ID - anybody's guess. Call it Fred, that is what I name anything I can't identify, and you just love it for what they are....

Barbara

I think we should have a 'Fred' contest....
Barbara

Barbara

Just want to caution you that AVs do indeed get bugs---and the bugs can be difficult to find on them so they can be a source of infection to other plants. Spidermites have been my problem and are almost impossible to find on these plants---you'll just see some center leaves that are slightly mis-shapen. Mealy bugs, both foliar and soil are problems too (I've had both), as well as thrips, cyclamen and broad mites. Most of the time you'll never see the bugs but will see some damage, such as spilled pollen on the petals for thrips, or tight/distorted centers on the plants if they have cyclamen or broad mites.

PLEASE DO isolate your new plants---really, not doing this caused me a nightmare of problems when I was first starting with these plants. However, with some precautions, growing AVs can be a very rewarding and relaxing hobby. :)

You can ID your Optimara when it blooms by going to their website and comparing the blooms.

Barbara

Shiver, I usually isolate new plants (all types) a couple days+, even after inspection. Problem is lack of room, Most house plants are outside for summer vacation, so there's plenty of space now, but in winter, every room is wall to wall plants. LOL.
The worse case was the winter of, I think, 2003/4 when I purchased an Olive tree, (from a reputable nursery.) A nursery I had ordered from on several occasions, plants were always healthy and insect-free.
The olive arrived, placed in the front plant room among many other plants including citrus. A few days later, while misting, I spied a group of brown bumps on the Olive tree..Sure enough, it was scale-infested..so were branches on neighboring plants. All were immediately isolated. Then I recalled something a woman who owns a Citrus Nursery in Fl once suggested..She uses Fish Emulion as a preventative and insecticide against scale..I followeed her directions, and by day 2 all scale were gone. I think olives are scale magnets though..only one other time, two summers ago, did scale reappear on the olive. Again it was sprayed w/FE, and a day later all died. Since, the olive is scale-free.
I learned a lesson when placing the olive among other plants without first isolating. Certain bugs like Mealy, hide or go dormant until perfect conditions are met, then the little suckers hatch or come out of hiding. They appear when house is dry and stuffy, soil constantly damp. Pehaps there are Plant Guardian Angels, but I've been lucky considering the number of plants I have. Don't get me wrong, every so often, (in winter) mites find a home on certain plants..if you recall, I make a batch of organic insecticide..nothing harmful to humans/pets, but it sure kills mites.
Shiver, do you mind if I ask where you bought the AV's that had bugs??? Is it an online store?
It's wonderful talking and seeing you again. I hope you come around more.

Welcome Fredericka..What a coincidence! We just discussed naming male un-ID'd Av's Fred, and females Frederica. LOL..
I too am new on this forum. In the last 2 wks I've learned a lot about this beautiful plant.
Even though I'm low on the totem pole in AV knowledge, IMO, as for your AV not blooming, make sure it receives adequate light. If your Av is in a soil-less mix, fertilize and water more than you would in a mix with soil.
I discoverd pot size and material make a difference, too. When my AV's were in decorative ceramic containers they stopped blooming..Almost 2 years without flowers. I then potted back to plastic growing pots, bottom-watered (except for an occasional top-watering to leach.) Since then, Av's are in constant bloom. They're in south windows, (very little direct sun) where they were before flowers halted.
Never over-fertilize a plant. Too large a container will prevent (most) flowering plants from flowering. Roots prefer to be tight-fitting.
Flinstone history is quite important..LOL..With gas prices so high we'll soon be driving like old Fred. With our feet.
I hope someone comes along if I've given incorrect advice. I described how I care for my own AV's.
The cheap (nitrogen) Urea doesn't sit right with violets. Read label on the container before using. Fertilize according to directions, (or less) I never use the amount they recommend. Remember, they're out to sell a product, therefore want people to use more. If they say, 1 teas per gallon of water, I use 1/2 teas, etc.
I also use a hormone/50 vitamins called Superthrive..I honestly believe in this stuff..Ebay has the best prices. You can learn more about it at www.superthrive.com
Good luck, and enjoy your flowers..Toni

I do understand about not having the room to isolate plants for long periods of time. As my own plant collection has grown above 200, space is hard to come by! Usually my problems arise with spider mites, and I tell you, they do NOT always leave webs on AVs. I've even repotted AVs, inspected them very carefully, and swore that they were bug free---then the next day I go to check on them and lo and behold, there's a spider mite under the leaf! ACK!

