Mealy Bugs: Insects known to feed on African Violets. See Leaf Mealy Bugs and Soil Mealy Bugs.
Medium (1): Description of standard plant size. Medium, standard African Violets are 10 to 14 inches in diameter and are normally grown in 4-inch pots.
Medium (2): See Potting Medium.
Meg: Optimara variety. Compact African Violet (3-inch pot size) with double, two-tone pink flowers and medium green, girl-type leaves. Introduced 1988. (AVSA Reg. No. 6963) More information.
Melanie: Holtkamp variety (Europe). Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with frilled, semi-double, bi-color flowers. Flowers are red with a white edge. Leaves are dark green. Available in the U.S. as Nebraska.
Memphis: Optimara variety. Small, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with semi-double, two-tone pink flowers and light green, girl-type leaves. Introduced 1987. (AVSA Reg. No. 6572) More information.
Meristem: Also called meristematic tissue. Plant tissue suitable for micropropagation. On African Violets, meristem tissue is taken from the leaf stems. Also see Tissue Culture.
Meristem Culture: Method of propagation. See Tissue Culture.
Meristematic Tissue: See Meristem.
Mermaid: Early African Violet cultivar from which many of today's varieties have been developed. One of the first 10 commercial hybrid introduced in 1927, all of which had blue flowers. More information.
Mesophyll: Plant tissue formed by the inner cells of a leaf, i.e., the tissue layer which lies between the upper and lower epidermis. The mesophyll is comprised of pallisade cells and spongy cells.
Metasystox: A common nematicide used by commercial growers. On African Violets, it is used to control Leaf Nematodes, Root Nematodes and Strawberry Nematodes. Metasystox is classified for restricted use by the EPA, i.e., it cannot be used without a pesticide license.
Meter-Candle: See Lux.
Mexico City: Optimara variety belonging to the World Traveler series. Extra large, standard African Violet (6-inch pot size). Flowers are blue stars. Leaves are dark green. Introduced 1996. More information.
Mg: Symbol for magnesium, an essential element.
Miami: Optimara variety. Small, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, pink flowers and medium green, girl-type leaves. Introduced 1987. (AVSA Reg. No. 6573) More information.
Micelle: The tiniest particles of a potting soil.
Michelangelo: Optimara variety belonging to the Artist's Palette series. Named for the Italian renaissance painter and sculptor, Michelangelo Buonarroti. Large, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, bi-color flowers. Flowers are blue and white. Leaves are medium green. Introduced 1995. (AVSA Reg. No. 8327) More information.
Michelle: Rhapsodie variety. Large, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with pink stars and dark green leaves. Introduced 1987. Improved 1999. (AVSA Reg. No. 6618) More information.
Michigan: Optimara variety. Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, pink flowers and medium green leaves (red reverse). Introduced 1987. Improved 1993. (AVSA Reg. No. 6574) More information.
Michiko: Rhapsodie variety. Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, bi-color flowers. Flowers are light blue and white. Leaves are medium green. Introduced 1995. Improved 1998. (AVSA Reg. No. 8347) More information.
Micro Miniature: Description of plant size. A micro miniature is the smallest African Violet, smaller than a super miniature, with a diameter that is typically two inches or less. Also see Miniature.
Microclimate: Especially with regard to humidity, the climate in the immediate area of a group of African Violets. When African Violets are grouped together, their combined transpiration will create a favorable microclimate. Along with the evaporation of moisture from the soil or watering device, grouping African Violets together can create a microclimate with humidity that is up to 15 percent higher than it would otherwise be.
Micronutrient: An essential element which plants need in very low concentrations. A micronutrient is not the same as a trace element which, while absorbed by plant tissue in very small concentrations, is not clearly essential to the growth and vitality of African Violets. Micronutrients are sometimes referred to as minor elements, presumably in contrast to major elements. Micronutrient, however, is the preferred term. The micronutrients are boron (B), chlorine (Cl), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo) and zinc (Zn).
Micropropagation: Method of propagation. See Tissue Culture.
Midrib: Also called midvein. The central vein of a leaf.
Midvein: See Midrib.
MidWell: Trademark for a popular self-watering device developed by Optimara for miniature African Violets (2-inch pot size). The MidWell relies on the phenomenon of capillary action to draw water from the reservoir into the soil. To do this, a wicklock is inserted into the bottom of the pot so that the wick can maintain continuous contact with the water. Self-watering devices of this sort are very effective in that they provide African Violets with a precise amount of water, thus eliminating the possibility of overwatering or underwatering. In addition, they reduce the amount of maintenance needed by holding water sufficient for up to two weeks. And because these devices employ a bottom-watering method, they help prevent certain deadly pathogens which thrive in very wet conditions, i.e., Crown Rot, Pythium and Root Rot.
Miho: Optimara variety. Small, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, dark blue flowers and dark green leaves. More information.
Miki: Holtkamp variety (Europe). Small, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size). Flowers are white stars. Leaves are medium green. Available in the U.S. as Glacier.
Mildew: See Powdery Mildew.
Millennia: Optimara variety. Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, bi-color flowers. Flowers are red and white. Leaves are medium green. Introduced 1999 to commemorate the new millennium. More information.
Mina: Holtkamp variety (Europe). Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, pink flowers and dark green leaves (red reverse). Available in the U.S. as Michigan.
Mini: See Miniature.
Miniature: Sometimes called mini. Description of plant size or plant type. As defined by the AVSA for purposes of judging, a miniature is any African Violet which measures 6 inches or less in diameter. Many growers, however, make a distinction between miniatures and other, smaller varieties such as super miniatures and micro miniatures. As such, a miniature is typically 4 to 6 inches in diameter and is normally grown in a 2-inch pot. (Note that correct usage dictates that the term, miniature, be applied only in reference to true miniatures, i.e., those which have been bred to grow smaller. Contrast with miniaturized African Violets which have been diminished in size by growth regulators.) Miniatures were originally developed as hybrids from Saintpaulia pusilla. Since then, Saintpaulia shumensis has also been used to develop miniatures.
Miniaturized: Describes an African Violet on which growth regulators have been used to make it smaller. Contrast with True Miniature.
MiniGarden: Trademark for a popular self-watering product produced by Optimara. The MiniGarden consists of two super miniature African Violets and a foliage plant. The garden is potted in a shallow, circular pan. Wicklocks draw water from a decorative watering dish into the soil to make the MiniGarden self-watering.
MiniWell: Trademark for a popular self-watering device developed by Optimara for super miniature African Violets (1-inch pot size). The MiniWell relies on the phenomenon of capillary action to draw water from the reservoir into the soil. To do this, a wicklock is inserted into the bottom of the pot so that the wick can maintain continuous contact with the water. Self-watering devices of this sort are very effective in that they provide African Violets with a precise amount of water, thus eliminating the possibility of overwatering or underwatering. In addition, they reduce the amount of maintenance needed by holding water sufficient for up to two weeks. And because these devices employ a bottom-watering method, they help prevent certain deadly pathogens which thrive in very wet conditions, i.e., Crown Rot, Pythium and Root Rot.
Minnesota: Optimara variety. Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size). Flowers are reddish-purple stars. Leaves are dark green. Introduced 1987. (AVSA Reg. No. 6575) More information.
Minor Element: See Micronutrient.
| A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
| Optimara Main Page |
| Doctor Optimara | Optimara Field Guide | Contact Optimara |
Copyright 1999 Optimara/Holtkamp Greenhouses, Inc. Nashville, Tennessee. Optimara and the Optimara logo are registered trademarks of International Plant Breeding, A.G., Switzerland.