Since 1975, we have been expanding and displaying, and since 1985, we have been sending to happy consumers all over the world. Our famed “Rob’s” and “Ma’s” series of African violets and “Bristol’s” series of gesneriads are among the many plants we hybridize (African violet relatives).
Our greenhouse, which was once a barn but has since been refurbished, has a growing house that is attached as well as other structures (many of our personal plants grown in windows). We grow more than 30,000 plants at any given moment. We grow plants because we enjoy doing it. To find out more about us, visit the “about page.
What we do
We don’t purchase plants from other growers and resell them; we hybridize and cultivate every plant we sell. This implies that we have firsthand knowledge of how each plant prefers to thrive. In addition, we gather numerous rare species that have never been cultivated before and grow them, as well as the best and most odd hybrids that other farmers produce. We rarely go on vacation or to a play and leave empty-handed!
What we grow
We are experts in gesneriads, the relatives of African violets, and other plants that thrive indoors. The majority may be grown on a windowsill or light stand and are manageable in size, and many will bloom quickly indoors.
Every plant you need for a terrarium, miniature landscape, or fairy garden is grown by us in addition to a sizable and varied assortment of miniature and terrarium plants. Instead than being simply cuttings from a giant plant that would shortly exceed your pot, our plants are actual miniatures. Use in vivariums is secure. not dangerous to reptiles and frogs. When growing these plants, we solely employ organic, nontoxic materials. View the “what we grow pages, or even better, our online catalog, for a summary of what we grow!
How to grow
Use this website as a resource to learn about the plants you cultivate (or want to grow) or to learn how to grow them better, even though we’d like to sell you plants (or perhaps we already have). Use this “search feature to find the solution to your query for instance, use “African violets should be replanted, if that’s what you need to know. You will be pointed toward pertinent data on this subject or any other. Many helpful details may be found on our “plant care” pages, which also include “how to tutorials and a FAQ (commonly asked questions) library.
We may be reached by phone or email during office hours if you’ve bought a plant from us and are having trouble growing it or simply need more information on its maintenance.
Where to find us
Go to us. The “about pages” include information about hours and directions. Throughout the year, we also participate in (and sell at) a number of shows across the country. The sidebar to the right will include a list of these events’ dates.
Keeping connected
Want to enlighten us or share your knowledge and experiences? This site’s pages enable comments on a lot of them. Those pertinent to the page being remarked on will be posted.
Where should an African violet be placed?
Because they require dry leaves, African violets are only grown indoors in North America. If you want the finest color and flowers, grow your plants in bright, indirect light. The optimal location for a plant stand is three feet away from a window that faces west or south. When placed directly next to north or east-facing windows, plants will still grow, but their leaves will be thin and spindly, and they will be less likely to flower. African violets can be grown indoors, 12 to 15 inches above the ground, under 40-watt fluorescent lights (also known as grow lights), if you don’t have a nice location near a window.
African violets should be purchased when?
African violets grow best throughout the summer since both the plants and their growers are content during this season. Violets are ready to go, as long as you are practicing proper culture.
At this time of year, all the labor you put into caring for your African Violets is well repaid.
If you do not put in the work, do not anticipate getting strong results at the May exhibition.
Clean up your plants and repotte them in new soil if they have been in the same pot and soil for a while. To get rid of accumulated fertilizer salts, the soil can be properly cleansed. Pour enough water out of the pot by submerging it in water until it is saturated, draining it, and then filling it up again from the top. Make use of warm water, ideally rainwater.
In order to help the plant grow better until it reaches a size where it can support a good head of blossoms, little plants shouldn’t be permitted to flower. Leaf growth slows down after letting it blossom.
If you didn’t use much fertilizer throughout the winter, you can now gradually up the dosage. Just be careful not to go overboard. Cut off any unhealthy roots and any leaves that have reached the end of their usefulness. Now is the time to tidy up the plant and give it a decent symmetrical shape.
You could definitely discover that your violets are congested. This is a very frequent occurrence, so you must be firm and make more room or remove the ones you don’t need; otherwise, the vigorous growth you may anticipate over the coming months will make your difficulties worse.
Choose your favorite plants today, and make the commitment to cultivate them for our exhibition in May. Provide them with lots of space, groom them once a week, and keep the leaf symmetry.
Follow the 12-week plan, which calls for a fertilizing regimen and the removal of all blooms and buds up to 6–8 weeks before the performance.
from a Bob Richardson article (African Violet Society of South Australia Inc.)
What type of African violet is the simplest to grow?
