Thank you, Joanne - I will follow the advice when it's time to repot. In fact, I repotted somewhat recently so it will be a while. Do you happen to know the name of these varieties? The blue one is not quite as blue as the pictures show, it's more towards purple in reality. But for an AV, it's probably as blue as it can be. I didn't realize it was hard to find. Then I will certainly set up a leaf or two. Thank you for making me aware.

The two of them sit on two shelves, one above the other, and they are like a "boy and girl" kind of pair. Very cute and they really brighten up my kitchen.

Hi! I think your pink violet might be Georgia II, and I think your blue-purple violet could possibly be Stephanie or Rebecca. Does it have red-backed leaves?

I hope this helps!

damask_rose : )

damask_rose,

The pink one has some red on the back of the leaves. The blue ones doesn't.

Thank you!

I have done what both you and Rosie suggest with perfectly fine results. I've even cut down more than half the root ball with no adverse effects, but in that case, I might have needed to bag the plant for a day or two if the leaves wilted a bit after the repotting. They have all recovered perfectly well. I know that some folks say not to repot when a plant is blooming. I've repotted many AV's when in bloom with no problem whatsoever. Doesn't affect the plant of the blooms. In fact, some of my plants are almost always in bloom, so I have no choice to repot when they're in bloom, unless I disbud the plant, which I've never done. Good luck. I think you'll do fine.

In that case I think your blue-purple violet may be Stephanie. Both colors are extremely beautiful!

Have a nice day!

damask_rose : )

Judy, what are your violets that are in near-constant bloom? Not that I would necessarily expect them to do the same here. Conditions (and gardener-smarts) vary. But it would be nice to know that it's inherent in a given plant, if appropriate conditions are supplied. Thanks!

Joan

Joan,

The two I've had the longest which are never out of bloom are Persian Lace and Optical Illusion (about 4 years). More recent varieties I've had for a year or so are Jersey Cloud Chaser, Kentucky Gooseberries and Malachite Rose.

Persian Lace

Optical Illusion

Jersey Cloud Chaser

Kentucky Gooseberries

Mal

Malachite Rose

Judy,

Mal is superb! Where can I get one? :)

I picked her up at a club sale a couple of years ago. I've seem them available on Ebay.

judy musicant,

I looked all over the Intenet, Ebay included, and can't see a single one mentioned.

I Googled African Violet Mal and nothing pops up.

Hi @Artist-FKA-Novice Zone 7B GA! I think that might have been a spelling error. Above the letters Mal the correct name is listed as Kentucky Gooseberries. Here are some links to places where you can purchase one:

Lyndon Lyon Kentucky Gooseberries

Joe's Plant Nook Kentucky Gooseberries

Fancy Bloomers Kentucky Gooseberries (currently out of stock)

I didn't see any for sale on Ebay at the moment but their inventory is always changing so some may be for sale very soon.

I hope this helps!

damask_rose : )

damask_rose,

This VERY MUCH helps! Thank you for the clarification!

Now how do I hold off until cooler temps for safe shipping? :)

Hi, Judy M,

You are a great grower!

Hi, to Novice and all who are wondering when to order,

It is best to work with the suppliers' own guidelines. If they already offer a plant, they might ship right away. However, no matter how carefully they pack, they have no control once the box is sent. Much of the U.S. is experiencing a heat wave, which can adversely affect shipments. (Suppliers do not want to have to replace or refund for damaged live products.) The post offices are on reduced staff, meaning longer hold times. Usually, shipments sit on trucks, plane cargo, or warehouses that are not temperature controlled.

For those who are new and who started with Optimara and have good results, it might help to know all plants from that brand tend to have similar, somewhat easy, growth patterns. The company uses specially designed containers and professional, commercial quality shipping methods. You can check on their website, it might clarify their shipping restrictions.

Finally, do read plant descriptions before ordering. Some are minis ir semi-minis.

Joanne

Fourty-seven,

I do like Optimara. They are reliable, sturdy, beautiful plants - with extremely vigorous foliage and abundant bloom (provided you figure them out).

I have tried growing other types in the past but I wasn't that successful from what I remember. Eventually, they all died but then again, I was less experienced then. I'd be curious to try a non-Optimara again.

I would really love Kentucky Gooseberry and King's Ransom, as well as Optimara's Ingrid and Rocky Mountain or Sequoia. I love it when my AV-s look like mini roses!

Of course, if I could have it my way, I would love ALL flowers to look like roses because I am a rose nut at heart.

Sounds like I will definitely have to wait on the purchase though.

So sorry for the mix-up. Don't know how Mal got in there. Kentucky Gooseberries is indeed what you were asking about, Novice. I got that one on Ebay from a grower I believe is no longer there. But it should show up again, as well as with the other suppliers listed by damask rose. It's a very popular variety.

Judy,

When they say semi-miniature, what do they mean? How large does it grow? I kind of got used to my large Optimaras with an impact, but if Gooseberry is as floriferous as it looks, the blooms might make up for its smaller size. Maybe.

