Hi Tina,

I think you will do good going by Allisons advice.  I tried the heat
treatment, but the plants didn't make it (used two thermometers). Sorry to
say that my collection doesn't deserve to be called that and I will have to
start all over again, but decided to go the biological route....using
beneficial bugs and Neem oil based product....

http://www.neemfoundation.org

Check the links Allision provided. I am still researching the best bugs
against mite attacks. Unfortunately, every company I contact is suggesting
some different bug, and one is saying that there is no beneficial bug to combat
these mites. Also,  I will be getting a sample of 'Essential Microorganisms', a
Japanese invention (http://www.agriton.nl ).This is supposed to work against
fungi, bacteria and viruses.

One more thing that made me decide this, you spray the collection 3-4x, wash
down the plant area with chlorine solution (1:10) and you miss a small area
where some hardy mite eggs are waiting to touch a plant. Now weeks later you
wonder where this next outbreak is coming from....

Good luck,
Eva




----- Original Message -----
From: <abrigham@...>
To: <avconnectionn@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: <abrigham@...>
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2001 7:41 PM
Subject: AVC RE: Am I paranoid...


> Tina--
>
> You must have a confirmed diagnosis (know the organism) before researching
> available treatments and deciding upon the appropriate one for your
> situation--any treatment regime, even one with biocontrols. Insects,
fungi,
> viruses are always possibilities when keeping collections of plants and it
> is important not to panic or go off the deep end. Hygiene, *rigid*
> isolation, frequent observation, knowledge, and a good quality 10X and 16-
> to 25X hand lens are your best defenses. Some diagnoses are easy, others
> will require consultation with your local county Cooperative Extension
> agent associated with the land-grant university in your state (if you are
> in the U.S.). In addition, before using *any* chemical, do your homework
by
> reading the specimen label and material safety data sheet (MSDS)
> information. Do additional online or library searches for other acceptable
> management strategies. These chemicals are designed to *kill* the target
> organism. Your research will help to ensure that you are not affected
> through misapplication or use, and your home and the environment are not
> contaminated.
>
> Two excellent sources of information for pesticides and fungicides are:
> Extoxnet (especially the pesticide information profiles) and the
Washington
> State University's Tree Fruit Extension Team Insecticide Labels and MSDS
> Sheets (http://fruit.wsu.edu/Labels/insecticides.htm). Extoxnet is a
> cooperative project among a number of universities and can be accessed at
> http://www.ace.orst.edu/info/extoxnet.
>
> In your message, you sounded as if you were wanting to treat for cyclamen
> mites before confirming their presence. Anecdotal evidence is not enough
> and mites must be confirmed by someone's making direct microscopical
> observations of affected plants. Cyclamen mites can be treated chemically
> (really not recommended for amateurs), by heat, or biocontrol.
>
> Dicofol, the chemical you mentioned, is *serious* stuff. Please look at
> these information sheets (URL's below) on dicofol, an organophosphate
> compound that is usually dissolved in xylene...as if the parent compound
> were not enough! Its use in enclosed areas such as your home requires the
> applicator (you) to wear chemically resistant gloves, footwear and socks,
> headgear, apron, and a respirator with an organic vapor-removing cartridge
> with a prefilter approved for pesticides.
>
> http://www.pan-uk.org/actives/dicofol.htm
> http://ace.ace.orst.edu/info/extoxnet/pips/dicofol.htm
>
> Is this something you want to use in your home and feel totally
comfortable
> using safely? Please...always use a simple protocol: (1) confirm
diagnosis,
> (2) research completely all treatment options, (3) select the safest one
> (the one with the fewest hazards to you as the applicator, your family,
> home, and the environment) that will provide control, (4) read and follow
> *all* directions to the letter, and (5) if you've used a chemical, dispose
> of unused mix responsibly. You may have to contact local governmental
> offices to see what local regulations apply to disposal of hazardous
> materials. Don't automatically assume down the drain is OK.
>
> Allison
> (Denver)
>
>
>
>
>
>
> WELCOME TO THE AFRICAN VIOLET CONNECTION (AVC)YOUR LINK TO INFORMATION
ABOUT THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF AFRICAN VIOLETS.  Lynda Welchel AVC Manager &
Mary Walbrick AVC Co-Manager  -Contact for information:  Welchel1@...
and MWalbrick@...
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hello,

Looking for Delft Imperial(?).  Will be willing to pay for postage
for leaves.  Thanks.