Like lilypad I always take AVs out of their pots in the store to check for soil mealies---those are easy to spot. They collect on the insides of the pots in little white fuzzy patches, and they can crawl from pot to pot and infect a lot of plants. Overall though, AVs are not as susceptable to bugs as tropicals, so you needn't be overly worried. Just have fun growing these lovely, beautiful plants!

because there will be a really toxic and expensive bath with a combination of pesticide-miticide-fungicide and you need to repeat it three times. The stuff is really expensive, we are talking about hundreds.

Usually store plants come only with thrips - and disbudding helps. Disbudding is a very good practice - you get rid of the passengers and help the plant to adjust to your house. Second is to repot - so if you find soil mealies - you can cut the crown off, wash and reroot - or just send everything to the trash if it is not something you really want to work to save. Third - you keep your new one in another room - until you are comfortable - that it is looking healthy for a month or better 3.

So - physical methods - washing, isolation, disbudding, repotting - do not harm you, your plant, your kids and pets and cost close to nothing - and that's why they are preferrable to the chemical warfare.

Good luck

I

Korina (I loves me teh baggies)

Tish..In summer, since most plants are outside, isolating isn't a problem, if we have a whole 3 months of moderate temps..Every space is filled once autumn approaches. Though we have a house, it's small. Still, I manage to fit, well, probably closing in on 400 plants, (not AV's) inside, including small trees. I don't and can't use chemicals. I once had a bad experience with a Gardenia tree (kept outside) in shade..Followed directions to a T, the next day the plant died. Since then I vowed never to use chemical insecticides.
But the main reason is we have birds..If a bird happened to land on a plant, even if he/she didnt eat from the plant, posions absorb through their pores. I love my plants, but also love my birds. We lost a bird before while my husband was using a cleaning product..the bird landed on it, didn't nibble, just landed..the next morning he died. I had no idea this happened till a year or so later..My husband didnt have the nerve to tell me. BTW, the cleaning stuff was nothing really dangerous..don't get me wrong, I wouldnt want it for dinner, but it wasn't like using oven cleaner or buring Teflon (burned Teflon kills birds, so we don't use non-stick pots here either..:))

Shiver, wow, your collection has really grown..LOL..What happened..No forget it, I dont have to ask..I KNOW. It's much too easy finding plants, especially since the internet. I hope your plants are well..Are they outdoors?

Lucy, read what I wrote to Tish please..

Irina, you've made an excellent point..Perhaps using harsh chemicals are done in nurseries where hundreds of plants are sold. Plants are a love and a hobby. I had no idea these chemicals cost so much, which is another reason that'd be out..but even if they cost 5.00 I can't use poisons.

Korina, wish I'd have read your post yesterday before we shopped..I could have picked up freezer baggies..I have small bags but they're way too tiny to fit a plant..
BTW, bought 4 more AV's at the grocery store yesterday..LOL..Toni
Thanks to all...

what is poison what is not... If you ingest a cup of table salt - you will shut your liver, turn yellow and you can die.. Clorox is poison, vinegar in hi concentration - too. You can step on the rake and whack yourself real bad ;-OO.
So if you say - I do not use poisons ever - it is not exactly correct.

These guys in nurseries sell tens of thousands of plants- and they do not eradicate bugs, they control them by using much more dangerous chemicals than we do. So - you bring their plant home- and something they didn't kill to death - is popping out und takes over. You do not burn the house every time it happens, more of it - if your collection grows - you do not just throw your hundred plants because you have mites - you spray them in a garage.

So - isolate, isolate , isolate!

Good luck in keeping the bugs at bay.

I.