I should also mention that Kentucky Gooseberries can be very variable in how pink or white she blooms. Initially, she was almost pure white, but then more pink started to show. I've seen pictures of examples that were very pink.

If it's pink, it becomes a bit more like Optimara's Ingrid Rhapsodie. I'd hope mine would stay white.

Novice,

You are on the right track with your future selections.

There is an Optimara called MyDelight that resembles pink rosebuds. It is easy to grow and blooms well. Its form is different from the standard Optimara form-- It has "trailer" in its genetics. It grows looser and is easy to propagate from leaf cuttings or suckers. ("Trailers" have multiple crowns.) MyDelight does not form multiple crowns but it tends to form suckers, which can be removed and propagated easily.

It does not have the "typical" violet look. The foliage is different also, and a quite attractive true green color. I used to grow many. It is a refreshing color combination, and was my favorite AV to grow.

Another AV that is easy to grow and resembles an open pink rose is Beauty Goddess. It is an early Russian variety. It grows large with large flowers. The blooms last a long time. It makes a lot of impact. It is a variety I always maintain in my collection. There no longer is a single source to buy it, but it is available because it is popular. For me, it grows as a single crown.

Another older Russian that has a lighter pink blossom resembling an open rose is Gentle May. However, it is harder to find. It grows symmetrically, which is hard to achieve with older Russians.

(We discussed on the Forum recently, "Russian" refers to a type of AV developed in Russia and the Ukraine. They grow large, with very striking blossoms.)

A classic "vintage" violet that is vigorous and flowers well is named "Bob Serbin"(the hybridizer is Brownlie, a famous early hybridizer). It forms large bouquets of blooms. Double red with a white "Geneva" edge. It also can sucker for propagation or be grown as a two or three crown. It is versatile, prefers low natural window light, can get quite large.

The flower does not resemble a rose, but you might like to try a deep red AV.

Aegis on the forum here used to grow King's Ransom and liked it. It was developed by Lyndon Lyon Greenhouses. It grows large.

There are also a few vintage varieties that do strongly resemble roses, but they are very "fussy." They usually have the word "rose" in the name. If you are curious, you can always ask here about our experience.

You will have more fun with easy-to-grow varieties.

Kentucky Gooseberries is a mini. I grow it. It is creamy white with slight pink blush and tinge of green. It holds onto its blooms a long time. It is also easy and one that I also always maintain. If you get it, I think you will enjoy it. (Signed) Joanne

Joanne,

Thank you so much for the fantastic suggestions! I will make a list and decide which 2-4 new violets I will add to my collection. I will try to only add 2 more because the care needed CAN add up...but with all these great suggestions, I might not make it.

Do the Russian varieties have larger, more striking blooms than what we normally see from Optimara?

PS: Oh, I LOVE Bob Serbin! That deep red is the accent color in my living room! So I need one !

Now that I figured out the fertilizer, I am getting AV-happy again:)

Haha! I was just about to recommend the very same violet! I love Optimara myDelight! It is one of my two favorite violets. The flowers look like antique roses and it blooms all the time. I can't remember a time when it didn't have any blooms on it. The blossoms also sparkle in the sun. It can tolerate a lot of neglect. I got it on clearance at Home Depot after Valentine's Day for a buck fifty. It had nine crowns and the soil was completely dry. I cut off the suckers and potted it in some fresh soil, and a few months later it started blooming its head off and never stopped since. After that it has rarely suckered for me, but my Optimara Indiana is very prone to suckering.

Have a lovely evening everyone,

damask_rose : )

Damask_rose,

That Delight is beautiful! Would you consider it nicer than Ingrid?

And is it a mini? For whatever reason, it looks like that to me. Either way, I love those rose-like blooms! You are so amazing with your suggestions - but also so tempting! :)

Hi @Artist-FKA-Novice Zone 7B GA! Thank you so much! myDelight is a standard that I keep in a 4-inch pot. Personally I prefer myDelight because the blooms are slightly larger and and they're a little bit ruffly, but to be honest they're both very beautiful. I don't have Ingrid but I have seen it at a local Raley's, and it was really pretty as well. It produces more blooms than myDelight but they are slightly smaller and have more layers of petals. Ingrid produces blooms in a bouquet from the center and myDelight produces blooms on the sides of the crown. I would choose whichever one you think is prettier. It is so hard yet so fun choosing new violets! If I wasn't out of window space my room would look like a violet nursery! Here are some links to the variety descriptions at myviolet.com to help you decide:

Optimara Ingrid

Optimara myDelight

Enjoy choosing your new violets!

damask_rose : )

P.S. - Some non-Optimara violets that have a rosy look to them are LE Wine Rose, Rose Bouquet, Rob's Antique Rose, Ness Satin Rose, Cajun's Roses Anyone, Rebel's Rose Bud, and Old-Fashioned Rose. These varieties may be a little more fussy to care for though. The original violets that you mentioned, Rocky Mountain and Sequoia, look really lovely as well. I have never seen them in person but the pictures look amazing.

Those new Optimara varieties like Rocky Mountain and Sequoia look really amazing to me because they seem to be as rose-ish as I[ve seen an AV get.