--- Don Geiss
--- dmgeiss@...
--- EarthLink: It's your Internet.
Does anyone know the name and address of the company in Canada that sells
to many of the discount stores?     Don Geiss    dmgeiss@...

Hi Don,

Do you mean the Anthoflores African violets? If so here is the address.

HARSTER GREENHOUSES INC.
Box 8135
230 Highway # 8
Flamborough
Ontario, Canada
Phone: 1-905-628-2430 Fax: 1-905-628-4818

Janet in Denmark,  WI


----- Original Message -----
From: Don Geiss <dmgeiss@...>
> --- Don Geiss

> Does anyone know the name and address of the company in Canada that sells
> to many of the discount stores?     Don

I just wanted to say "Hi" to the group.

My name is Rob, and I have 10 African violets growing in my kitchen on
a shelf at a window above the sink. They are all different types,
although all are "grocery-store" varieties. 6 are currently blooming,
and 3 of the other 4 have inflorescences on them. There really isn't
room for all 10, but I haven't figured out where else they'll grow in
the house.

I'm interested in learning from other folks in the group here.

Rob

-----Original Message-----
From: tam_55@... [mailto:tam_55@...]
Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2001 1:32 AM
To: avconnectionn@yahoogroups.com
Subject: AVC Irish Flirt is growing crooked

I have a lovely Irish Flirt that I purchased a year ago. It's now getting
ready to bloom. The problem I've noticed is that it's growing lopsided. What
I mean is that on one side,leaves and stems are curving in one direction, I
guess towards the light source, and on the other side and the leaves in the
center are not growing out.
What should I do to correct this?  Do I need to remove some roots, trim the
neck back and repot?  It's so nice I hate to see it look uneven.
Tammy
------------------------------------------------
Tammy,
I also have this problem with Irish Flirt. There is a head of bloom on my
plant that is incredible and they have lasted for several months (believe it
or not.) But the plant seems to be growing sideways. I too would like to
hear what others have done to prevent this. Could it be that what you and I
have are with defective genes? Every plant I've ever seen in shows had been
gorgeous.
Martha, in S. Florida

Dear Rob;

Welcome aboard....remember that most "Grocery Store Violets" do actually
have a name, but just try and figure it out.  Enjoy them, they can become
magnificent plants.

My first violets were the Optimaras and I had 39 of the 50 states.  I
thought I would limit myself to 50 plants....  well, 251 plants later, I
realized that was well nigh impossible, for a card carrying AV addict.

I'm really sorry, but this support group will only make you want more
plants (grin).  It sounds like you are on your way to becoming truly
addicted.

Aneita in California, drying out so we can get saturated again....

Dear Group,

My name is Carol Old.  I am a Petroleum Landman (this industry has
not reached a state of political correctness, probably won't either)
working in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.  I have been lucky to be
in one spot for over a year.  I am a life long gardener who took on
African Violets almost a year ago.  I have learned just about
everything I know over the Internet and have made mistakes (mites,
pH, wrong fertilizer, potting up too soon.) Happy to report that
overall my plants are currently doing very well. I quickly reached a
state of plantlet overpopulation and swear to give away the duplicate
plantlets when they start to bloom.  The error in this thinking is
that its so hard to give up a child that you have waited so long
for.  I have a husband, a 6 yr old, two large dogs, one cat, flower
garden, vegetable garden, and too many tropicals for a two bedroom
condo. I have also made a solemn vow to not even look at the
beautiful Streps, Trailers, Chimeras etc. as I cannot find a way to
get more than 24 hours in my day. Before going on the road, I was a
practicing organic gardener in North Texas focusing on Hybrid Tea
Roses and establishing native wildflowers.

