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 hybridize and cultivate all the plants we sellwe don’t buy from other growers and resell. 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.
Where can one find African violets?
For some people, planting African violets is simple. Their violets grow well with minimal additional attention, blooming frequently, and regularly producing new, fuzzy leaves. Some people struggle, never get a bloom, complain about spotted leaves, and ultimately throw their plants away. You don’t need these suggestions if you fall into the first category. Try these suggestions for producing African violets effectively if you fall into the second category.
Light must be bright and indirect. Forests in the mountains of eastern African nations like Tanzania are where African violets, or Saintpaulia ionantha, are found naturally. They are low-growing plants that do best when they are shaded by other plants. In their natural habitats, their leaves are never exposed to direct light. In a setting similar like this, your African violets will thrive. But never expose yourself to direct sunlight. Use a sheer drape in a window that gets plenty of sunlight to shield the plant from the sun. It’s likely that your plant isn’t getting enough light if it isn’t flowering. Try out various settings to determine the ideal light exposure (bright artificial light can be effective too). Take note of your home’s climate as well. A minimum of 60 degrees Fahrenheit is required for African violets, who also don’t like unexpected temperature swings and drafts.
Wet soil and brittle leaves. African violets thrive in humid settings in the wild. They prefer regularly damp but never soggy soil. If your house is dry, consider placing the pot on top of a shallow dish filled with stones. As the water evaporates, it will fill the dish with dampness. However, never let the roots to sit in water as this could cause them to rot. Since cold water can shock plants, many people prefer to use water that is at normal temperature. If you water from the top, guide the water to the earth by using a watering can with a narrow spout. Spots may develop when water collects on leaves. Setting the pot in the sink first is the simplest approach to let the water drain through and get rid of any extra.
It’s joyful if it’s blooming. Don’t mess with success once you’ve established the ideal lighting and watering regimen for your plant! If the plant has outgrown its pot, you might think about repotting it once a year, but keep in mind that roots in a pot are what allow plants to flower. Similarly, when fertilizing, don’t overfeed your plant. A high-quality fertilizer designed for African violets will have instructions on it. Typically, liquid fertilizers shouldn’t be used more frequently than once per month. Gently removing dead leaves and blossoms and keeping a watch out for pests are two more routine maintenance tasks.
Remove suckers so you can grow new plants. You’ll notice your plant is generating “suckers” if you’ve mastered successfully cultivating African violets. One method that African violets reproduce is by sending out young plants from the main stem. Remove these suckers as soon as you see them to keep your plant healthy. You either throw them away or repot them so you can grow additional African violets for pals. Here is further information about trimming and re-potting suckers.
Do you have a knack for raising African violets? Share your advice in the section below!
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 price range do African violets sell for?
African violets are a unique product you might want to promote from your farm. African violets are a lively and vibrant flower that offer numerous advantages, even if you have never produced or sold flowers before. They are initially rather simple to grow. Second, they don’t occupy much room in a growing area. Third, once you get going, they are simple to grow and produce free plants. Last but not least, these plants stand out at a farmers’ market, bringing in both your loyal customers and new ones.
Everything sounds fantastic, but are the time and effort required to sell a few flowers going to be worthwhile? A good query. You can reasonably cultivate 1,400 plants a year if you have access to a 4-foot by 10-foot space in a grow room or sunny indoor setting. African violets cost $6 per plant where I live. On my homestead, an extra $8,400 goes a long way!
Starting African violets from seed is something I advise. Although it takes more time, you will get a lot more plants for a lot less money. You can keep growing such plants by taking leaf cuttings and dividing them. Additionally, seeds can be started inside at any time of the year.
Peat moss is the ideal starting material for African violet seedlings. Before planting, thoroughly wet the peat moss. The peat moss needs to be damp but not wet. Spread the small seeds over the peat moss as evenly as you can. Do not add more growth medium on top of the seeds. Spray the seeds with a spray bottle for a fine mist. Place under grow lights or in bright, indirect light after covering with plastic wrap. Monitor the moisture content and mist as necessary to maintain wetness. Another crucial factor is the temperature. When the temperature is continuously between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, these seeds prefer to sprout. In 25 days, your seeds ought to start to grow.
You can transplant after there are at least two sets of genuine leaves. Avoid selecting a large planter since African violets prefer a small area.
Although they are simple to grow, African violets have requirements. Light is the first thing to think about. These plants require direct, bright indoor lighting. Light is necessary for photosynthesis in all plants. We immediately picture green stems and leaves when we think of photosynthesis. However, photosynthesis is required by plants for other reasons as well. Its primary job is producing plant carbohydrates from carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (in the form of carbon dioxide and water). The lack of sunlight will starve your plant to death even if it gets everything else it needs.
It goes without saying that you won’t try to cultivate your African violets in total darkness. However, if your plants don’t get enough light, it will hurt them. African violets will stop blossoming and their leaves will start to turn yellow if there is not enough light. They will also grow leaves and stems that are longer.
