Cindy Brooks
President of BSAVS
Hello Everyone. My name is Cindy Brooks and I am the current President of the Bay State African Violet Society. I have been a member since 2009. I served as a Director on the board for 2 years then I volunteered to be Recording Secretary. From there I was nominated for Vice President (or Show Chair) which transitions to President. It is a two-year term which ends October 2020.
About the Bay State African Violet Society Inc.
The Bay States African Violet Society, Inc. is an organization made up of persons wishing to expand and share their knowledge in the fine techniques of growing and propagating African violets (Saintpaulia). BSAVS, Inc. is a non-profit organization, founded in 2018, as a successor to the original Bay State African Violet Society, founded in 1959.
Why African Violets?
It is extremely rewarding to grow flowering houseplants. Flowering plants bring a lot of beauty into a home and nurturing a plant to grow and bloom is very fulfilling. African violets are one of the world’s favorite indoor plants and there are so many kinds of African violets.
2012 African Violet Show
About the African Violet Show
This year’s show would have been our 58th! Our show challenges club members to grow better plants and to inspire others to grow these great plants. The Show is an exhibit of the best plants our members can grow. All African violets do not just happen to grow to be show plants. Growing a blue-ribbon plant starts with the plant selection and continues until the plant is entered in a show. Specific plants are given extra attention to encourage ideal size, shape, and form. Many successful African Violet show growers use a 3 month “schedule” incorporating both growing and environmental conditions.
Judging the show involves giving points to a plant for its different merits and deducting points for not meeting those merits. After the judges have gone through each plant, ribbon awards and special show awards are placed and finally there is a scale of points for judging the show itself. The whole process takes about three to five hours to complete.It is exciting to see the clerks place the ribbons and awards by each plant.
We are truly fortunate to have New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill host our shows.The New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill setting is the ideal place to showcase our beautiful plants because visitors love plants of all kinds and are always interested in the show!.
Five Tips for Growing African Violets
- Use a fertilizer recommended for African violets and fertilize every time you water at one quarter the recommended strength. Fill a gallon container with ¼ tsp of fertilizer and water with that every time. Once a month, use plain water to flush any buildup of fertilizer salts. Cut back on fertilizer during the hottest summer months.
- Consistent moisture is recommended for African violets – not too dry and not too wet. Drown and drought conditions are a quick way to kill a plant. Test the surface of the potting mix to see if it is damp. If it is damp, do not water, if it is dry do. Check the heft of the pot. If it is heavy it does not need watering.
- Repot annually or better yet, every 6 months. Use a loose, porous potting mix with good drainage. Most commercially prepared mixes are adequate but notice if fertilizer has been added and adjust your feeding routine accordingly. A good home prepared mix is 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 perlite and 1/3 vermiculite. Do not over pot and plastic pots are preferable. African violets have shallow roots, so squat pots are better than deep ones. If you do not like the look of plastic, place the pot inside a decorative container.
- Light: African violets like any window with strong, bright light and grow well under artificial light. Plants with dark foliage need more light than plants with variegated foliage. Too little light means lack of bloom. Too much light causes bleaching or yellowing of the foliage.
- Keep plants and plant places clean to inhibit pests and diseases. Groom your violets regularly. Remove spent blossoms and the older outer row of leaves and suckers. Dust the leaves with a soft paintbrush or bathe in warm water. Avoid getting water in the center of the plant and let dry out of the sun.
Want to become a Member?
Being part of BSAVS, Inc. is interesting and rewarding. Exhibiting and volunteering during the show is a tremendous experience with much opportunity to make friends and share our enthusiasm for growing these beautiful plants.
New members warmly welcomed. View details here.