Damask,

What a treat to tune into on a morning when I appreciate the cheerful photos of MyDelight. Thank you! The photos are gorgeous, and capture the essence of its beauty. You are a great grower.

What is your other favorite?

Fun to meet someone who is also fond of MyD and also of "Rose" AVs.

I tried most of the AVs you named except for the first Russian one, LE Wine Rose. I will look for it. It is so helpful to have your list.

Alas, I found them all to be fussy, except for MyDelight.

Novice,

Russian blossoms are much larger than standards. But so is the foliage.

Also, the foliage takes space, it can be unruly.

If you are going for decor and a neat look, probably stay with O. They are designed to grow in symmetrical, tidy whorls.

If you are going for decor and a neat look, probably stay with are designed to grow in symmetrical, tidy whorls.

MyDelight is a standard but it is not typical. It has "trailer" or "rambling" genes. Trailers are easy, bloom constantly, have a carefree, natural, unstructured look.

MyD has ruffly flowers, as shown, with an edge in silvery beige, blooms nearly constantly, and has "glitter." There seems to be more liveliness about it.

You might want it for your daughter's room because it is a great introductory plant. It can survive "casual" care.

Or try it as an experiment in growing different types of plants.

It always looks good, even if not blooming, because the leaves are pretty.

Damask, I grew multiples of it for our club's AV sales. But the general public did not recognize it as an AV and often passed over it!

I have grown actual pink trailers that spread and I did not know how to groom. MyD is an improvement.

Joanne

Forty_seven.

Thank you for your comments and suggestions, they are very helpful. I have to admit I really like the structured look of Optimaras. They are indeed amazing violets.

I like the idea of very large AV-s so I would be tempted to try a Russian too - but the unruly part doesn't sound too good t to me. If the foliage is an all over the place mess, maybe not.

I wonder if anyone has some links for a good example of a Russian variety, foliage included, not just blooms.

That is a good question. I don't, off-hand, know of a link. However, other readers probably do. In the past, on this Forum, a couple of years ago, Irina provided a discussion. There is a search feature on this Forum. If you can figure out how to use it, enter the words "Irina Russian." You might be able to find it that way. P.s. Optimara has definitely capitalized on the look of perfection. Joanne

Thank you so much Joanne! You are so sweet! I absolutely love the rosy looking African violets! My favorite of all of them is myDelight too! As much as I love the look of non-Optimara violets, I don't think I would ever be able to care for them. I never water my violets on time and I always put off repotting them. It's a wonder they're still alive, poor things! It's such a shame that people do not appreciate myDelight, or many of the other Optimaras for that matter, just because they can be found at the big box stores. They are really beautiful, resilient plants.

My other favorite violet is Rob's Humpty Doo. I love it so much! I got it as a Valentine's Day present from my parents. The version that Hirt's Gardens sells is an all-purple sport, but I think it's just as pretty as the original. It has not stopped blooming since I got it! It is always covered in pretty purple blooms. This is my only non-Optimara violet, but it tolerates the same amount of neglect as my Optimaras. If I had more room I wouldn't mind getting another one of Rob's trailers. I'm gonna have to ask my sister if I can borrow her window ; )

Thanks again and have a wonderful day!

damask_rose : )

Rob's Humpty Doo (sport)

Holy cow!!!!! I don't believe this!!!!! I have several R. Humpty Doos and they are white. My friend has a R. H. D. and we couldn't figure out why the flowers were purple! She and I thought maybe she mislabeled it! It is a nice beautiful full plant like yours except the flowers are not white, they are blue. So now we know hers sported also!

Can it ever go back to white or is this permanent? She didn't want it and gave it to me. I amended the tag to say R.H.D (possible NOID) because we thought maybe she put the wrong tag on it.

I don't think you propagate leaves and get white so that means you can never trade leaves from that plant right??? Any input??? Rosie

Hi Rosie! That is really interesting. I have seen a lot of variation when I looked up pictures of Rob's Humpty Doo. In some of the pictures the flowers are all white, and in others the flowers are all purple like mine. Most of the pictures show white and purple flowers, like the picture on VioletBarn's website. If you look to the left side of the picture on VioletBarn's website, you can see that two of the flowers have sported to purple as well. I think Rob's Humpty Doo sports to purple easily. I don't think it's likely that the plant will ever sport back to white. Maybe if you propagated leaves it might produce some purple sports as well as the original Rob's Humpty Doo, but I'm not really sure.

I think you could trade leaves if you listed it as Rob's Humpty Doo (sport). The sport is really pretty. I like how it is darker purple in the center and lighter purple around the edges of the petals.

All-white Rob's Humpty Doo

VioletBarn Rob's Humpty Doo

Have a lovely day,

damask_rose : )

Hi Damask_Rose,,,,,,,Yeah! I thought it was really something that you posted that right after I got this one from my friend! I won't propagate it or trade leaves from it. I don't think it would be right. But that is ok because I have 3 RHD that are blooming now very nicely and they are white with no indication of any other color coming thru!

Having a great day and hope yours is also!!! Rosie