Carol Old
Edinburg, TX/ USA



























Carol Old
Edinburg, Texas/ USA








Carol Old
Edinburg, Texas/ USA

Carol:  Welcome to the group. Lots of friendly, knowledgeable folks
here....from the novice to the seasoned grower. Now sit back, relax and get
ready for the info flow!!

My grandparents lived in Edinburg back in the 60's. They had an orange grove
until a killing freeze put them out of the business. They finally moved back
to southern Oklahoma and lived there until they passed away. Sure did like
going down there to visit when I was a kid. Won't be too many more years and
my husband and me will retire to the San Antonio area and I want to see the
Valley again.

Best wishes and happy growing.

Mary Hill, Tulsa, OK

It's not AV related, but I just wanted to tell someone who might
understand my excitement:

I got my gardenia bonsai today via UPS. It's a nicely-shaped 4 yr. old
specimen with lots of flower buds and potential. It's in an informal
style, more or less.

I also have some miniature and semi-miniature AVs on order, although
they're not going to be shipped for a while because of the weather.

Rob

Hi Rob!  Hope you are enjoying those violets.  Violets in the kitchen
sounds absolutely lovely, but you're probably already casting your eye
about for more space (I know I always am).  I have a flourescent light
fixture suspended beneath a cabinet.  It's an unused kitchen (well, now
it's used for violets) in our basement.  This was an easy solution for us.
Spring is coming, you may want to add some varieties soon.  Variegated
leaves, and trailing violets are my favourites.

PS.  Like all addicts, we do try hard to get others hooked.

Happy Violeteering
	 Ingrid Schmelter (kaslkaos@...)
	 http://www.geocities.com/kaslkaos
Stouffville Ontario Canada

>   Date: Thu, 01 Mar 2001 16:58:55 -0500
>   From: Rob Carr <rob.carr@...>
>Subject: Introduction
>
>I just wanted to say "Hi" to the group.
>
>My name is Rob, and I have 10 African violets growing in my kitchen on
>a shelf at a window above the sink. They are all different types,
>although all are "grocery-store" varieties. 6 are currently blooming,
>and 3 of the other 4 have inflorescences on them. There really isn't
>room for all 10, but I haven't figured out where else they'll grow in
>the house.
>
>I'm interested in learning from other folks in the group here.
>
>Rob

How did you get the address for Anthoflores?  I recall people repeatedly
asking about them awhile back, and no one could locate the mysterious
source.  Do you know if they sell leaves or plants to the public, or if
they are a wholesaler only?  Just wondering if I should add their address
to my Canadian AV website on the "Sources" page.  Thanks

Happy Violeteering
	 Ingrid Schmelter (kaslkaos@...)
	 http://www.geocities.com/kaslkaos
Stouffville Ontario Canada

>Message: 4
>   Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2001 17:09:40 -0600
>   From: "Janet Stromborg" <twinhill@...>
>Subject: Anthoflores?
>
>Hi Don,
>
>Do you mean the Anthoflores African violets? If so here is the address.
>
>HARSTER GREENHOUSES INC.
>Box 8135
>230 Highway # 8
>Flamborough
>Ontario, Canada
>Phone: 1-905-628-2430 Fax: 1-905-628-4818
>
>Janet in Denmark,  WI

Fantastic Carol!  Welcome to the AVC world.  I am also South
Texas but not quite as far (Corpus Christi).  I think there
is a club in the Valley also, but am not sure of exact
details - I will try and find you some names of growers in
your area if you are interested.  The net is a fantastic
place to learn.  There are a LOT of ideas floating, and all
kinds of bits of info - and you don't have to wait for a
meeting.

Just in case you are traveling in the direction of:

San Antonio Show and Sale March 9/10 at Crossroads Mall

Houston Spring Branch AV Show and Sale March 10/11

Austin Show & Sale March 17/18 at Zilker Park

Denton Show & Sale March 23/24

Dallas Clubs Show & Sale March 29/30/31

Beaumont Show & Sale April 7

I will be happy to send you more info if you wish.

Also -- there is a Texas Lone Star African Violet Council
which has a convention every year in the fall.  This year it
will be in San Antonio, Texas about November 10.  We also
have a LSAVC newsletter every couple of months.  I will be
happy to send you a couple of complimentary copies if you
send me your snail mail.

