Can blooms suddenly change? From plain to stripes...

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

This is my Toronto Belle’s second blooming phase. The first time around the flowers were all a pale, plain pink. No pattern or variegation whatsoever. However, this time around the flowers have developed a darker pink, almost fuchsia stripe or band around the petal’s edge. It’s hard to explain, but the picture shows what I mean.

I’m wondering if this normally happens...like if it‘s caused by temperature, lighting, etc. changes the way variegated leaves are affected...

Thank you in advance!

Featured Answer

irina_co

6 years ago

If you look at the pic of the regular Toronto Belle - it is bicolor pink - with a difference in tone between petal tips and centers, not really well organized. Nothing like stripes or edges.

First bloom is not always representative, but what I am thinking - chimera first starts not in blossoms - but in the stem, and not always the whole stem is built with concentric circles of dark and light green tissue - this is typical chimera. Sometimes only one side of the stem is "organized" this way. in this case - one side will be giving chimera blossoms, the other - more simple ones. When plant grows further - it can become all chimeric - or all "simple" . That's why - it is important to catch it on time and root a bloomstalk - or stimulate a sucker on this side. Keiki-grow is a hormone paste you can apply on a stem to stimulate a sucker near the chimeral bloomstalk..

Righting itself - would be if the second bloom is closer to the hybridizer description. I didn't observe the correction of the color that much - more of - first bloom is single - and second semidouble, The amount of fantasy usually is stable - either it is here - or not, or just a bit - or a lot - the young plant will stay this way through its life.. Bicolor thumbprints change - but they change depending on the season.

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Comments (10)

Rosie1949
6 years ago
Toronto Belle: This is a Miniature African violet. The flowers are single in type and rose-mauve in color (two –tone). The leaves are variegated, medium green and cream in color. They are serrated in shape with girl foliage type. The plant was hybridized by A.E. Adams. Very pretty little miniature, my favorite types! In my opinion, sometimes the first blooms are not always the true blooms. They can vary due to temperature and sometimes culture. I don't think it is the rule but rather the exception.

It is possible this second blooming is what it was ultimately supposed to be. Time will tell.

Anybody else got anything? Rosie
Violets N Bunnies thanked Rosie1949
dbarron
6 years ago
Not useful info, but it's darn cute.
Violets N Bunnies thanked dbarron
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Violets N Bunnies
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks again, Rosie1949! You’re just a fount of African violet knowledge! You seem very passionate about AVs. Do you have a large collection?
Rosie1949
6 years ago
Remember this is just my opinion. Sometimes based on my personal "trial and error". lol I love violets/gesneriads and houseplants. Oh yeah and outdoor flowers, shrubs etc. I have a lot I guess, let's just say enough to keep me happy. (YOU decide just how much would be enough!!! lol) Rosie
irina_co
6 years ago
I think it tries to become a chimera. It happens (very rarely!!!) with multicolor varieies. Take good care of it. Chimeras donot reproduce true from leaves-only from suckers or from bloomstalks. There were sweveral articlies on it in African Violet Journal, but it works only if the bloomstalk has large enough leaflets. If you would be able to root a bloomsllak with these gorgeous blossoms - you would be able to stabilize this mutation.
Violets N Bunnies thanked irina_co
Rosie1949
6 years ago
I would have never guessed that. Thanks Irina! How will she know for sure if that is what happened as opposed to the bloom just "righting" itself???? Rosie
Rosie1949
6 years ago
Wow---Rosie
Violets N Bunnies
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Thank you Rosie1949 and irina_co for all this valuable info. I’ve never even heard of a chimera and had to research it (including how to pronounce it :)

irina_co, it’s interesting what you said about the plant trying to ”right itself.” My Toronto Belle presently has two bloomstalks. The first one in the initial photograph, the “mutant”, has three flowers and all of them have that defined dark pink band in the petals.

The other bloomstalk has two flowers that are just opening. One flower has the dark pink band In the two top petals only, the other petals are plain pink. The other flower on that same bloomstalk has no hint of a band on any petals at all.

It‘s almost like you can see the steps the plant is taking toward its transformation...

Heres a photo I just took of the second bloomstalk. Sorry for the bad lighting, but it was taken in the evening.
Rosie1949
6 years ago
No matter how it turns out they are still beautiful little plants!!!! Love that foliage! Rosie