Welcome Spring at Centre Stage with Violets at Sherway Gardens April 25, 2009

Admire flourishing African Violets in a rainbow of colours at the Lakeshore African Violet Society’s Centre Stage With Violets at Sherway Gardens (Hwy 427 and the QEW) on Saturday, April 25 from 11am – 6pm, and on Sunday, April 26 from 11am – 5pm. Sherway Square will be in full bloom with hundreds of blooming African Violets on display, from the tiniest miniatures to huge show-stopping specimens. Admission is free. For more information call 416-621-1070 or visit www.sherwaygardens.ca.

“Centre Stage With Violets will showcase the talents of some of Canada’s best growers and hybridizers, including John Brownlie and Bruno Curcuruto,” states Beverley Williams, Lakeshore African Violet Society. “Our annual show offers visitors a chance to not only get some valuable growing tips from the experts but to purchase some new varieties of African Violets for their own collections.”

There are hundreds of varieties of African Violets, with new ones being hybridized every year. Some of the different types include: Standards (with variegated leaves), Miniatures, under 6 inches, Semiminiatures under 8 inches, Trailing Violets and Chimeras (which have a unique color wheel pattern).

Centre Stage With Violets is a juried show and Society members compete among themselves. The show does not open on Saturday until judging has finished at 11am.

TIPS FOR GROWING AFRICAN VIOLETS

“African Violets are the most popular houseplants in the world but they can intimidate even the most experienced gardener, “ adds Williams. “This hardy plant can live for decades with the right care.”

Laden with colourful blooms, African Violets will flower throughout the year if you follow these simple tips for success:
• African Violets thrive in moderate light (no direct sun), so place them in a north or east window.
• Remove dying or dead foliage and blossoms.
• Rotate plants one-quarter turn at intervals to assure even growth. Plants that stay stationary lean towards the light source.
• Remove suckers (tiny plantlets that sometimes appear in the leaf axils) as soon as they are big enough. If you allow them to grow they will spoil the plant’s symmetry.
• If a leaf is growing out of position, gently move it to its proper place and hold it there with small stakes until it shows signs of staying there.
• Remove dust and soil particles from foliage with a soft, natural bristle brush.
• Keep the plant area, pots, tools, etc. clean to prevent disease.
• Plain, round plastic pots are best for growing African Violets.
• For show-quality results, consider growing your violets under fluorescent lights. Purchase a ready-made light stand, or make your own using standard four-foot shop fixtures fitted with two 40-watt ‘cool’ tubes or one cool and one wide-spectrum bulb. Set the lights on a timer to provide 12 hours of illumination daily, and position plants about 14 inches below the bulbs.
• African Violets grow best at temperatures between 70 to 80 degrees during the day, and 62 to 72 degrees at night.
• Don’t over-water your plants. Keep the soil evenly moist, and water only when they begin to dry out a little. Watering from either the top or bottom is fine, but drain off any excess that remains in the plant saucer a half-hour later. Never use cold water!
• For best growing results, use a weak fertilizer solution each time you water. Add 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon granular food (choose a formulation of 20-20-20 or 12-13-14) to a 4-litre jug of water, and mix well.

Members of The Lakeshore African Violet Society meet in Etobicoke each month except for July and August. Some members will be attending the African Violet Society of America annual show and sale in Reno, Nevada from April 13-18, 2009 this year as well as the African Violet Society of Canada Show United in Violets in Calgary May 18-23, 2009. For more information on the African Violet Society of Canada or a local society near you, please visit website at: http://www.avsc.ca.

Official Website: http://www.sherwaygardens.ca