On the other hand, your African violets do not benefit from excessive light. Your plants will experience necrosis if they receive too much light. Plants will experience what is similar to a sunburn and get brown spots on their leaves as a result. When the leaves on your plant get entirely green, this is another indication that it is getting too much light.
Large amounts of indirect sunlight are ideal for growing African violets. Put them in a bright room with a western or southern exposure where they will receive the majority of the day’s light. You can hang a sheer curtain to block some of the light if necessary. Hold your palm over a plant at the time of day when it receives the brightest light to see if it is receiving the right amount of light. If you can just make out the shadow of your hand passing over the plant, your plant is receiving the proper amount of light.
To make sure your African violets are getting an equal amount of sunlight on all sides, rotate your plant a quarter turn every week.
Under grow lights, African violets also do well, but there are some rules to remember. The lights should first generate both red and blue light. Photosynthesis, which we know is essential for the growth of green leaves and the generation of plant carbohydrates, is carried out by the blue light. Your plants will become hungry if there is no blue light! Red light is required for African violets to blossom.
Install your grow lights 18 to 20 inches above the usual African violet plant’s heads. You can lower the lights to 10–12 inches above the plant tops if you’re cultivating small African violets.
Your plants will require eight hours of darkness per day on average. They produce a hormone called florigen that causes flowering in response to light, however florigen does not cause flowering until it is dark. There shouldn’t be more than 16 hours of light for African violets each day. Invest in a light timer if you anticipate having trouble remembering to turn the lights out each night.
Soil is the next factor to consider. Your soil’s pH level should always be between 6 and 7, but ideally it should be closer to 7. Investing in an electronic pH soil tester and teat throughout the year is a smart move. Watering out of your freshly emptied gallon milk jug a few times a year is a simple approach to keep a high pH level. Simply mix some water with the milk sludge in the empty jug before watering your plants.
Water is another thing to think about. In general, African violets thrive in damp soil but dislike waterlogged dirt. If African violets are overwatered, infections including Pythium, root rot, and crown rot can attack them. When watered excessively, African violets can potentially undergo a process known as denitrification. Your plants won’t be able to acquire the nitrogen they need as a result.
Use water that is at room temperature when you are watering. If you water your African violets with cold water, the roots will become chilly and the leaves will curl downward. Make sure you’re not using soft water because that raises the saline content and changes the soil’s pH and conductivity. This makes it harder for your African violets to absorb the nutrients and water they need to grow. You should avoid using highly chlorinated water in addition to soft water. African violets require extremely little chlorine compared to other plants, which do require some for photosynthesis. Leaf burn and less flowering will happen from too much chlorine. Draw up enough water to water your plants if it has been chlorinated, and then let it stand overnight before using.
When the plant is at the blossoming stage, wait one day before watering. Put a fingertip on the ground. Water in the morning if it is starting to dry out. Watering African violets in the morning is crucial; it is the only time of day you should do it. When the flowering ceases, you can wait two to three days before watering the soil. These plants do not appreciate water splashed on their leaves, therefore water at soil level to prevent ring spot. African violet pots with a reservoir underneath that enables the plants to continuously take water from below are also available.
Temperature and humidity are your African violets’ final environmental requirements. The temperature must stay as close to 70 degrees Fahrenheit as possible for African violets. Don’t allow the temperature to go below 60 or climb above 80. These plants are more sensitive to cold than heat. Move your violets as soon as possible to a warm location if they come into contact with cold air. Look for any tissue that has turned black and mushy, and cut out any damaged tissue. Place the damaged plant in a plastic bag and secure the bag with a wire twist to stop watering while maintaining a high humidity level. Within a few days, you should start to notice the plant making an effort to recuperate. After a week, remove your plant from this bag and put it back on its regular watering regimen.
The relative humidity in the plant’s natural environment is from 70 to 80 percent. Fortunately, you don’t have to keep your grow chamber at this level. Aim for a humidity level of at least 50%. High humidity is necessary since low humidity will cause your buds to not open and your leaves to shrivel up.
You may give your African violets a humid microclimate in a number of ways. Your plants can be arranged in groups that are as close as you can get them without the leaves touching. This may increase the humidity directly surrounding your plants by as much as 15%. Another choice is to surround your plants with water-holding containers. A humidifier or wet pebble trays are other options.
It’s critical to keep in mind that areas with high humidity levels require effective air circulation. The best option is a box fan or ceiling fan set at low.
You can begin propagating African violets once you have your first healthy “crop.” You can get African violets for nothing by multiplying from your own plants. African violets can be multiplied through division or leaf cuttings. To take leaf cuttings, just cut a healthy leaf off neatly at the plant’s stem using a sterile blade. Fill a hole in the planting media with the leaf stem, then water. Within 3 to 4 weeks, roots should start to show. After you see the roots, it should take 3–4 weeks for new leaves to emerge.
If you are propagating through division, cut the plant’s crown from it so that each component has a portion of the root system. Place each division in a pot and take routine care of the plant.
African violets are attractive to look at, intriguing to grow, and simple to sell at marketplaces. I’m hoping you’ll try them out!