African Violet Buds!

[RandomGemini]

I'm sorry that your friend passed, but I love that this plant has given you a piece of him to carry with you.

30 years is a long time for anything. Would love to see some pics of the blooms! They sound neat!

[Paul]

Originally Posted by RandomGemini

AVs like to be in tight pots.

I don't really believe that is true of any plant. It seems illogical to me -- just one of the many "myths" that abound in the houseplant hobby. (Or as Sheldon Cooper would say "a load of hokum".) If that were true, then there would be a LOT of unhappy plants out in the wild. Rather, in the artificial environment of the home, a smaller pot may help the grower avoid over watering a plant but that is about it. The AVs in my terrs bloom frequently -- pretty much always in bloom -- yet they are in no way in "tight pots" (they aren't in pots at all). Their roots have free run of the terrs and the blooms and growth makes it rather clear to me that they are not in the least "unhappy".

[Leafmite]

My grandmother also grew AV's and I grew them, too. She even gave me hers. I had them for years. Then one of my children, at the age of four, (I won't single her out) decided to help by watering my plants for me without my knowledge. When I went to water them...they were rotted and beyond hope. I haven't tried them since.

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by Paul

I don't really believe that is true of any plant. It seems illogical to me -- just one of the many "myths" that abound in the houseplant hobby. (Or as Sheldon Cooper would say "a load of hokum".) If that were true, then there would be a LOT of unhappy plants out in the wild. Rather, in the artificial environment of the home, a smaller pot may help the grower avoid over watering a plant but that is about it. The AVs in my terrs bloom frequently -- pretty much always in bloom -- yet they are in no way in "tight pots" (they aren't in pots at all). Their roots have free run of the terrs and the blooms and growth makes it rather clear to me that they are not in the least "unhappy".

True, bigger pot, larger root systems, healthier happier plants! simple!

[RandomGemini]

Well all right! Now I don't feel bad about moving this AV from a 4" pot, to a 5" pot. Everything I have ever read about african violets says "grow them in a tight pot." I feel better knowing that this isn't so. Mine are not in tight pots and I was worried I was doing something wrong.

Buds should be fully opened any day now, but they are starting to open now. I didn't realize it would take almost a week for the buds to open. Maybe I just never paid attention with my orchids. I like to watch the buds on my orchids open, but I've never tracked how long it takes. I've been checking on this AV every morning!

This is the first time I have had success with reblooming African Violets and it looks like all of my AVs will have blooms for Christmas! I'm so excited! I discovered new inflorescences growing on the white one, so whatever I was doing wrong, I must have corrected it. I'm glad I noticed them before I went to repot!

Here's a pic of the bud almost opened. I love this color. It's not as showy as my white one is, but something about this color makes me feel so happy.

[NYCorchidman]

Tight pots are commonly recommended just because things dry out faster that and it is easier to manage that way.

Plants do not "like" to be pot bound.
As some other member here mentioned, if that was the case, there would be so many unhappy plants in the wild. lol

With lots of space for roots to grow, plants will grow much much better and healthier.

The speed of bud opening has to do mostly with the temperature. It is usually best to keep them on the cooler side on the recommended range because that results in better color and size.
This goes for any flowering plants.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

The speed of bud opening has to do mostly with the temperature. It is usually best to keep them on the cooler side on the recommended range because that results in better color and size.
This goes for any flowering plants.

And, as with most flower blooms, once the flowers are open keeping the plant out of direct sun and a bit cooler also results in the blooms lasting longer.

[My Green Pets]

Guys thanks so much for your advice. Here's a couple of pictures of my little guy. I'd say it's about 4 inches across. It sits just next to my spiking phals, so it gets the same light as them. I let it dry out almost completely before watering it by filling its tray with water.

When I took these pics, the plant was dry enough that I could lift it right out of its pot. There are some fine roots growing around, not many though.

I also saw a tiny (1 inch) centipede weaving its way in and out of the soil! Do you think it is harming anything?

[NYCorchidman]

You don't want to bone dry these. They need moist soil, not soggy, at all times.

To me, your plant looks like it has been grown too dry and too bright judging by the way leaves are growing.

[yoliejr]

congrats! i did the same (spike & away from windowsill)