Leaf Propagation at Bluebird Greenhouse

We have had a few inquiries asking how we are able to propagate so many varieties of violets while keeping an adequate stock of plants available in the Bluebird Catalog. It takes an average of 34 weeks to go from leaf cutting to blooming plant. Good planning is mandatory! (Click on pictures below for larger image)

Leaf Cuttings Leaves are cut from the plants and planted leaf to leaf in 10 x 20 trays filled with violet potting soil.
First Plantlets After about 4 to 6 weeks in the 10 x 20 trays small plantlets start appearing on the stems of the rooted cuttings. This time period is determined by the plant variety.
Ready for Transplant When the sprouting plantlets have taken over the 10 x 20 tray it's time to start breaking them apart and putting them into a roomier container.
One inch trays When the individual plantlets are first separated from the leaf cutting they go into one inch diameter pots. We use trays with one inch openings commonly called "plug trays".
18 Weeks Old When the plants have overgrown the plug trays they get popped out and are inserted into their own 4 inch pot. They have been in these plug trays for 6 weeks which means they are now 18 weeks old.
Ready for Plants Four inch pots in the foreground are full of potting soil ready for a one inch violet plantlet.
Pot to Pot Four inch pots are allowed to grow pot to pot until the plants get bigger.
Spaced Out After growing pot to pot for 6 weeks, the violet pots get spaced out to allow more growing room.
Packaging A four inch violet is taped for shipping. The tape stops soil from falling out of the pot during transit. The majority of our violets are sold in 4 inch pots ready to bloom.
Into a Carton Janet is getting a carton ready to ship a batch of four inch plants.
Let Me Out Violets ready for their journey to your doorstep. We ship plants on the dry side to minimize damage. They need water immediately when you receive them. Bluebird Greenhouse package ready to mail