Growth of an African Violet Trailer

Darling, don't be Blue (yet)!

Darling Blue Trail

This tiny, little plant has been trying to bloom since the first week I planted it. 

We've come a long way already, huh? 
Okay. So, it grows itself...just as advertised! 
All I have to do is pluck a leaf now and then or nudge out the tiniest little buds you ever saw! 

Seriously.  
Have faith in the forgiving ease of growing a trailer!
We went from this (on the left) to this (on the right) in just 2 months! Once the center grew out I removed the longest, lanky leaves and set it lower in the pot. Since, I've only taken one leaf off directly over the new crown. 
 

It has 2 crowns and several more sprouts I'm watching. Hoping they're not blossoms?
It's true.  Read this somewhere: Get the leaves the way you want them BEFORE it blossoms. 

The Challenge of an African Violet Trailer

Darling Blue Trail

 

  Copied from Mrs John's Top Ten Varieties

10)  Darling Blue Trail (6473) 02/03/1987 (C. Sotkiewicz) Single dark blue. Medium green, pointed, quilted, serrated. Semiminiature trailer.
This is the one semi that seems to like me... but I think it would love anyone... sort of like a little kitten.  It grows well and fast.  It does tend to get leggy and bare, but only after a long period of pretty blooms, and the tips root instantly and begin blooming again.  Propagation is easy and I keep a few extra babies coming along to replace the older, leggy mamas.  I haven't proved it yet, but may be very cold tolerant?

My friend sent me this cutting a few weeks ago. My first thought was: "My friend has quite a sense of humor!"  It was the shape of a curly figure "S" and I had to remove leaves just to get it to stand up in the little solo cup to root. 

It's actually straightened out quite a bit already. I'm not sure yet whether I should do something different to it. 

Lay it down in a pan pot?

Or leave it alone and see how it fills out first. I suspect leaving it alone is the better way to go. 

For a change I might follow my own advice! 
Predictably, almost as soon as I decide to leave it alone, I'll discover air-roots coming from several junctions up the stem. So I turned it out of the pot, removed a few more leaves,added a little fresh mix and reset the stem down a little lower.

Now leave me alone, Darling!

"It grows well and fast" 

"Propagation is easy"

I love a good challenge . . .

* Leaves that had to be removed were set to propagate for added insurance! 

Oh, fine: ALL 5 of them!

(Next 3 composted; I swear I'm not planting every leaf!)