African Violets

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book with much information for the novice!
Review: Tony Clements' "African Violets" book is an excellent, one-stop reference with a wealth of information.

Being new to the hobby, I found this guide amazingly useful. It features seven main sections, beginning with the history of African Violets (very interesting) and continuing through the basic topics of plant care and propagation. It includes sections on basic care, pests and diseases, propagation by seed or leaf, and discussions on displaying African Violets.

Most useful, however, is the seventh section entitled "Your Questions Answered" which features a handy and easy-to-use reference of common questions and answers. These are separated by category headers (e.g. "Pots And Repotting", "Temperature, Humidity, And Water", etc) and contain a shortened, easily accessible version of the information found within the first six sections of the book.

The book also includes a "List of Popular Named Varieties" and a "Suppliers and Useful Addresses" list. Neither is overly informative (the suppliers list contains only six references, three for the United Kingdom and three for the United States), however both are nice touches.

As a new participant in the African Violet keeping hobby, I found this book to be an excellent source of information. For those more experienced in this hobby, "African Violets" is still a great reference, and an easy, informative read.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book with much information for the novice!
Review: Tony Clements' "African Violets" book is an excellent, one-stop reference with a wealth of information.

Being new to the hobby, I found this guide amazingly useful. It features seven main sections, beginning with the history of African Violets (very interesting) and continuing through the basic topics of plant care and propagation. It includes sections on basic care, pests and diseases, propagation by seed or leaf, and discussions on displaying African Violets.

Most useful, however, is the seventh section entitled "Your Questions Answered" which features a handy and easy-to-use reference of common questions and answers. These are separated by category headers (e.g. "Pots And Repotting", "Temperature, Humidity, And Water", etc) and contain a shortened, easily accessible version of the information found within the first six sections of the book.

The book also includes a "List of Popular Named Varieties" and a "Suppliers and Useful Addresses" list. Neither is overly informative (the suppliers list contains only six references, three for the United Kingdom and three for the United States), however both are nice touches.

As a new participant in the African Violet keeping hobby, I found this book to be an excellent source of information. For those more experienced in this hobby, "African Violets" is still a great reference, and an easy, informative read.

Rating:
Summary: great reading-I'm trying their technique of hybridising-
Review: Very interesting book.I've already had success with stem propogation. This book explains how to cross pollenate two different colored violets.I just cross pollenated a single white flowered violet with a double pink flowered violet. I won't find out if it's a success for at least a year but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a bi-color double bloom. We'll see.