I found out what I think is an interesting tidbit today: There has been a nationwide mealworm shortage for a few weeks now (mealworms are used to feed bluebirds, turtles, geckos, etc.)
On a board I read that the mealworm feed had genetically altered grain, altered so bugs couldn't eat it. But the guys who fed the mealworms didn't know the grain had been altered and their mealworms (millions of dollars worth) all died.

We select for genetic changes in our violets when we select for color, size, etc. Perhaps someday, the no bug gene will get spliced in.

Irina maybe I didn't explain. Truthfully I dont like handling poisons, heck I dont exactly enjoy touching poisonious plants..but it's mainly the birds I have to worry about..They cannot inhale and/or absorb chemicals..You'd be surprised how few chemials I use to clean. Most ppl don't understand birds..they see them fly outside, might even go so far as through a piece of bread out..My birds are tropical, well, their ancestors lived in Australia. A bloody long way, mate.. :)
Birds are very very sensitive. Much more than dogs or cats. A little can do a lot of harm. I've seen it with my own eyes, believe me, and it's very depressing.

I'm sure nurseries use insecticides..this is something we've no control over. Considering the number of insects they must deal with, I dont blame them. They'd be out of business if their plants were bug infested when shipped to customers..I for one wouldnt be happy getting a plant with bugs. Especially mealy. They're the worse.

So, new Av's are all isolated. They're in another room, away from older AV's..I looked at the soil and didnt notice any soil mealy, but realize eggs hide or go dormant or whatever the heck those devils do. But thanks for the warning..
Irina, it's true I'm new to growing AV's, (growing 'big numbers' of them anyway) but just for the record, I started caring for plants/house plants since the 70's, (giving away age here) starting back in my teen years. Believe me, I know about bugs and detest them with a passion.
I mix organics made into sprays which do the job for all bugs except mealy.. But I admit I wouldn't know what to apply on fuzzy leaf plants, like our subject, AV's.
Toss out 100's of plants!! LOL..Don't worry about that..I have trouble discarding a cutting. In all the yrs growing plants, I can honestly say, due to infestation, I'd tossed about 4. I admit, back the late 70's,I had a Croton that had a bad case of mites..at the time I had NO idea what mites were..they managed to kill that poor plant..from then I on read and reread plant pest issues. Figured out what bugs dislike which is how I came about my brew..LOL..
But for now, with AV's, it's checking soil, and Isolation. I promise..believe me, I love my plants and don't want to see harm come their way..
Got a new batch yesterday, and oh are they gorgeous..lol..Toni

Thanks for caring, Toni

if anybody wants to commit suicide - hopefuly they will get help in time - but drinking Clorax would be a real bad way to go... like committing suicide by fire ants.

To love, understand and keep birds - it is something different - not a lot of people can do it.

Just keep your collection under -(your time for violets per week/15 minutes). Supposedly if you can spend at least 15 min a week per violet - then you achieve the best results.

in old books about growing AVs and gloxinias - you can find recommendations - you got mites - you need to use DDT. This IS serious. I imagine people who grow violets for 40 and more years carry DDT in their livers. I am glad you didn't use DDT on Croton - I think in 70s it was already out, but I remember actually using it outside n the garden in mid 60s.

Good luck

Irina

I honestly don't recall people using DDT on plants..Actually, the first time reading about insects, (still have the book, lol) was in the 70's. My parents didn't like plants so I wasn't allowed to bring them in the house. I got my first plant after moving away.
There used to be an insecticide called I-Bomb..Does the name ring a bell? I haven't any idea of its ingredients, but one thing I do recall is, the can stated, 'Can be used indoors,' which is what I did..At the time we had two fish tanks, but spraying I-bomb didn't harm the fish so maybe it didn't contain any really toxic chemicals. But who's to say?

