Don't know if this has been explained elsewhere, but I'm curious about how to apply the 1/3 rule for pot size to Minis. Some are less than 6" so a 2" pot may be too big. Thanks, Michelle

A: HI Michele, I grow all my minis and semis in 3 oz Solo cups. The cup is 2" across at the top and although it is deep, the plants do rather well in them. Of course if you have a mini that only grows to about 3" across you could grow it in one of the tiny condiment cups or thumb pot. With these tiny cups I would always wick because they can dry out quickly.

Hello Fred,
I have a question about wicking. I went to all wicking, all of my plants have a wick with a pot of water. I put fresh treated water in the pots once a week or when the water gets low. But sometimes some of the plants will go dry even if there is water still in the pot with the wick in the water. Why
does it do that? Is there a secret to keeping the wicking action going?  Thanks for any suggestions you can give me.
Doreen

A: Soilless mix is good because it provides a growing medium which is free of disease if sterilized. It allows the grower the chance to add what ever fertilizer or soil amendments they wish. Vermiculite and Perlite provide aeration to the soil as well as holding water for a later date. The vermiculite as I know it, stores water for a later date. Perlite keeps the soil mix light and airy.

(I lost the original question from MissyLovesViolets ... She asked how Fred kept his collection to a managable size. In looking at his plant stands in the Member Roll Call album, she wondered how he found enough space for the plants, as they grew more leaves and larger. Does pruning down have any effect on the plant?
     Also, she wondered if all his plants were grown with plans for entering a show. 
     Missy also wanted to know if he added new varieties to his collection, and how he found the space for the new plants.) 

A:  I will take this question line by line. 
When I trim a plant back to give it more space I also repot it and the plant gets new soil and seems to be rejuvenated.  I find that the plant grows and blooms normally and does not sucker.  If the plant shapes up nicely I will exhibit it no matter if it is small or large.  It should have good symmetry, great condition and good amount of bloom.  I find that judges look for nicely shaped plants with average amounts of bloom that are clean and well groomed to award blue ribbons and rosettes to.  A good example was my last years best in show plant Picasso which was not in a collection.  The judges to my surprise pulled it out of the variegated class I had entered it into because I felt it was low on bloom count.
      I try to bring all my plants to a show but not all at the same time.  Some undergo lots of pruning and playing with before I can get them to a point where they are good enough to bring to a show.  I do keep a number of plants just because I am attached to them.  I have one called Bergen Lucille Loughlin that I have had in my collection for about 15 - 20 years.  It was hybridized by a member of my former North Jersey club and named after a wonderful lady who is a dear friend.  I keep it because it makes me think of her everytime I look at it.  I guess I am a sentimental slob about some plants.  BLL especially.  I also like holding on to some of the vintage plants.  Most of you know I am happy growing Maas hybrids.  I like the way the plants shape up and their simplicity.  Some don't make it to show but I keep trying to get them there.  Yet there are others that are always in my colllection becuase they remain good dependable show plants.  Ness' White Bear has always performed for me as well as Picasso and a goodly number of minis and semis.  If I had to choose from the little ones I would pick Little Pro, Rob's Fuddy Duddy, Ness' Crinkle Blue, Maas' Angela, Planet Kid and Persian Prince.  They seem to grow like weeds for me.
       Since I judge violet shows, most clubs give a plant to each judge and I do manage to get a few more plants each year.  This year I am judging six shows and will add at least that many more plants to my collection.  I will eliminate a plant or two that is not performing for me but since I love most of my selections I find it difficult.  Knowing that I am going to add more plants forces me to do something drastic.  I sometimes take a few standards and cut them down to three or six leaves and pot them up into Solo cups.  This puts them in a holding mode and gives me more room.   I have not bought a standard for quite a while although I will admit that Gail brought me leaves of Catherine Hunt which is another Maas variety.  I also bought a leaf of Ness' Viking Maiden which I have been trying to get for a couple years now.  I would someday like to have an all white AVSA collection and have seen this variety on a number of best lists.  Other than that I am sticking to the little guys. 
Hope this answers the inquiring minds.

Fred in NJ