If you have never grown African violets from seed, you have missed one of the fascinating phases of their culture.
There is a new adventure in store if you want to try it.
Seed may be had from several commercial sources. However, growing African Violets to maturity requires about the same time as developing a plant from a leaf cutting.
But the reward is much greater; for a while, a leaf cutting produces only one or a few plants, while seeds have many more, and these offer greater interest since they are likely to vary somewhat from the parent strain. You can never tell beforehand just what they’ll turn out to be.
Growing African violets from seed is highly interesting, but growing them from seed produced on your own plants is even more fascinating.
If, in addition, you decide to do some cross-pollinating, waiting for your source from selected parents to develop and mature, you are well on your way toward a new African violet adventure.
A little time and care in choosing the parent plants make the possibility of producing something worthwhile more likely.
Some beautiful things have already been produced from seed by some growers. I have seen two blue and white saintpaulias grow this way.
Consider African Violet’s Blossom Color And Shape
Consider the type and color of the foliage and the color and shape of the blossom in choosing the parent plants.
Some varieties of African violets throw “sports” ( vegetative variations) more readily than others.
Since Blue Girl, Orchid Girl, and Pink Girl have done this quite often, they should also make good prospects as seed parents.
Because of the distinctive color of their bulb, Ruffles, Blue Velvet, and Blue Chard might also produce exciting offspring.
Select The Best Seedlings
Suppose you are serious about producing an excellent new African violet.
In that case, you will want to select the best from among the new seedlings as they bloom and continue the venture through one or two more African violet generations.
It would be impossible to guess what one may expect from seedlings precisely. Anything may happen.
Most of them will be similar to one or the other of their parents. However, some will be “neither fish nor fowl” as several shades of color of the parent plant’s blossoms and variations of the parent foliage may appear.
But perhaps just one or maybe several will vary enough to be considered a “new” plant.
I have grown plants from about 11 crosses but found it worthwhile to keep plants from only two of these.
It is possible to get several hundred plants from the seeds in a single seed pod. For example, from the first cross, I made, 450 plants grew from the source of one pod.
Establish Foliage Type Or Pattern
Since I am especially interested in foliage, I now have a project where I attempt to establish a type or a pattern of foliage rather than trying for a new blossom color.
When I am sufficiently satisfied with the distinctiveness of the foliage, I plan to try various colors in flowers.
So far, I have been lucky; from better than 450 seedlings (Lavender Pink du-Pont on Mrs. Boles), I was able to select one plant giving the promise of a different foliage pattern. It stands out in any group of plants.
The second-generation plants grown from seed set on this selected African violet are coming along nicely.
Leaf cuttings from this one plant are identical to the parent, so I have good reason to continue my interest in it.
Possibly in the third generation, I will begin to find some of the answers. If my foliage pattern continues to reproduce, I will likely start a search for color if none has shown up.
Adventure Of Growing African Violets From Seed
So, the adventure of growing African violets from seed gains interest with each new generation of plants. There are always new developments and new goals to achieve.
I like to tread lightly when the subject of soil comes up. I have no particular form.
Ula for earth alone, but keep young plants growing in a mixture of 2/3 peat moss and 1/3 vermiculite until they are vigorous.
Then I carefully transplant them into a sterilized wood soil and leafmold composition. The wood’s soil is light and porous and drains well. Even the smaller sticks and stones are left for they aid drainage.
When plants are grown from seed, there are so many seedlings that you soon plant in anything you can find.
A flat is good for it does not dry out too quickly, and if the seedlings are set in neat rows, fertilizer, such as a warm Hyponex solution, may be applied between the rows.
A northern window seems to be best for them. The amount of light such exposure gives is essential for encouraging small plants to grow sturdily.
44659 by Alma Wright