I haven’t really used this blog much: here’s a quick update on growing out some Saintpaulia seed. I purchased the seeds from Passioflora and Nadeau’s African Violets (no connection to me, of course!) I did get a few seeds from yellow varieties from the former. I’m most excited for whatever comes up with RS-Zhar Ptitsa.

African violet seeds are definitely on the finer side, which makes sowing somewhat fraught. I more or less followed the protocol outlined by Nadeau’s. To a translucent deli container was added about an inch’s depth of peat-based potting soil, packed down firmly with a fist. The potting soil was then moistened with approx 4 tbsp of water. Nadeau says that adequately hydrated peat should have visible condensation 24 h. after closing the container: which I got! The seeds were then transferred onto an index card, folded lengthwise to a shallow ‘V’, and then dispersed from the card to the surface of the peat by gently tapping the paper. This was all done above a sheet of printer paper to catch wayward seeds. Right now, they are sitting under the LED lights I use for most of my Saintpaulia. Apparently they need warmth and light to sprout. Nadeau recommends 75 to 80 F: I don’t have A/C so ambient temperature at this time of year should be perfect 🙂

One thing I will have to remember to do is to use supplemental fertilization for the emerging seedlings. I don’t know how much is really in the potting mix, and the tiny seeds with meager cotyledons don’t have enough nutrition to really fuel the nascent plants. I will use the same spray I use for my orchids.

In two to three weeks we should see results, and 6 to 7 months, the first blooms. Will keep you guys updated…

Hey all: I thought it would be a good idea to lay out my goals with breeding African Violets (Saintpaulia spp.)

1: Broadening the color palette

There is still plenty of room for improvement in the yellow range  Increasing the yellow pigmentation, which probably has two concurrent possible routes in African violets, has been IMO hampered by a lack of understanding of the relevant biochemistry. Stronger expression of yellows will also open the door to peach “artsy” shades in AV. Another target is developing proper russet and gray colors, as are seen in roses. As far as I know, the only really gray Saintpaulia is the lovely OGO – Dymna Khmarynka (Smoky Cloud). A wider range of puff-fantasy in these warmer shades (yellow, peach, russet) would make a splash.

(and, in theory, it should be possible to make a pelargonidin orange African violet, right?)

2: Better wasps

There is a subset of the wasp African violets where all petals are fashioned into tubes, sort of like the spooned chrysanthemums. Getting this petal structure on larger, neater blooms would be very attractive.

3: Species introgression

There could still be plenty of interesting traits lurking in the species, as well as improved vigour. Especially novel foliage: S. velutina with its rugose and bronzed leaves, and the unique texture and petioles of S. teitensis, both have different leaf-forms that would greatly increase the interest of AV out-of-bloom.

4: New plant forms

Sort of subsidiary to the other goals, in my mind the ideal African Violet has a mass of healthy, textured foliage with a good number of not-necessarily-huge flowers held *well* above the foliage, like that of Primulina spp. While the ‘Russian’ African violets have an impressive diversity of floral traits, they seem to have rangey rosettes, and most damningly, the short pedicel and flounced petals they tend to have just looks unbearably “twee”. That, perhaps, is the overarching goal — to free them from the shackles of kitsch.