So very glad to have you with us!  and definitely look
forward to hearing more from you.

And if this does not overwhelm you completely I am going to
post a list of AV web sites which just have all kinds of
info and photos.

Enjoy!!

Marjorie in Corpus Christi TX


plant_lady2001@... wrote:
>
> Dear Group,
>
> My name is Carol Old.  I am a Petroleum Landman (this industry has
> not reached a state of political correctness, probably won't either)
> working in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.  I have been lucky to be
> in one spot for over a year.  I am a life long gardener who took on
>

Following are my favorite web sites.  I have narrowed it
down as much as possible -- but I am such a push-over when
it comes to violets.

http://www.avsa.org/  (The introduction page to AVSA)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/avconnectionn (for
AVConnectionn site - with over 500 members)

http://www.sirius.com/~bdaniels/violets/main2.htm  (In
development by OUR Bill Daniels {and son}; currently  it
only works in Netscape --not  Internet Explorer.

http://www.gardenweb.com/forums/afrviolet/ (AV Forum)

http://www.rachelsreflections.com  (Rachel's Reflections -
pictures and diagrams)

http://avsa.org/links/ (Links from AVSA)

http://www.ivs2.com/stpaulia.html  (the StPaulia homepage -
for demo and downloading of a really great program that
allows photos you take to match your plants descriptions -
uses First Class also.)

http://www.aggs.org

http://www.aggs.org/gallery/streps

http://davs.org  (the web site for Dixie AVS - the southern
group of violet lovers)

http://www.hectorwong.com/avshi/ (Hawaii AVSA)

http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~ur1k-ooks/room/show/avsa53.html
(AVSA 99 Convention Photos)

http://www.mninter.net/~rebels (Rebel's Web Site - Photo
Album)

http://www.niji.or.jp/home/susumu/index/contents_eng.html
(World of Saintpaulia - Japan)

http://www.geocities.com/kaslkaos/ "The Violet Room of
Kastle Kaos"

http://members.xoom.com/Steverd/  (Steve Reed's fantastic
photo site)

http://www.netusa1.net/~klanham/ (Keith's "African Violets
on the Cheap")

http://members.aol.com/ALTBASS/  (Amy's page for AOL members
and their on-line club- GREAT)

http://members.aol.com/altbass/types.html  (Amy's flower and
foliage types display  !SUPER!!)

http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/%7Eur1k-ooks/  (Room of Saint
Paulia by Ken in Japan -- Great)

http://www.brich.ru/nataly-violet/galery1.htm  (Many
pictures - from Russia)

http://home.pathcom.com/  (Gesneriads -- Fantastic site;
Check out Image Index)

http://www.photopoint.com/nature.html

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/

http://www.Optimara.com (Optimara and has a field site for
descriptions)

http://www.holtkamp.com/ (Holtkamp Optimara and Rhapsodie
Info)

http://iga.vis.ne.jp/index_e.htm (Saintpaulia Town -- check
out the Convention Pg for some excellent photos)

http://www4.torget.se/users/k/Kohleria/Engelska/Engelska.html
(Nathaniel's/Sweden)

http://www.canit.se/~mia.b/ges/egesbild.html (Nathaniel's
Gesneriad Web Page)

http://www.abebooks.com/  (To search for those Hard to Find
Books about violets)

http://www.bookfinder.com   (for MORE books)

http://www.half.com ( for even MORE books)

http://bluebirdgreenhouse.com/  (Bluebird Greenhouses --
fantastic photo library)

http://www.indoorgardensupplies.com/  Indoor Gardening
Supplies (lights, stands, etc.)

http://www.mninter.net/~rebels  (Rebel's African Violet
Page)

http://www.vsh.cape.com/%7Eviolets/  (Cape Code Violets)

http://www.robsviolet.com/ (Rob's Min-o-Lets) (also has some
new illustrated "how to" pages)

http://www.imox.com/travisviolets/ (Travis' Violets)

http://www.violetgallery.com/ (The Violet Gallery)

http://www.davesviolets.com/

http://www.jcn1.com/patspets/ (Pat's Pets)

http://lyndonlyon.com/index.html (Lyndon Lyon's Greenhouse)

http://countryviolets.com/ (Country Violets)

Hope you enjoy !!