DDT is bad news. I knew a family who lived in a house filled w/roaches. The son got hold of DDT, and applied everywhere..At the time his sister was pregnant. When her baby was born, both his hand were deformed..the child had numerous surgeries, from toddler to adulthood. The operations, though semi-successful, will never look or work like normal hands. I doubt this baby was born with defective hands by accident. IMO it was the DDT.
My husband works for the IEPA. I asked him if DDT is still around..he said, it's no longer used in USA, but is in other countries.
Other than chemical fertilizers, I steer clear of insecticides, in or outside. Our neighbors use enough that would kill bugs miles away. I have a reaction when their lawns are treated. Many times I've woken, itching and had trouble breathing..After going outside, I saw the signs on their lawns warning they were treated.

Irina, what year were your 'old' plant books published?
The two books I have from the 70's is Hyponex, 1974 and another called Foliage Plants For Modern Living, which was published in Kalamazoo, MI, again in 1974.
Actually, the books I have aren't the originals..the pages in my originals ripped apart from continuous reading..Got Hyponex on Ebay for 1.00 plus shipping, and the second book from a used bookstore for 1.99..I had other plant books, but they were somehow discared when we painted and cleaned.
Hyponex has no mention of DDT, and the other book doesn't discuss insects, just pictures and care info.

15 mins per plant? Irina, what do you do to your AV's that take so long? LOL. Toni

it is a case - do what I say - do not do what i do. I do not spend much time on my violets - that's why they do not look as good as when I had a small collection,

But between deadheading, grooming, washing the plants, leaching, washing the trays and mats, preparing the fertilizer solution, repotting regularly...

The book I saw DDT recommendation was in a library - I looked through it - and it was from 60s and it was on growing florist gloxinias. Not very many people are growing florist gloxinias now - more are interested in mini sinningias - but they are gorgeous plants - kind of too large for the collectors.

Good luck

Irina

Cleaning is a must, definatly..What do you use trays for? Humidity? I've never actually washed an AV other than every so often placing in the sink and allowing water to seep into soil. Sometimes one will tip over, but I straigten it fast, fearing the leaves will mar..How do you wash your leaves? Please don't tell me you use chemicals..LOL..

I love Glox'es..I had one about 4 yrs..it bloomed a few times per year..flowers were purple and white..huge..One time while outside, it fel., I forgot about it so it dried up and died..HD sells Glox's, but they want 15.99..forget it. They are pretty though. And if one can keep them living it's worth the price.
Yes, they are large, though. Toni

I just stick them in a kitchen sink and wash with a kitchen shower with a lukewarm water. They love it. You just need to let them dry before exposing to the light - so let them sit on the table and touch with a Cleanex to absorb water from the center of the crown. It perkes them up, washes the leaves and leaches the soil.

My Granny raised piglets many many years ago - so she said - they gave the piglets a "bath" every day in summer - I guess just splashed them with a bucket of water - they loved it and they grew faster.

About trays - I keep my plants on wicks-mats-trays - and I should wash the whole setup at least once a month - otherwise the mats get dirty and algae starts growing. Plus the accumulation of fertilizer salts.

I.

Irina, when you say your granny raised piglets, are you talking about little oink-oinks? LOL..How cute..Or are piglets some type of plant?
If it is little, what were they called, pot-bellied pigs, that's adorable.

Algae grows as fast as weeds..or is it a weed? Not sure about that..Iknow it's a plant which grows.
Hope everyone is doing well..Toni

they were pigs - and Granny's family raised them during the summer when it is a lot of grass and last year potatoes - until the piglet became 200 pounds pig - then she got butchered, salted, smoked and eaten over the winter. Sorry - but it was a survival. Even they were all attached to the next Lizzie the pig- there she went.

Algae is a plant, what we see on our mats is a single cell primitive aquatic plant. Provided light, water and fertilizer - it will multiply like a forest fire.

What we think of a weed- is usually a good plant - but in the wrong place. Like a dandelion on your lawn is a weed - and somewhere in a grassland - it is a rabbit treat.

I read somewhere that most of the oxygen is actually produced not by Amazonian forests - but with the algae in the ocean.

But - you need to get Physan 20 and add to your water - it keeps the algae down.

Good luck

irina

I'm sure in certain parts of the world, Orchids are weeds. Maybe we can sell Dandi's on Ebay to those who can't grow them in their native land..LOL.
Imagine a dandi growing in a ceramic pot..

