I used two plastic containers that you buy strawberries in. I cut the tops off and hold them together with rubber bands and paper clips. The ventilation slots permit watering from the bottom. violets by tsebmj, on Flickr
jbest123, Here is how I do mine. Stock Violets are on the lower shelf and the new starts are on the 2 shelves above. I once had 600 different named Violets. I just started doing them again and will be back to where I was by Spring. Just finally getting my life back together. Here are a few of my favorites.
John, I really like your clever start box. Barb, now that is a nursery of violets. 600 varieties! Wow! Do you propagate them for selling?
Oh yes I did. I stopped about 5 years ago to take care off my daughter. Now I am just getting a collection built up again. Violets go in and out of style. They breed new ones all the time. Some stay popular year after year and some fall by the wayside. I didn't breed or show them but I made lots of babies from a stock plant. It was very enjoyable. The green one above is Irish Maiden one of my favorite. By the way, it had it's one trickle watering system with an overflow. That's the little hose dangling in the front of the main bench.
You can propagate violets? John, is that just leaves I see, in that plastic container? What, do the leaves just sprout roots or something? Man, the things I learn here!!!
Yes Ronni. Go to your friends house and while she is not looking snatch a few leaves. :'( Don't get caught. Sharp knife make a new clean slice on the stem. Leave it about 1 inch. I thin dip it in rooting hormone but you don't have to. Then just stick it in a pot with light soil. Don't let the leave get into the soil. I only water from the bottom so put it in a saucer and keep it wet. You can put it in a plastic bag but I don;t do that either. I think if the leaves get to moist they will rot rather than root. They root quickly. I usually wait to move them when the roots are showing out the holes of the little pot. it is a plantlet by then and more stable. Important. If your friends Violet has a name remember it and label yours. they are worth much more that way and it's fun to look it up and see what you will have. Some people like to know what one they have so if you ever give some of your babies away they would appreciate having the name.
I was watching the Steeler game and went to bed. My wife probably has her name for them but we don't know the proper names. Nice collection you have but they wouldn't fit in our bay window.