Marjorie in Corpus Christi TX <mrbincc@...>

Hi Carol,
Welcome to the madness of growing African Violets..........Why should you be
any different than the rest of us. You can't have just ONE potato chip, you
know, and African Violets are the same.
Happy Growing,
Martha in S. Florida


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Ingrid,
Anthoflores are a large Commercial Wholesale Florist Supplier of various
plant beside AV's. To my knowledge they only sell wholesale to chainstores
etc.
Doug
Alliston,Ontario, Canada

Hi Ingrid,

As far as I know, Anthoflores is a wholesale operation only.  I got the
address from a gentleman (also from Canada) who is on another violet list.
He was kind enough to clear up the mystery for us on that list.  It seems
they are rather hard to track down, eh?   ;-)

Janet in Denmark,   WI


----- Original Message -----
From: Ingrid Schmelter <kaslkaos@...>

> How did you get the address for Anthoflores?  I recall people repeatedly
> asking about them awhile back, and no one could locate the mysterious
> source.  Do you know if they sell leaves or plants to the public, or if
> they are a wholesaler only?  Just wondering if I should add their address
> to my Canadian AV website on the "Sources" page.  Thanks

Hi List Friends,

I have added 14 NEW photos to my Album, African Violets-Part 5
which can be found here:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=14370&a=6999793&f=0

Photopoint has a new look now, so when you reach the Album, look
over the top-right photo and you will see a tiny "show all", and
if you click there, it will load the thumbnails of the whole
album.  Then you can just click to enlarge each thumbnail you wish
to see.  There's even a Large choice of each picture now!

I hope you will enjoy the photos.

Thanks!

Fran
Holladay, Utah
USA

Despite how well I am doing with my 10 AVs, I have a few questions:

1. When you're writing online, do you call them AVs, african violets,
or what?

2. We have pet parrots. Are african violets considered "edible?" We
try not to mix the two hobbies, but some of the baby budgies wind up
flying onto the african violets. So far, nothing bad has happened, but
I'm curious.

3. On a web site, I saw someone recommend that every once in a while
you "leach" the buildup out of the soil with a dilute solution of
soap. Is this what everyone does?

If there's a FAQ that answers all these questions, I won't object to a
"Read the FAQ!" providing you give me the URL for the FAQ.

Thanks,

Rob

Hi Folks,
I received a violet labeled Granger's Wonderland as part of an AVS raffle at
a meeting.  When it bloomed recently, the bloom was a s-d star shape blue
with a darker color at the tips and a sparkle.   The MVL mentions no tip
color.
I suspect it is mislabeled.  Am I correct?
TIA,  Bernadine in CA

Hi

I enjoy the choice of viewing a website.  This spring I have placed orders from
five gardening companies and four of them were online.  I still love my
gardening catalogs but when you are short of time and want the convenience of
having an order confirmed right away, the web is the way to go.  It would be a
shame to let your website go after you have gone to the work of setting it up. 
If you rely heavily on mail order, it might be a good idea to find someone
reliable to input your data for you.  I think you were just unlucky when you
hired your ex-computer guy.

Good luck next time - just an idea, but sometimes schools need work programs for
high school students.  Your situation sounds ideal and a lot of the kids out
there are pretty handy with a keyboard.

Patricia Bell
   ----- Original Message -----
   From: David Harris
   To: gesneriphiles@...
   Cc: avconnectionn@yahoogroups.com
   Sent: Saturday, March 03, 2001 8:29 PM
   Subject: Commerical Web site


   Hello Groups:

   I would your input on keeping my web site running or drop the web site.
   I have this site up since Arpil of 2000, I have send update information to the
web site guy to update the 2001 site..  About 75 days lately he add the new
plants to the site and did not take off the old plants, he said he will take
them off and have all done by the weekend after two weeks I let the guy go.   He
been very very slow update the site, so if I keep the site I would have to
update and I have very little time to it. I work full time to and finding the
time would be limited.   My question is how many of you order for web site or
just look at the site and order from the catalog.  I would like  all you input
to help me make a decision on keeping the site or dropping it.