It's been a long time since I saw algae. Probably in the 90's when we bred fish. Algae Eaters took care of that.
Do you see algae on plants, Irina??? Toni

I see algae on the soil and on the mats.

Becoming a vegan? I like baby ribs, pork chops and bacon!

Oink-oink

irina

I'm only kidding about being vegetarian. Although we don't eat as much meat as before, (mainly because of costs) we eat meat..beef, pork, etc. I don't care for seafood other than breaded shrimp and my own home-made salmon patties, but I won't eat a fishy..LOL.
I LOVE eating eggs, a lot..when my cockatiels started laying eggs (babies) after watching them hatch, I didn't want to even think of munching down an egg..It was almost a year before making eggs for breakfast..lol..
So, nope, I'm not a vegan..I dote on Cracker Barrel bacon..Yummmm..it's the best. Ground beef and rump roast are my two favorites.
I can't stand the sight of lettuce..yuck..when we have salad, I use cucumbers and tomatoes..NO lettuce..so you see, I'd never make a good vegitarian.
Today we're having stuffed Manicotti. I used a little over 3 lbs of ground beef..it'd taste pretty weird w/o meat.
On the other hand, I wouldn't hunt or fish. If we had a farm, our livestock would be pets..lol..Moo Moo and Oink Oink..lol..Toni

Harleygal-
for me - a collection should have some system - it gives you the method to keep the collection from taking over the house and home. SO when I see AV sporting or if I lost the tag - it means I can give it to the friends who just like the blooms. Sometimes I envy the AV collectors in 40-s. They could have all the AVs available at that time and still have some space left...
Irina

Hi Irina..How ya doing today?
What is a 1-1-1 soiless mix? Please explain what you're using.
I don't use mats, but for some plants, like Calatheas, 'high-humidity plants,' I set pebbles in a tray, add water, and set plant atop pebbles. Actually, several AV's are grown on pebbles too.
Trays are more economical than buying mats, (for me) I believe in saving everything..okay, I'm a pack rat. LOL. Jerry Baker, author of various plant books, got me hooked discussing the importance of saving old containers, etc. It all comes in handy. Every so often we have frozen dinners. Stouffer's has a perfect size, plastic tray..Wash, add pebbles, and voila, you have a generic version mat..LOL.
Irina, I've never even heard of eating 'udder gulash, let alone brains with peas..YUCK. Hell, brains with anything sounds gross.
Irina, may I ask where you're from? Were you born in CO?
My MIL was from the south..TN. She ate all types of, well, what I consider weird foods..LOL. Not that I dislike southern cooking, most is fantastic. She taught me how to prepare several dishes I'd never heard of. But when it comes to brains, NO way..MY dh just said, she once made pig brains and eggs..LOL..I'd have skipped breakfast for sure.
The price and quality of meat had really gone downhill. I won't buy meat at Jewel/Alberson's anymore. I don't know if you guys have Jewel Foods, (known as Alberson's in other states,)or if they're in CO.
Jewel is the grocery store that sells plants, including standard and mini AV's. I bought 4 in May for 2.00 each..I believe they're standards. Beautiful flowers, deep purple w/white centers, white edges with deep purple centers, and the same in pink and white.
But, we all have different tastes buds..it'd be a boring world if everyone liked the same foods, clothing, etc.
I wish everyone has a great wkend..Toni

What do people us to either prevent or cure mites if their plants do get them? I've got some miticide in the garage somewhere, but maybe AVs need something different?

I would really like you to look at the rachelsreflections.com - at the articles on watering, wicking, soil etc. This wonderful lady put so much useful stuff with pics on her site. She is gone to the Violet Heaven above...

Pretty pebbles sound pretty - but it will be hard to wash the fertilizer and other salts off them after a couple of months of use. So - just gravel will be better - less dirt seen. Hmmm... I would think if you use Oyama pots for the violets - and distilled water for the tray - it can be done with pretty pebbles.

