leaf is doing well, Leon! Rosie

Aegis, where do you live? Your Lowes could be quite a trek for some of us. Florida is a two-day drive one way. Yes, we have shopped at Lowes almost down the street, but not for African Violets - a fridge for my mother. The fridge at Lowes was a better deal that a similar one at Sears, where they were nickle and diming us to death. I think all Lowes stores are not the same, and all my have similar products, but not neceissarily the same ones. Lowes is in Canada too, and all cannot be the same.

Yolanda

I live in Indiana, Yolanda.

We got our last refrigerator at LOWES, at well, ... but they also have an indoor plant department.

You might want to check with the Canadian African Violet Association (CAVS) to see if they know of any local distributors in your area.

Although, if you want really nice plants, ... and don't want to be bothered with fighting pests, ... I wouldn't recommend retailers anyway.

Growers/nurseries are a much better bet.

Aegis, the last time I was at Lowes, I was buying plants for the spring/summer - tomatoes, petunias for the front yard, etc. I bought african violet soil at that time also. Then the emphasis was on spring and summer, especially in mid-May. Next time I go, however, I will look at their indoor plants. I know that several grocery store chains do have african violets, but I resist the urge to buy them. I grew african violets some time ago, but with having children, I gave it up at that time. The kids now are independent. I saw that my mother's african violets were suffering, with long neck, and such, so I took them away. Then I ordered some from Bloomlovers, and now I am hooked again. I will again order from Bloomlovers in the spring, as it is colder in Quebec than here in southern Ontario.

Thanks for the advice on where to buy plants.

Yolanda

Wow ... I also bought LOWES tomatoes this year, and petunias, and African Violet soil, ... along with some keys, a pruning saw, and a ceiling fan.

LOWES is my go to hardware store (and to a lesser extent, Home Depot), but I don't buy their African Violets anymore. They almost always have Thrips.

Aegis, how do you like their african violet soil? Some people say there is a difference between brands. What is your opinion?

Yolanda

The African Violet soil I typically purchase is Pre-Fertilized Miracle-Gro.

That's, essentially, because that's what I find offered at retailers.

I mix that with Pearlite, and it works pretty well for me. Because of the pre-fertilization, I, typically, will hold off from fertilizing for 3-6 months.

In my experience, soil has been one of the least of my issues with growing healthy AV's (once I learned that it should be light and airy).

In my last re-potting I used that Miracle-Gro without adding anything and it's doing fine.

I use MiracleGro with perlite (1/2 and 1/2 mix) since I grow on wicks and it seems to work well. Rosie

I went to all three of my Lowe's on the day of arrival and boy, the Violet's were in crummy shape. One Lowe's took off all the outer plastic on each plant and put them in the sun. They were the worst off. No My Sensations here, I went just hoping to see it in person.