   David Harris Springfield, Mo.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi everyone,
   I have just added some new photos to my photopoint album. Have a look and I
hope you enjoy them.
   The new albums are
   African Violets Feb
   African Violets grown outside
   and
   Other plants

    http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=900482&a=10860943

   Viv
   Qld  Australia


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Bernadine:  I grew G. Wonderland for years. At times some of the blossoms
showed a faint darker blue tip. One thing I remember about it was how big it
grew for me. I was having to repot it all the time because it got so big in
the 6.5 inch pan pot I used. So one year I decided just to see what it would
do in an 8 in. pan pot. That plant loved it--sort of like it was set free
and soon it was even bigger than before. I showed it in the 8 in pot and got
a Best in Class and even got some nice written comments from the judges.
Eventually I cut it back and put it in the 6.5 in pot again. Someone asked
me why I didn't try to put in a 10 in. pan pot!! But I think that would've
been stretching it a bit even for that big monster.

Best wishes and happy growing.

Mary Hill, Tulsa--where we finally have clear skies and a big yellow light
coming up in the east--word has it that it's the sun!!!
----- Original Message -----
From: "lbpoulsen" <lbpoulsen@...>
To: "avconnectionn" <avconnectionn@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 04, 2001 12:07 AM
Subject: AVC Granger's Wonderland


> Hi Folks,
> I received a violet labeled Granger's Wonderland as part of an AVS raffle
at
> a meeting.  When it bloomed recently, the bloom was a s-d star shape blue
> with a darker color at the tips and a sparkle.   The MVL mentions no tip
> color.
> I suspect it is mislabeled.  Am I correct?
> TIA,  Bernadine in CA
>
>
>
> WELCOME TO THE AFRICAN VIOLET CONNECTION (AVC)YOUR LINK TO INFORMATION
ABOUT THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF AFRICAN VIOLETS.  Lynda Welchel AVC Manager &
Mary Walbrick AVC Co-Manager  -Contact for information:  Welchel1@...
and MWalbrick@...
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

To David Harris:

Ms Bell has given you very good advise.  Go to your local high school, Ash to
talk to the computer teacher.  The teacher will know who in the class is
knowledgeable to be htlm and java  smart.  These are two different languages
that a programer needs to know to work on your web site.   Also go to the career
office in the high school. and post an afternoon job there for computer work.  
You will help some teen get experience that he or she needs for the real world.

Bill DAniels

Patricia Bell wrote:

> Hi
>
> I enjoy the choice of viewing a website.  This spring I have placed orders
from five gardening companies and four of them were online.  I still love my
gardening catalogs but when you are short of time and want the convenience of
having an order confirmed right away, the web is the way to go.  It would be a
shame to let your website go after you have gone to the work of setting it up. 
If you rely heavily on mail order, it might be a good idea to find someone
reliable to input your data for you.  I think you were just unlucky when you
hired your ex-computer guy.
>
> Good luck next time - just an idea, but sometimes schools need work programs
for high school students.  Your situation sounds ideal and a lot of the kids out
there are pretty handy with a keyboard.
>
> Patricia Bell
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: David Harris
>   To: gesneriphiles@...
>   Cc: avconnectionn@yahoogroups.com
>   Sent: Saturday, March 03, 2001 8:29 PM
>   Subject: Commerical Web site
>
>   Hello Groups:
>
>   I would your input on keeping my web site running or drop the web site.
>   I have this site up since Arpil of 2000, I have send update information to
the web site guy to update the 2001 site..  About 75 days lately he add the new
plants to the site and did not take off the old plants, he said he will take
them off and have all done by the weekend after two weeks I let the guy go.   He
been very very slow update the site, so if I keep the site I would have to
update and I have very little time to it. I work full time to and finding the
time would be limited.   My question is how many of you order for web site or
just look at the site and order from the catalog.  I would like  all you input
to help me make a decision on keeping the site or dropping it.
>
>   David Harris Springfield, Mo.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> WELCOME TO THE AFRICAN VIOLET CONNECTION (AVC)YOUR LINK TO INFORMATION ABOUT
THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF AFRICAN VIOLETS.  Lynda Welchel AVC Manager & Mary
Walbrick AVC Co-Manager  -Contact for information:  Welchel1@... and
MWalbrick@...
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Just checked my list of web sites I send out periodically.
Amy has given me her new address.  I am very partial to this
site since it and the Hawaii site were the first ones I
found.  I have also added Karen's NZ site which I somehow
had omitted so this will be in future postings.
http://www.angelfire.com/tx3/iavc/ (Amy's new address for
IVAC AOL members and their on-line club- GREAT)

