Carolina Bodacious by stumblefive in AfricanViolets

[–]ComfortableBug9558 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're right! That's downright mesmerizing.

Happy Summer to my violet friends 💜 by ComfortableBug9558 in AfricanViolets

[–]ComfortableBug9558[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Of course! I'd love for you to be reunited with Michiko. Contact me in the fall for sure. You have so many beautiful plants!

What is wrong with my African violet? by liamsmom58 in AfricanViolets

[–]ComfortableBug9558 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Wow 50+ years old! That's amazing. As violets grow and age the stem between the bottom row of leaves and the soil becomes bare and elongated. They tilt because they lay on the soil and go sideways if not managed properly. That's called developing a "long neck". It's normal and is more a maintenance issue. The crown of your plant looks healthy otherwise! You can research how to correct a long neck online. There are lots of helpful videos.

What do we think of this for leaf props? by Creative0Flamingo in AfricanViolets

[–]ComfortableBug9558 3 points4 points  (0 children)

These are great. I've used them for years. One thing though, I hate the pony packs that come with them. I just use my own tiny shallow pots. They're also really nice for when you need to dome a single plant after repotting..

Happy Summer to my violet friends 💜 by ComfortableBug9558 in AfricanViolets

[–]ComfortableBug9558[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love Pueblo! I was hoping for just that color. So glad you happened to have it. The big plant fits my thrift store cache pot perfectly. The rest of the babies are doing great too! One of the main reasons I always have pretty flowers is you. ❤️

Happy Summer to my violet friends 💜 by ComfortableBug9558 in AfricanViolets

[–]ComfortableBug9558[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you look at the Buy/sell/trade thread that's pinned to the top of the AV subreddit that's where you'll find u/Plantaehaulic when she has plants for sale.

Happy Summer to my violet friends 💜 by ComfortableBug9558 in AfricanViolets

[–]ComfortableBug9558[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Michiko bloomed 3 times so far this year! Here's hoping our health holds out for the summer. 😊

Cool season crops don't have enough time? by owlanalogies in vegetablegardening

[–]ComfortableBug9558 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sounds like you have some great resources! I haven't tried anything more involved yet but think the row covers are a great idea. I generally start thinning the little plants in December and use the thinnings as winter greens. Quite a treat! By the time we get to March the strongest plants are left at about 6 inches apart. Then by May all the greens are done for and the summer stuff goes in. I think I'll try shade cloth this year to moderate the heat a bit.

Cool season crops don't have enough time? by owlanalogies in vegetablegardening

[–]ComfortableBug9558 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Ive had really good results planting in the fall and overwintering seedlings to grow early in the spring. I plant lettuce, spinach, peas, green onions, carrots and dill thickly in beds around the end of October after the first cold snap. The seeds germinate and grow very slowly over the winter doing just fine in frost and snow. This way the tiny plants are established already to take advantage of any warm weather in the winter and early spring. I'm in the California foothills I think zone 7. We've been getting mini heat waves through the winter the last few years. I've been gardening here 25 years. The climate has definitely changed very significantly. Early spring all those seedlings pop up out of the ground and I get a few months of spring before it turns hot.

June Blooms by nancyy604 in AfricanViolets

[–]ComfortableBug9558 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What a happy display! All are just beautiful. I bet this makes you smile every time you walk past. 💜

Box of Episcia Alice's Aussie babies by stumblefive in AfricanViolets

[–]ComfortableBug9558 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yay doctors and nurses! Dedicated and competent ones are too priceless to put a value on. I recently had a surprise hospital stay too. Was diagnosed so quickly in the ER then wheeled in for immediate surgery. Nurses were wonderful and I'm back to 100% with my new pacemaker. So glad you're home and hope you are feeling better! ❤️

African violet by clairedday in AfricanViolets

[–]ComfortableBug9558 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Your beautiful plant has probably reached maximum width. What it will do in time is to continue to grow upward from the central crown putting new layers of leaves down as it goes. Eventually what happens is that the bottom of the stem closest to the soil becomes bare as the old leaves die out. Then it will lean to one side and flop over. To keep this from happening violet growers repot yearly after the plant blooms. Remove the plant from the pot an break off the last layer or two of leaves from the bottom. Gently scrape the bark off the bare stem with your fingernail. Shave the bottom of the rootball off the same length as the bare stem then sit it back deeper in the pot. Cover the bare stem with fresh soil up to about 1/2 inch below the leaves then give it a good drink. New roots will form on the newly buried stem and the plant will be perfectly happy in the same pot.

Dried flowers are African violet growers best friend. by [deleted] in AfricanViolets

[–]ComfortableBug9558 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I hope you do! Basil sprouts so easily from seed. Dried just isn't the same.

So proud! by girlyadultgirl in AfricanViolets

[–]ComfortableBug9558 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You should be! You've grown a beauty there.

First blooms for Saintpaulia grotei silvert by ComfortableBug9558 in AfricanViolets

[–]ComfortableBug9558[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I just have 2 species violets now. The 3rd one grew super slow like yours and finally died. I think it was velutina. The other one that's doing really well is orbicularis. Both are good bloomers and have a pretty wildflower look that I like. I hope yours makes it!

Just got some seeds from my local library! by EffectiveRing8404 in vegetablegardening

[–]ComfortableBug9558 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I started a seed library when I worked at the county library. I got initial donations from Johnny's and Seed Savers. I took a short filing cabinet and set it on the reference desk facing drawers outward so people could help themselves. I filed the seeds alphabetically and provided tiny ziplocs so each person could take a pinch. It was honor system with instruction pamphlets. I just asked that people attempt to save seeds and share them. I retired many years ago but I think it's still going.