With indoor gardeners across the country, the African violet is, without a doubt, the favorite house plant.
Varying greatly in leaf and flower, some range in size from huge specimens that will not fit into a bushel basket to tiny gems that grow in a tea or a demitasse cup. These little fellows are called miniatures.
Among African violet fanciers, a miniature does not grow larger than eight inches across, from leaf tip to leaf tip. Flowers also vary considerably in size and may be small or normal.
Semi-Miniature African Violets
Another class of African violets, difficult to distinguish from miniatures, is the semi-miniature. Although a miniature must measure less than 8” inches across, it is classed as a semi-miniature if it grows larger.
The boundary between the two is not firmly fixed, and both classes are considered desirable. However, culturally, both are treated as a single group.
Miniatures are good bloomers that compete with regular kinds. Because of their size, several can be grown in place of one large specimen.
On a few glass shelves, a dozen or more can be grown in one window. Producing large or small flowers, colors include royal purples, deep blues, rosy pinks, pastel lavenders, orchids, and vivid plum red.
White brings out the intensity of the other colors. Only yellow is lacking.
Miniatures’ Leaves
The leaves of miniatures vary in shape and color. “Plain” leaves may be pointed, round, or wavy. “Girl” leaves are often scalloped and waved, with a deep cream or white splotch where the leaf blade is attached to the stem.
When the first “girl leaf” was found several years ago, the variety was named Blue Girl. Now varieties with leaves of this type are often referred to as simply girl leaves.
The leaves, whether plain or girl, vary in color from chartreuse through medium greens to deep greens.
The undersides of some leaves are ruby red, and all degrees of red appear on others. Often the leaves are as attractive as the flowers.
Some miniatures have frilled and fringed blossoms, cupped like a sweet pea, or doubled like a gardenia or rose.
Colors may be solid or combinations of purple and white, blue and white, and tints of lavender or orchid.
Including singles and doubles, our collection has about 150 named varieties, and we do not know how many we have eliminated as duplicates or because of poor growth.
Where Do Miniature African Violets Come From?
There are two sources. When standard varieties are propagated, some small plants refuse to grow. If sick, they are destroyed.
If they refuse to grow and do not bloom, they are called dwarf plants and are usually discarded. The remaining few are normal in all respects except for miniature size.
The Second Source Is Seedlings
With seedlings, the same occurs. Some healthy plants grow more slowly than others, and when they bloom, they are replicas, in miniature, of larger varieties.
These are then named and sold as miniatures. Since miniatures in one area will grow larger than in another, we are always searching for plants that remain small.
What Types of Miniatures Are Easiest To Grow?
Any can be grown as easily as the larger kinds, except that all operations must be carried out on a small scale, using smaller pots and tools.
Plants also require less water. Use the same soil as for others, that is, one-third each of good garden soil, sand, and peat or leaf mold.
Amount of Light
Miniatures also require the same amount of light. Perhaps they need more light, and we feel that sunlight will produce better plants and more flowers than fluorescent lights.
East or north windows are best, and sometimes a thin curtain is needed to protect plants during summer.
Though south and west windows may be used, curtains are needed to regulate the amount of sunlight.
Although we prefer sunlight, we also grow several hundred plants of tinder fluorescent lights in the basement with good results. The 40-watt fluorescent fixture is the easiest to obtain.
We use a single tube fixture and place the fluorescent tube 6” to 12” inches above the leaves. Nine to 12” inches seems to suit more plants than the 6-inch distance. Lights burn from breakfast until bedtime.
In our kitchen, we built a shelf, 24” by 48” inches, and mounted a single tube fixture 12” inches above the leaves. This arrangement lights the plants and kitchen during the day and evening until we retire. We do not recommend that lights be kept on 24 hours a day.
Watering African Violets
To water miniature African violets properly is an art, though an easily learned one.
Remember that the smaller plants and pots do not require as much water as larger ones. Although less water is used, it is necessary to water more often.
Environments vary, and each grower must learn by trial and error how much to water. Any method that produces desirable results is correct for you!
Size and Type of Pots
The sizes of pots, and the types, are both important. We prefer to start young plants in 2 1/4-inch and then shift to 2 1/2-inch pots. An Inge, mature plant requires a 3-inch pot.
We use many clay pots but are now gradually shifting to plastic pots, which are light in weight, waterproof, and variable in their color. They also ship easily.
Since plastic pots are water-proof, they do not lose water as rapidly as clay pots. Thus African violets need not be watered as often or as much. Soil also remains moist longer, and plants grow more uniformly.
However, plants in plastic pots can be overwatered easily! Reduce watering even more with miniatures in plastic containers.
Teacups and demitasse cups are also often used. Drainage holes in the bottom are not necessary, but extra care must be taken not to overwater.
Rooting Miniatures From Leaves
Amateurs can obtain miniatures as blooming plants or as leaves. However, growing miniature African violets from seed are not advisable for the inexperienced amateur. Perhaps only one in a hundred will be a miniature.
All may also be the same color. Leaves can be rooted in the accustomed manner. Jelly tumblers or other small containers are excellent to use.
For rooting, vermiculite or perlite are preferred to water. Fill containers with either medium and soak with no extra water standing in the dishes. Then make a hole with a pencil point, insert the leaf, and press firmly.
Use one or two toothpicks to hold the leaf upright until rooted since it is tiny and needs support.
A covered container will bring about more rapid rooting, but the cover must be removed several days before transplanting the plantlets. First, remove it an hour or two each day, then for longer periods until it is kept off all day.
It takes about two months for the tiny plants to appear at the base of the leaf where it touches the rooting medium.
The following varieties are some of the best. Though only a few of the worthwhile miniature and semi-miniatures, they are all good bloomers and have attractive foliage.
44659 by John And Dorotha Coryell