A genus of plants in the Gesneriad family are known as African violets (also known as Saintpaulia). Many of the species, which Baron von St Paul discovered in 1892 and gave their botanical name to, are still alive and well in Tanzania and Kenya’s Eastern Arc Mountains. Despite living in a tropical environment, the majority of species are found on mountains, at high altitudes, and in plant cover. African violets are therefore perfect for interior home gardens or windows since they just need moderate (“room”) temperatures and light. Millions of its modern descendants are grown worldwide in the homes of collectors and enthusiasts, despite the fact that many of the native Saintpaulia are currently threatened by habitat destruction. Viewing our website and catalog will show you how stunning and distinct from the basic species first identified more than a century ago modern hybrid African violets may be. These sections contain a ton of information regarding their surroundings and care.
Make them big.
African violet cultivars that reach a diameter more than 8 when fully grown are considered standard. In reality, most people reach a height of 10 to 12. They can grow to be around 18 to 24 across when cultivated for exhibition. We exclusively cultivate the types that, in our opinion, have the best growing and flowering habits. These African violets are not your typical, everyday grocery flowers! Just their size is typical.
Tiny them up a bit African violets in miniature and semiminiature sizes are our specialty. When fully grown, miniatures and semiminis have a diameter of less than six and eight, respectively. The size of the real plant is typically significantly lower with good cultivation. The smallest of them may only measure 2 or 3 leaves from tip to tip! Never use a pot larger than 2 1/2 in diameter, and much less for the smallest types, as these are small-growing plants with small root systems.
Grow these uncommon and unique plants.
For “Chimera” kinds of violets, leaf cuttings will not result in plantlets that are identical to the parent plant. These are often “pinwheel flowered varieties” with wide, multicolored side and center stripes. These can only be reproduced by suckers, are genetically more rare, and are highly odd. Leaf chimeras are cultivars with leaves that can only be propagated by suckers. Leaf chimera variation is extremely uncommon and is unaffected by alterations in temperature, habitat, or age. The same maintenance is required as for other African violets. There are chimeric African violets in both small and regular sizes.
Let them develop. The easiest African violets to grow and blossom, especially for beginners, are those that trail. They are naturally expanding, branching plants that are free to pursue their own interests. No need to eliminate suckers in order to maintain symmetry or promote blooming. These violets grow additional crowns at will, without degrading their beauty or bloom. In fact, this raises the likelihood of flowering! You have the option to spread them out in little pots or hang them as baskets in windows.
‘Native’ grow them. All contemporary hybrids can be traced back to the Saintpaulia species of African violets. In east Africa, many are still growing on the sides of hills. Some species are only found in the collections of collectors since the majority are endangered.
Basic African Violet Care:
- Light. For healthy growth and blossom, there must be enough light. Try to provide strong sunlight that isn’t too warm. Place a two-tube fluorescent fixture 12–18 inches above plants if you’re growing things under artificial lighting, and leave it on for 12–13 hours each day.
- Watering. Water should be at room temperature. when the soil feels dry, water “Touchably dry
- Feeding. The ideal formula is “balanced” (relatively equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium). Avoid “flower enhancers Use the fertilizer as directed with every irrigation.
- Atmosphere. Like you, African violets prefer temperate temperatures and humidity. They also feel at ease if you do.
- Soil. Utilize a bog-based, “a soilless mixture with at least 30 to 50 percent coarse perlite and/or vermiculite. Brand-name “African violets don’t necessarily do well in violet soils. As a general rule, the soil should contain more perlite the wetter you maintain it.
- Grooming. Do not allow additional crowns (suckers), with the exception of trailers. Single-crowned plants should be grown for African violets. With little more than five rows of leaves, most African violets look their finest.
- Potting. Every 6 to 12 months, repot all of your plants. When mature, the majority of common African violets cultivated as houseplants will need a 4-5 pot. Use a pot with a diameter of no more than 2 1/2 for minis and semiminis.
Who we are: African violet experts
In a restored 1900s barn with an adjacent glasshouse and other structures, we grow our plants. We grow more than 30,000 plants at any given moment. We grow plants because we enjoy doing it. To find out more about us, visit the “about page.
How to grow African violets
Use this website as a resource to learn about the plants you cultivate (or want to grow) or to learn how to grow them better, even though we’d like to sell you plants (or perhaps we already have). To find the answer to your query, use our search option. if you need to know how to repotted an African violet, for instance, type that. You will be pointed toward pertinent data on this subject or any other. Many helpful details may be found on our “plant care” pages, which also include “how to tutorials and a FAQ (commonly asked questions) library.
We welcome visitors year-round to our shop and glasshouse. The “about pages” include information about hours and directions. Throughout the year, we also participate in (and sell at) a number of shows across the country. The sidebar to the right will include a list of these events’ dates.
Would you like to enlighten us with your knowledge or experience of cultivating African violets? This site’s pages enable comments on a lot of them. Those pertinent to the page being remarked on will be posted.