Why are miniature violets small? Will it grow bigger if I pot it in a larger pot?
The answer to this question seemed so obvious that we hesitated to include it here. Then we remembered all of the visitors to our shop, some of whom already grew African violets, that didn’t realize the distinction between “miniature” and “standard” sized varieties and how they should be grown. To begin with, “miniature” violets grow small because of their genetic makeup, not because of how they’ve been cared for. To be more precise, a miniature variety is one that typically will not exceed 6″ in diameter at maturity. “Semiminiatures” are slightly bigger, but still small, being allowed to grow up to 8″ in diameter when mature. In fact, to be judged at an AVSA sanctioned show, they are not allowed to exceed their specified size. These varieties have been specially bred by hybridizers to grow small. In practice, many of these varieties will grow even smaller than their allowed dimensions. The Best Miniature at the 2000 AVSA Convention Show, ‘Rob’s Twinkle Blue’, is an example. Though thi
