Jambu Air (Syzygium javanica) or Rose Apple - Green Type

My loving partner gotta me last wednesday and only last weekend then I have a chance to take a photo of it. It aleady comes with lotsa of flower buds, but some still dropped out when transporting in back home. :( Let see how it will grow.. hope can give me those sweet sweet Jambu.

African Violet Blooming - Part 2

Some of the flowers start to bloom, however seems to be much small in size as compared to i initially brought them. Wonder if it is due to the temperature, I have it on the balcony which have hot air due to sunlight most time.

African Violet Growing Tips

LIGHT. Adequate light is most important for abundant bloom. Any window that has strong, bright, light is good. Most gesneriads prefer bright light, but not direct sun. Which window provides this will depend upon climate, season, and your particular home. Grown under florescent lights, plants will nearly always be in bloom. You can use shoplights found at your local department store, and place bulbs about 18" above standard African violets and streptocarpus, and 10-12" above miniature violets. Keep lights on 12-13 hours a day.

WATERING. Use room temperature water, when the soil surface feels "dry to the touch". Plants may be watered from the top, from the bottom, or by wicks.

FEEDING. Regular fertilizing is needed for maximum growth and blooming. Follow "constant feeding" directions on the container, usually about 1/4 tsp. of dry fertilizer per gallon of water (follow instructions on the package for feeding every time you water). A balanced fertilizer, such as a 15-15-15 or 20-20-20, for example, is best. Feed each watering.

ATMOSPHERE. African violets and most other gesneriads thrive in the same conditions in which people are comfortable--not too hot nor too cold, with 40-50% humidity.

SOIL. Use a light, "soil-less" mix, consisting of at least 30-50% vermiculite or perlite. When buying a prepackaged mix, don't believe the "violet soil" label! A bag of a good soil mix should feel like a nice, fluffy, soft, pillow. Most commercial mixes are too dense and heavy, and will need to have perlite and/or vermiculite added. The wetter you plan on keeping your plants (such as wicking), the more perlite you will need to add.

GROOMING. Except for trailing varieties, do not allow extra crowns ("suckers") to form on violets. Streptocarpus, episcia, and other gesneriads can be grown multiple crowned. Remove old, yellowed, leaves and spent blossoms.

POTTING. Most flowering houseplants will need repotting into fresh soil every 6 months or so. When repotting a violet, remove some of the bottom of the root ball and lower into fresh soil to cover the bare trunk ("neck"). Pot into larger pots only when root ball fills pot, never into a pot more than 1/2 the diameter of the plant. Shallow pots are best.

PROPAGATION. Use very light rooting media. For violets, cut the leaf stem at 1/2" to 3/4" and push down into lightly moistened mix. For streptocarpus, remove midrib from leaf, then firmly insert two halves (rib or center-side) down into media, like "slices of bread in a toaster". Leaves can be protected by placing in a clear plastic bag or covered container. Place in moderate light and separate and pot "babies" when they are big enough for you to comfortably handle.

What is Mini African Violet?

These days I came to know about there is something called mini african violet and after doing a search this is what I found between the different classification of the african violet.
Standard African violets when mature, will exceed 8" in diameter. In practice, most grow to about 10-12". When grown for exhibition, they can exceed 18-24" across. We grow only those varieties that we deem superior to others in growth habit and bloom.

Miniature African violets When mature, miniatures grow to less than 6" in diameter, semiminis to less than 8". With proper culture, actual plant size can be much smaller in practice. Because these are small-growing plants and have small root systems, never use a pot bigger than 2 1/2" in diameter.

Trailing African violets Have a naturally crawling or spreading habit. They produce branches or "runners" which then often grow along the soil surface, rooting and branching as they grow. They can be grown either as ground-covers or as hanging plants. Though their leaf size will remain constant, the size of the plant is limited only by the grower. Care is identical to that of other violets.
Spreading plants that can be grown in baskets or as ground covers

Based on the above definition, now I know my plants is a Standard African violets that is easily available in the nursery.

Miniature and trailing African violet hybrids (All 'Rob's' varieties)are proven, show-quality plants that grow and bloom readily, even under less than ideal conditions. They are bred to shape nicely, bloom continually, and typically will have unusually colored and larger than average-size blooms. All do well under either artificial or natural light.

Here is a samples of the Rob's varieties that I found on the web - Mini African Violets:
Rob's Ice Ripples
Rob's Gum Bubble


Rob's Combustible Pigeon

Rob's Boondoggle

African violet - Flower Buds

Can see the flower buds?

DIY Terrarium

Doing this for my fren.

How to start an African Violet plant by a leaf cutting

To propagate a favorite African Violet you can perform the following technique by using a leaf cutting.

Step 1: Using scissors, gently snip an outer stem of your favorite African Violet.

Step 2: Place stem in a pot or jar that will support your leaf.

Step 3: Place in a bright, but not direct light, location and keep soil moist but not wet.

P/S: I am still in the mist of propagating mine. :P


----------------------- Another Method ---------------------------

Step 1 There are two methods to starting African Violet plants from leaf cuttings. The first uses water to start the roots of the cutting. The second uses soil and rooting hormone. Let's start with the simple water rooting method.

Step 2 Using the scissors, snip off an African Violet leaf from the mature parent plant. Be sure to leave at least one or more inches of stem. Cut at an angle.

Step 3 Fill the glass container with water. The container can be a simple drinking glass or a clean jelly jar. Place a piece of aluminum foil or plastic wrap over the top and secure with a rubber band (for plastic wrap). Cut a slit into the top and slide the African Violet cutting into the water.

Step 4 Keep the cutting in a bright area, with lots of sunlight, and be sure to never let the water level drop below the end of the cutting. After about a month, you will start to see a long filament dangling from the cutting. This is the developing root system of the plant. Simply place the cutting into a pot of African Soil, bury the root, water well and keep in a bright east or west window. In about six to nine months you will have a new plant!