Playing the Fiddle

Fiddle leaf fig with a Dracaena at Kingwood Center in Ohio

When I volunteer with the kids at Belle Isle in the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, I always point out that common names of plants are quite often given to the plants because of what they resemble. The leaves of the fiddle leaf fig look like fiddles or violins, thus the common name. It helps us remember the plants.

The fiddle leaf fig or Ficus lyrata is native to lowland tropical rainforests in west Africa. It is a banyan fig, meaning it often starts life as an epiphyte high in the crown of a tree, sends roots down to the ground, and can slowly strangle the tree it is growing on. As a stand-alone tree, it can reach up to 40' tall. 

In your home, the tree will probably max out at 6', but if you up-pot it and have the room, it could get bigger. When it is the size you want it to stay, instead of re-potting it, top dress it with fresh soil to replace depleted soil. It needs as much light as you can give it for it to be happy. A South or West facing window would be best, but place it wherever you have the most light.  Because it is from tropical rainforests, high humidity is it definitely a must. That can be hard to provide in our homes, especially in the winter with our furnaces running. If it is dry, the plant will react by losing leaves. The worst reaction to dry air, though, will be an infestation of spider mites. This will be evident to you as it was to me when I saw reddish spots on my leaves . The red spots are the areas where the spider mites pierce the leaves of the plant with their mouth parts. The caustic nature of the sap cause the reddish spots when it is exposed to the air. The sap from the tree can also cause stains and be an irritant to skin so be careful when handling this plant. The picture below shows spider mite damage on my plant....:(

Spider mite damage on my fiddle leaf fig

Low humidity may also be displayed as brown edges on the leaves. 

On the other hand, if the plant is kept too wet, soft leaves with brown patches may be displayed. The key is to have your plant growing in a rich, well drained soil. Keep it well watered, letting it dry down slightly between waterings, never letting it dry out completely. To keep the humidity up, place a pebble tray under your plant which is kept filled with water. The tray should be larger than the container you are growing your plant in so the humidity rises around the plant. Never let your plant sit in the water, though. Fertilize regularly during the growing season which is March-September here in Michigan. It is sensitive to high salt content, so flush your soil regularly, or use an organic fertilizer, such as fish emulsion.

Th fiddle leaf fig is a dramatic, large houseplant that can be the focal point of any room you place it in. I also have the mini version called 'Little Fiddle' if you don't have the room for a large plant but like the look of the plant. 

Ficus lyrata or fiddle leaf fig at the Veterans Memorial Library in Mt. Pleasant MI

Happy Birthday To Me!

My friend Jean and I took a road trip to Kingwood Center again this year to the Ohio African Violet Show and Sale. I had birthday money with me and it was fun to spend. Here is some of what I purchased..... I will show you the plants that aren't African violets later.

 'Pirate's Treasure' African violet

 

'Halo's Aglitter' African violet

As I've said before, these aren't plants you are going to find at your local big box or probably even at your local IGC (Independent Garden Center). And it pains me to say that as a member of a family run IGC. #1 Most people wouldn't pay the prices, and #2 Most people wouldn't pay the prices. It is what it is.

'Opera's IL Straniero' African violet

But, as a plant collector, I'm more than happy to pay the prices, which aren't extreme but not your normal $2.99-$4.99 violet. I think that is obvious.
Who could resist these color and flower shapes? Not me! I'm so glad this show is always near my birthday. And though my husband would love it if not one more plant entered our home, his birthday shopping is very easy.

'Queen's Sister' African violet

'Ma's Winter Moon' African violet

'Silverglade Meadows' African violet

As you can see, I love ruffly edges, and pink and green-those two together in the same flower if possible.

'Planet Kid' African violet

The following three violets are minis and semi minis. They are grown under lights on my counter top in the kitchen. I think the small plants and flowers are so cute.

'Little Busybody' African violet

'Fireworks' African violet

I can't stress how fun it is to go to these flower shows. If you can make it to a show and sale in your area, do so. You will see plants like you've never seen before. Take plenty of money!

'Sheer Romance' African violet

'Hawaiian Pearl' African violet

Dancing Dolphins

Columnea 'Melissa'

 I went to the Ohio African violet show and sale today at Kingwood Center in Mansfield, Ohio. If you've never been there, you should make a point to get there. It is a beautiful garden. The sale was great, but the judged show is amazing. One gets to see African violets and other gesneriads (African violet cousins) grown the very best they can be. One group of plants really caught my attention and we are going to talk about them today, the last day of National Indoor Plant Week.