I keep mine on wicks and mats on the eggcrated trays - and the mats - are the leftover fleece cuts from Walmart fabrics department. Very cheerful ;-D.

Toni - about udder gulash - I am not a local talent, I was born in Siberia. When I was in college - they sold cantine coupons for the needy students for the "complex" lunches - which included soup, some kind of very economical meat dish and a compote - which is dry apples and a bit of other fruit boiled in water and sweetened. Mostly water. I could take liver and kidneys - but not udder gulash - I couldn't even eat there because of the this hot sour milk smell - this was really bad. Never tried brains and it is not on my list too.

My grocery places are King Soopers - Costco.

Have fun, do some repotting ;-)) on weekend

Irina

You bring new plants - keep them in another room - better up to 3 months - if they look sickly - toss them.

Mites are expensive to get rid and no way to prevent except - isolation. Some stuff that helps against the spider mites - common rose problem - doesn't help against cyclamen mites - the AV pests.

Really - the plant you got in Walmart for about $2 - and a bottle of a miticide Avid $100. That's a lot of violets you can buy for $100.

I.

Hi Irina. Since you use mats, there's no reason for trays. Mats are much nicer but as long as something works, that's all that matters.
I guess if you use shiny pebbles on a plant that's fertilized every watering, salt buildup may discolor the stone, otherwise I don't have any problems.
You poor thing..going to school, looking foreward to lunch..NOT. LOL. Every country has their own speciality, some good, some not. The stuff you mention are in the latter catagory..I'd live on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
The fruit dish sounds okay. I've never heard of boiled apples though..there's a recepie where an apple is cored and baked..the inside of the apple is stuffed with raisons, chopped pecans, brown sugar..
Cracker Barrel restaurant has a baked apple w/brown sugar and cinnamon..it's very good.
I'll stick with rump roast, home-made gravy, mashed potatoes, veggies, thin noodles and bisquits.
Foods are basicaly an acquired taste. It'd take a lot of 'acquiring' before eating some foods you mentioned. LOL
I've been to RR's before, but will check again..Thanks, Toni

For me the best trays are called PermaNest, you cut eggcrate and put the mats on eggcrate - and fill the trays with fertilizer solution. The plants on wicks live off this solution for 10 days.

A friend of mine uses restaurant trays like you found - she fills them with water = and 15 minutes later dumps off the leftovers.

Whatever works best for you

Irina

Irina. There's so many ways to work with plants and/or supplies. I'm still confused how trays work, where the fertilizer and water go when using wicks.
It sounds a lot easier than watering plant by plant, (A lot easier) but most of the time I enjoy working one on one..You know what I mean? By doing so, I've found flowers on plants I didn't know existed, including a group of Gingers growing in a really generic plastic pot w/o drainage, a Croton, and variegated Aloe that's so underpotted roots are growing atop soil line..LOL.
I don't have as many AV's as most of you guys, so I dont consider watering/feeding/Superthriving a chore, it's a hobby, something to keep me busy.
But I am curious what Lucy's trays look like, so I'll have a look-see.
How are you guys doing today? It's really hot here..hot and humid. And sunny..a great day to work in the garden, get some sun.
Av's need a drink. I'm debating whether or not to add fertilizer..I'm scared to fert every watering. But according to what I've read here on GW, many ppl fert every watering, or when using wicks, I'm guessing fert is available at all times, right?
For you who use wicks, does that mean the soil stays constantly moist? Does it not dry out?
Have a great day, guys, well, gals..hugs, Toni

You ladies think you will keep the amount of AVs under control... They have the tendency to mulltiply and bring friends - and in no time the collector bug bites...

Have fun

irina

you can grow them in pure perlite, vermiculite or expanded clay pellets - hydroton or leca - this method is called semi-hydro.

Anything organic in a presence of water breaks. Peat breaks, coir breaks too. Peat breaks getting acid because of the humic acid, coir breaks creating phenols - which are worse.

Non organic gets tired too - fertilzer salts, salts from our tap water acculmulate and start affecting roots.

We do not want to wear the same socks for a year, don't we?

