Bi2-Lancaatar Farming, Saturday. Fabmary 27, 1993 Officers of the Lebanon Flower Club, from left, are Norma Pantelich, secretary; Susa > lezzl, second vice president; Alma Schmalzer, vice president; Ruth Reist, pres ident Members of the Lebanon Flower club examine the rainbow hues of raised by Melody Hartman. Expert Tells How To Raise Prize LOU ANN GOOD Lancaster Farming Staff LEBANON (Lebanon Co.) Snow covers the ground, but flow ers are blooming at Melody Hart man’s home in Columbia. Melody grows hundreds of Afri can Violets, which she exhibits in places as far away as New Eng land. The shop in her home is called Violet Rainbow 11. Recently, Melody shared her secrets on raising prize-winning African Violets with members of the Lebanon Flower Club. “Anyone can grow African Vio lets,” Melody said. The secret is bright light Although Melody grows her flowers under fluorescent lights, she said that any window with a strong bright light is a good place for violets. She recommends win dows that face the East. “The more light, the more blooms,” she said. But she cau tioned that too much light may also cause sunburn. Melody keeps the lights on her violets for 12 to 14 hours daily. The light fixtures are only 8 to 10 inches from the top of the plants. African violets are available in many varieties and sizes in stan dard and trailing shapes. Although African violets are mostly thought of as coming in shades of purple, the blooms come in many different colors with the latest release in yel low. Leaves also vary in colors of green, white, pink, or magenta. Variegated leaves need more light than other kinds of violets. Care for violets • Water only when the top of the soil feels dry to touch, aboutoncea week. Even if a violet sets several months without water, it will perk up if watered. • Use room temperature or lukewarm water. You can water from the top or the bottom of the plant, but do not get water on the center leaves. • If you accidently spill water on the center leaves, blot dry the leaves will decay or rot. • If you water from the bottom, dump off excess water as violets don’t like wet feet • If leaves become dusty, wash them with warm water, but let the leaves dry before putting the plant back in the light Melody said that she avoids using African violet potting soil that is sold in grocery stores. “Roots like to breathe,” she said. She uses a one-to-one ratio of peat moss and pearlite. “Violets prefer lightly compact soil so do not press the ground firmly or the roots will not have room to breathe,” she said. Starting new plants Suckers, which grow aside the plant can be used to start new plants. The suckers should have a single crown. To start, cut into the soil to keep the sucker intact. Pot the sucker, water, and place in light. Another method to start new violets is to take a leaf from a mature plant Pick a leaf from the middle of the mature plant as the leaf should not be too old or too young. Leave about a one-inch stem, and cut at an angle. Start the leaf in soil and water lightly. In 8 to 10 weeks, little starts come out of * African Violets Winning Violets the ground surrounding the leaf. When there are .three to 15 leaves, pull root ball out of pot, remove parent leaf and tear plant apart. Leave a little root on each leaf, and you can pot each one. The plants will bloom about three months later. The pot size should be about one third of the leaf span of the plant. It is good to keep the plants pot bound. Label starts so you know what variety of violet is in the pot. Occasionally, violets get necks. To rejuvenate the plant, put it out of the pot Cut it apart at the root ball, sink back into pot and fill with soil around the neck. The neck will root and rejuvenate. Tips for growing show violets • Grow under fluorescent lights as more control is possible. • Select variety that is good for show. • Disbud. Let bloom once to make sure it is blooming a true col or then disbloom so that beautiful big leaves develop. • Eight to ten weeks before show, remove buds, blossoms, and suckers. • Temperatures can affect time of budding. If the blooms are com ing too early, lower the tempera tures. Raise the temperatures to encourage earlier blooming. • Before show, remove spent blossoms, stubs, and clean leaves. The National Violet Convention will be held April 19-24 at the Lan caster Host Farm, Lincoln High way. More details will be published. See your nearest f\EW HOLLAFSD Dealer for Dependable Equipment and Dependable Service: PENNSYLVANIA Annville, PA BHM Farm Equipment, Inc. RDI, Rte. 934 717-867-2211 Carlisle, PA R&W Equipment Co. 35 East Willow Street 717-243-2686 Oavldsburg, PA George N. Gross, Inc. R.D. 2, Dover, PA 717-292-1673 Elizabethtown, PA Messick Farm Equipment, Inc. Rl. 283 - Rheem’s Exit 717-367-1319 Gettysburg, PA Yingling Implements, Inc. 3291 Taneytown Rd. 717-359-4848 Halifax, PA Sweigard Bros. R.D. 3. Box 13 717-896-3414 Honey Brook, PA Dependable Motor Co. East Main Street 215-273-3131 215-273-3737 Honey Grove, PA Norman D. Clark & Son, Inc. Honey Grove, PA 717-734-3682 Loysville, PA 717-789-3117 MARYLAND Frederick, MD Ceresville Ford New Holland, Inc. Rt. 26 East 301-662-4197 Outside MD, 800-331-9122 NEW JERSEY Bridgeton, N.J. Leslie G. Fogg, Inc. Canton & Stow Creek Landing Rd. 609-451-2727 609-935-5145 Woodstown, NJ Owen Supply Co. Broad Street & East Avenue 609-769-0308 Hughesvllle, PA Farnsworth Farm Supplies, Inc. 103 Cemetery Street 717-584-2106 New Holland, PA A.B.C. Groff, Inc. 110 South Railroad 717-354-4191 Oley, PA C.J. Wonsidler Bros. R.D. 2 215-987-6257 Pitman, PA Schreffler Equipment Pitman, PA 717-648-1120 Quakertown, PA C.J. Wonsidler Bros. R.D. 1 215-536-1935 Tamaqua, PA Charles S. Snyder, Inc. R.D. 3 717-386-5945 West Grove, PA S.G. Lewis & Son, Inc. R.D. 2, Box 66 215-869-2214 Washington, NJ Smith Tractor & Equip., Inc. 15 Hillcrest Ave. 201-689-7900
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