Columnea 'Melissa'

Columnea are commonly called the "goldfish plant" though the goldfish plant is Nematanthus. These plants are gesneriads, cousins of African violets. Their long tubular flowers are horned and so give the illusion of flying fish. They are also called "dancing dolphins" and "Shark plant" because of the shape of the flowers.They are cascading plants and so usually are sold in hanging baskets. They, like African violets need a bright, but not hot window. They are epiphytic plants (which means they grow on trees without soil) from Central and South America. They prefer to be kept evenly moist with a very well drained soil.

Columnea 'Melissa'

My first Columnea was a gift from my sister-in-law and I wrote about it here:
  http://houseplantguru.blogspot.com/2013/02/heres-to-you-fabio.html

Columnea 'Light Prince'

Columnea 'Firebird'

Columnea 'Firebird' flower

Columnea 'Aladdin's Lamp'

Obviously this Columnea above was the best gesneriad overall in the show.  I don't think it's hard to see why.

Columnea 'Aladdin's Lamp'

Check out the yellow base of the flower. To me it looks like a wax dot holding the flower on. I'm always amazed by the diversity of flowers. God's artistry is so obviously seen in flowers!

Find Some Spring

We are all tired of winter here in the Midwest. That is putting it mildly....
Well, I have a cure for the winter time blues. Head for your nearest botanical garden conservatory! 

Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, Belle Isle, Detroit, MI

Show room in Belle Isle Conservatory, Detroit, MI

The fern room at Belle Isle Conservatory, Detroit, MI

My nearest conservatory is on Belle Isle in Detroit. I go as often as I can. I absolutely love it and am so happy it has survived the hard economic times that have plagued Detroit.

  There is nothing to make you feel better about winter. You open the doors and the smell of damp earth and flowers wafts out to greet you. If you can't spend time outside, what could be better at this time of year?

Hidden Lakes Gardens, Tipton, MI

This picture of Hidden Lakes Garden Conservatory was during their spring show. It was so beautiful! Tulips, forced forsythia, amaryllis, hyacinths, and of course, as you can see, colored umbrellas. It was a breath of fresh air!

Kingwood Center, Mansfield, OH

Kingwood Center, Mansfield, OH

Kingwood Center in Ohio is an amazing garden. I always go in September when the Ohio African Violet Society is having its show and sale. The garden always has a plant sale in the conservatory also. It is a plant filled shopping day!

New York Botanical Garden, New York, NY

A couple of years ago, I was lucky enough to be able to visit the New York Botanical Garden. I was able to see their display of vertical gardens designed by the French botanist Patrick Blanc. It was phenomenal!

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Lincoln Park Conservatory, Chicago,IL

Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago, IL

Lincoln Park Conservatory and Garfield Park in Chicago are both beautiful conservatories. Garfield Park was designed by Jens Jensen and as you can see, it is like being out in nature with streams and ponds and the most beautiful plants.

Longwood Gardens, Kennet Square, PA

The piece de resistance of these conservatories is, in my opinion, Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania. I spent the whole day there and would have slept there if they would have let me. Absolutely unbelievable!

Longwood Gardens, Kennet Square, PA

Frederick Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids, MI

Frederick Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, MI is a relatively new garden, but you wouldn't know it. It has evolved into a beautiful conservatory. The picture was taken when Chihuly pieces were displayed in the garden.

Phipps Conservatory, Pittsburgh, PA

Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh is huge! I didn't have much time there, but I will return sometime and really take my time. Even my husband said he could have spent more time there, and that is saying a lot! 
So as this never-ending winter continues, take some time and visit the nearest conservatory. You will be so glad you did!

My Finds at Kingwood Center

'Evergrace'

In this, my third installment of the adventure at the Ohio African Violet Show and Sale at Kingwood Center, I will show you the plants I purchased. Yes, purchased. Remember, it is a show and SALE. I would have to say the sale room is the most popular area of the show. At this particular show, the commercial growers are there, including Violet Barn, Lyndon Lyon, Violet Gallery, Cape Cod Violetry, Pat Hancock with her Buckeye hybrids, and Fancy Bloomers.

'Dolores Sugar Candy'

'Irish Flirt'

The sheer amount of plants to choose from is unfathomable. There are thousands of plants to tempt you. It makes the decision of what to buy very hard. I am drawn to the pink and green varieties, as you can see. I had a list of ones I wanted, but even though I didn't find most of the ones I was looking for, I found plenty to make me happy. I only bought a few, hoping I could keep them looking floriferous and healthy. I will confess that I threw out almost all of my violets a few weeks ago. They were looking awful, and I decided to start over. I think  I had too many to take care of  them properly. By only having a few, hopefully the time I do have for them will be enough. Unhappy, unhealthy plants are depressing. Only take on what you can take care of. 

'Halo's Aglitter'

I bought a semi-miniature, a miniature, and the rest were standards. I seem to do well with the minis and so am drawn to them. They don't take up as much room, as well.