Dave's Violets is http://www.davesviolets.com/  Dave had a
great booth at the Houston national AVSA convention.  I have
had him on my AV sites since then.

Everytime I go back to check my sites I end up wanting to
buy more violets!!!!!

Marjorie

Does anyone know of a source for the Vattex matting?  The
Violet House is out of business now and I had not realized
this was not the universal matting used.  I much prefer it
to the others I have tried and just want to see if anyone
knowes if it is still available.

Description is:  Dark, layered matting has black plastic
sheet on top with thousands of tiny pin holes punched in
it.  I really liked the black plastic sheeting.

I do hope someone is able to help.

Thanks,

Marjorie in Corpus Christi TX (sorry, but it really is a
beautiful day here with sunshine, and temps of high 70s
expected).

On Sat, 3 Mar 2001 20:45:21 -0700, you wrote:

>  I know a couple friends here who say that the birds and violets
>don't mix well.  They say that there is a dander ? in the feathers
>that settles on the leaves and is hard to wash off.  I have no
>experience, here.

There are two types of parrots - dusty and not dusty.

  The dusty ones use feathers designed to disintegrate to provide
lubrication for the feathers. Examples are cockatoos, cockatiels, and
African greys.

The non-dusty ones use oil from an oil-producing gland to provide
lubrication for the feathers. Examples are parakeets, lovebirds, and
conures.

My AVs are up high in the kitchen and this seems to protect them.
While they might get a little dusty, it's not really noticeable except
in the oldest leaves. After playing around a little bit, I discovered
that you can wash the dust off the leaves. I just run tepid water over
the leaves and it cleans them right up. I only run the water over the
older leaves. Our house is dry enough that the leaves dry pretty
quickly.

This may limit where else I can put AVs in the house. I have my
cuttings growing in the basement under a growlite so far - no birds
are downstairs in our house.

Rob











>
>  3. On a web site, I saw someone recommend that every once in a
>while
>  you "leach" the buildup out of the soil with a dilute solution
>of
>  soap. Is this what everyone does?
>
>  I've not heard this, but do know that it helps to leach with
>plain tap water, (NOT  treated, soft water though).  That is also
>a way to clean the leaves, using barely warm tap water.
>
>  Hope I've helped!
>
>  Fran

Dustable, wettable sulfur is great for getting rid of spider mites.
It will, however, burn the foliage if temperatures get over 90F
degrees.  Spider mites are terrible in Texas.  The killer bees were
supposed to reach the Dallas/ Ft Worth area a fews years back they
were stopped by a combo of Fire Ants and spider mites.  We also have
another kind of mite here, commonly known as chiggers, which attack
humans.  They are miserable little creatures which cause the most
intense,itching welts that last for days. If you dust yourself
(ankles and arms if gardening) with sulfur before going out you will
be spared. If not you will suffer. Some folks just keep an old sock
filled with the stuff by the backdoor. Boy we sure have a lot of bugs
here!

Carol Old/ Edinburg, TX/ USA

I bought a pt. of Physon 20 to control alge in my wick reserves.  The
instructions that came with the bottle do not have any guide lines for
the use I intend. Can some of you help me in the dilution rate per
gallon.  Thanks  Bill D.

Evening All,

My local affiliate has asked me to research natural preditors for spoil
mealies.  Anyone who has done this, could you please post the how, where,
when, and what this entailes.

Thanks,

Byron- a rainy Santa Rosa, CA evening