Bobbie: Rhapsodie variety. Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, bi-color flowers. Flowers are white with a blue edge. Leaves are medium green. Introduced 1990. (AVSA Reg. No. 7359) More information.
Bolero: Optimara variety belonging to the Little Dancer series. Compact African Violet (3-inch pot size) with single, pink flowers and medium green leaves. Introduced 1999. More information.
Bora Bora: Optimara variety. Large, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, bi-color flowers. Flowers are burgundy with a white edge. Leaves are medium green. Introduced 1998. More information.
Bordeaux Mix: Elemental fungicide produced from copper sulfate and lime. Bordeaux mix is not recommended for use on African Violets, since it can burn foliage.
Boron: (B) Essential element for the growth and vitality of African Violets. A micronutrient. Boron is important for overall growth and the development of flowers.
Boron Deficiency: Condition which describes an African Violet that is not getting enough boron. Among other symptoms, a deficiency of boron can cause halo-ing on the leaves of African Violets. More information.
Boron Overload: Condition which describes an African Violet that is getting too much boron. Among other symptoms, an excess of boron can cause variegated leaves to turn entirely green. More information.
Boston: Optimara variety. Small, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, pink flowers and dark green, girl-type leaves. Introduced 1987. (AVSA Reg. No. 6549) More information.
Botanical Pesticide: Pesticide in which the active ingredient is extracted from a plant. Contrast with Elemental Pesticides and Synthetic Pesticides. See Neem and Pyrethrin. Also see Organic Pesticide.
Bottom-Watering: Watering method whereby water is drawn into the soil usually by way of capillary action. Popular devices which enable bottom-watering include the Watermaid, MiniWell, MaxiWell and the spill-proof WaterShip. Also see Self-Watering.
Botrytis: Also called Botrytis Blight, Gray Mold and Bud Rot. A fungus which attacks African Violets, leaving the leaves and stems covered by a fuzzy, gray or brown growth. More information.
Bourletiella hortensis: See Springtails.
Boy-Type: Leaf type. See Plain.
Brevipalpus obovatus: Privet Mites.
Brevipilosa: See Saintpaulia brevipilosa.
Briga: Holtkamp variety (Europe). Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with semi-double, red flowers and medium green leaves (red reverse). Available in the U.S. as Pennsylvania.
Brigitte: Holtkamp variety (Europe). Small, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, lilac flowers and medium green, girl-type leaves. Available in the U.S. as Scorpio.
Britta: Holtkamp variety (Europe). Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with frilled, pink flowers and dark green leaves. Available in the U.S. as Oklahoma.
Bruni: Holtkamp variety (Europe). Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with semi-double, red flowers and dark green leaves (red reverse). Available in the U.S. as Ohio.
Broad Mites: Polyphagotarsonemus latus. Also called Tropical Mites and Yellow Tea Mites. Tiny arachnids known to feed on African Violets. Broad Mites measure about 1/150 inch in length and are white, yellow or brown in color. They feed on the underside of the leaves. Damage caused by Broad Mites is compounded by the fact that some Mites are known to carry Botrytis. More information.
Brown Soft Scale: Coccus hesperidum. A common species of Scale Insect known to feed on African Violets. See Scale.
Bud: An unopened bloom. On African Violets, a bud appears as a small ball, about 1/8 inch in diameter. It is covered by the calyx and forms on the end of a pedicel.
Bud Shoot: See Shoot.
Bustle: Leaf type. See Bustleback.
Bustleback: Leaf type. Also called compound, piggyback, wasp or bustle. Describes an African Violet leaf which has one or two small leaves attached to the back of it.
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