'Rob's Boondoggle'

As beautiful as these flowers are, the first thing I do when I bring them home, is cut off all the blossoms. I also isolate them from all my other violets and plants for at least 6 weeks. Even though these plants are from very reputable growers, you never know what unexpected "surprises" may be lurking about. You want to make sure there are no thrips, mealybugs, or any other unwanted problems. By keeping them isolated, you can watch for any of these things and deal with the problem right away before it spreads. You will be happy you did.

'Bishop'

'Mountain Snowcap'

Begonia 'Baby Dress'

Violet Barn brings quite a few miniature houseplants as well as violets. I couldn't resist this begonia called 'Baby Dress'. It is a small begonia, only getting 6" tall. I love begonias and had to add this to my collection.

If you can get to this show next year, I would recommend it. Not only is it a great shopping trip, but the gardens are beautiful, the lectures are educational, and the show is fabulous. Seeing all those plants grown to perfection, spurs me on to try to get mine to look as good.

Ohio African Violet Show and Sale

'Buckeye Too Tempting'

In my last post, I talked about the design portion of the Ohio African violet show. My favorite part of the show, though, is the horticulture portion of the show where all the violets and other gesneriads are displayed and judged. These plants are well grown and beautiful;  the best of the best. These are plants grown to perfection by people who know what they are doing and do it very well. 

'Buckeye Cranberry Sparkler'

Not only are there amazing plants, there are programs given by famous African violet growers and hybridizers. The first four pictures are of Buckeye hybrids. They are hybridized by Pat Hancock, who taught one of the seminars. It was about growing plants from a leaf to a show plant. She talked about the fact that all facets of growing the plant is controlled by the person growing it. The more attention paid to them, the better off the plants will look. The most important part of the plant is the crown and the roots. If you don't have good roots, you won't have a good crown. A new idea I learned from Pat is that when potting a violet, put about 1 1/2 inches of a perlite/vermiculite mix at the bottom of the pot before putting soil on top and potting the violet. Violets roots prefer lots of air in their soil and by putting the vermiculite and perlite at the bottom, it allows more air to get to the roots. Violets have shallow root systems, so this system is a great way to cultivate these plants. I'm going to try it with the plants I bought this last weekend. Pat's philosophy is that starting a plant from a leaf is easier to raise because you are cultivating it in the conditions it will be growing in permanently. Buying a plant means you have to take on a plant that has been growing in the conditions that someone else has. It then has to acclimate itself to your conditions. It really does make sense. 

Buckeye 'Irresistible'

'Buckeye Seductress'

 She also reminded us that  variegated plants such as the one to the right will have more variegation if grown in cooler conditions. If a variegated plant becomes green, it is growing in conditions that are too warm.

'The Alps'

This plant on the left is called 'The Alps' and is a chimera. Chimeras are special violets that can't be propagated by leaves, only by suckers. As you can see, the flowers are striped. These plants are always more costly, because they cannot be propagated from leaves.

'Yukako'

The Yukako, also a chimera,  is my favorite violet as you can probably ascertain from my blog, facebook, and  twitter account.

'Newtown Grape Suzette'

The violet above was huge, probably at least 15" or more across. It was beautiful!

Optimara 'Evergrace'

Optimara 'Evergrace' is one of the many space violets hybridized by Optimara. Seeds were sent into space, originally meant to be there for 11 months. They ended up being in space for 6 years. The experiment was meant to see what would happen to the seeds after being exposed to cosmic radiation and the lack of gravity. The outcome were plants that are large and bloom almost continually.

'Rob's Antique Rose'

'Mac's Misty Meadow'

'Petite Blarney'

Not only does the show have fabulous African violets, it also has other amazing gesneriads, such as episcias, columneas, streptocarpus, and achimenes. 

Espicia 'Country Copper'

Steptocarpus 'Raydar's Ruthie'

Episcia 'Karlyn'

Columnea herthae

There are also other classes, such as African violets in unusual or decorative containers.

How cute is this little violet in an antique container?

There are also dish gardens,.....

natural gardens,.......

and terrariums, all having African violets incorporated in the design.

As you can see, there was lots to see, do, and that doesn't even include the sales room, where you could buy all the fabulous plants you saw in the show. Commercial growers were there, including, Lyndon Lyon, The Violet Barn, Violet Gallery, Cape Cod Violetry, and and Pat Hancock with her Buckeye hybrids. Not to mention that this all took place at Kingwood Center, an exceptional public garden. I'll write more about that in my next post. 
Next year, make a trip to Mansfield, Ohio for the Ohio African Violet Show and sale. You won't be disappointed. ...... Bring your checkbook!