The plants in a wild do not move to the new location - but rain takes care of the leaching of the soil. And they never look as good as your home babies.

I.

Irina, it's too late..I've already contracted the AV bug..LOL..I'm planning on getting a Tiger, but waiting till cc statement is PIF. LOL.
I also want to order the two books, Growing AV's and Growing to Show, but that too will have to wait. But I will, definately buy both books.
About soil or soil less mixes, I'm afraid to pot in a completely soil less mix. I've been growing plants in soil so long, to change now is frightening..LOL. Don't get me wrong, my mix contains non-soil mediums like Perlite/Peat/Vermiculte/sand, but I still add soil, too. There are so many experiements I want to try, one is using a completely soil less mix, another is deadheading flowers so nutrients focus on foliage, last, breeding flowers..LOl..Is that what it's called?
In my AV Orthos books, one article details how it's done..It sounds easy enough, but waiting is the thing..How long does it take for an AV seed to germinate? Its' been some time since reading the article. I beleive it was stated AV seeds can take up to a year to germinate..
Also converting soil to completely soil lees would be like starting over. I don't water any plant by schedule. (Fertilizing and ST is planned by date.)
The AV magazine should soon arrive. I'm hoping between GW and the mag will explain AV care from novice to pro. I hope..(S)

How are you girls today? Do you garden outdoors? How about indoor plants? Or dedicatated to AVs alone? Toni

I ordered the trays and when I got the tracking number, looked up the actual postage UPS charged. It was way less than what I paid. I sent the company a courteous note pointing this out and telling them I would be leaving factual negative feedback. Got a shipping refund of about half of what they charged me in about 10 minutes via paypal.
I did end up buying their case of 24 of the smaller trays I think 9 by 17 because these would fit in the standard 18 inch shelf sold at a lot of hardware stores. The trays are way heavier than seed starting trays.
I am back to considering what sort of surface my violets will live on; and I do have an old wire shelf out on the porch but I am waiting for the light stands before making any plans.
My great idea of the lighted china cabinet failed miserably as the temps got way too hot inside the cabinet even when I ventilated it.

Toni - the violets will grow in soil OK - as long it is not heavy. If you think that soil in the bags form the store is soil - read the small print. It is compost, wood chips, peat..
It is not good just to get soil from your yard - you can get nasty nematodes from the outside dirt - I would say if you insist on adding soil - you need to pasterize it - 185F for 2 hours - means stink the house.

I.

Irina, I'd never use garden soil..LOL..There was a time I bought Indoor Potting Soil, found centipedes inside..bought an aluminum foil baking pan, and baked the darn dirt..LOL..it stunk the house up, but soil was insect and weed free.
When I mention black soil, I'm talking about House Plant soil, not garden. Actually, house plant soils differ..some types, especially Hyponex, sell a heavy, black, rich soil. In fact, back in the early 80's, Hyponex was the top soil sold here. Later, a few generic brands came out, also heavy..the soil didnt have any bark, Perlite, etc, which is, after reading plant books, how I started mixing my own mixes.
But, Irina, I'd never use outdoor soil on house plants. Sorry if I gave you that impression..But you're right about some of the newer heavy soils..they contain bark, Perlite, etc..and much lighter, though depending on the store, they still sell heavy, black soils..I picked up 2 bags yesterday..1.50 each.
How are you guys? Anything going on this wkend? Toni

Are you having problems finding Vermiculite too? What's going on? I finally found a 1 bag at an Ace Hardware in the strip where my doctor is located..LOL.
I'm still debating whether or not to repot AV's, especially those in square pots..I prefer round.
Yesterday while shopping at our grocery store, they had house plants in 3" pots for 1.00. Well, how can I pass that up? LOL..so bought 2 Syngoniums, (different colors/types) that will be repotted together. Another Coffee Tree..My other is a bush, so I want to grow this upright, so when/if it's older it'll be tree-shaped. And last a Dracaena Florida Beauty w/variegated foliage.
In the meantime, I'm procratinating repotting AV's..too worried about pot size for one thing..oh well, we'll see..
Have a great wkend..Toni