Optimara Violet Glossary: W

Waltz: Optimara variety belonging to the Little Dancer series. Compact African Violet (3-inch pot size) with frilled, semi-double, two-tone pink flowers and medium green leaves. Introduced 1997. More information.

Washington: Optimara variety. Large, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with frilled, semi-double, blue flowers and dark green leaves. Introduced 1987. (AVSA Reg. No. 6605) More information.

Wasp: Bloom type. Describes an African Violet flower that is a single, but on which the top two, smaller petals curl back.

Watering Device: See Self-Watering Device.

Water Spots: Leaf spots which have specifically been caused by water splashing on the leaves. May denote either a change in tissue color or the white residue which sometimes remains when the water has evaporated. More information. Also see Ring Spot.

Watermaid: Trademark for a versatile self-watering device developed by Optimara. For African Violets and other plants in pot sizes up to 6 inches. The Watermaid consists of three parts: a saucer, a stand which sits inside the saucer and a circular disk of capillary matting. The device relies on the phenomenon of capillary action to draw water from the saucer into the soil. To do this, part of the capillary matting is cut so that it maintains contact with the water, while the remainder of the capillary matting rests on the stand, where it stays in contact with the bottom of the pot. 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.

WaterShip: Trademark for a popular, spill-proof, self-watering device developed by Optimara for miniature African Violets (2-inch pot size). The WaterShip relies on the phenomenon of capillary action to draw water from the reservoir into the soil. To do this, a wick is inserted into the bottom of the pot which maintains 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.

Wavy (1): Bloom type. See Frilled.

Wavy (2): Leaf type. See Ruffled.

Wega: Holtkamp variety (Europe). Medium standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, pink flowers and dark green leaves. Renamed Saku.

Weevils: See Black Vine Weevils.

Wendland, Hermann: Director of the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hanover, Germany. In 1893, Hermann Wendland gave the African Violet its name, Saintpaulia, in honor of Baron von Saintpaul and his family, who brought the first known African Violet to Germany.

West Virginia: Optimara variety. Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with frilled, two-tone pink flowers and dark green leaves. Introduced 1988. (AVSA Reg. No. 6975) More information.

Wettable Powder: (WP) Refers to a pesticide which has been processed into a powder to be mixed with water and sprayed.

Whiteflies: Insects known to feed on African Violets. Whiteflies are small, flying insects which measure 1/16 to 1/8 inch in length. As their name suggests, they are white in color. Whiteflies tend to cluster on the underside of the leaves, where they feed on the juices of African Violets. When the leaves are disturbed, the Whiteflies will fly up in a cloud. In addition to other damage, Whiteflies secrete honeydew which may host Sooty Mold. More information.

Whorl: Term often used synonymously with bloom cluster, especially with regard to African Violets. Technically, a whorl is three or more leaves, petals or other flower organs emanating from the same point.

Wichita: Optimara miniature variety. See Little Wichita Girl.

Wick: A length of specially-woven string or similar item with properties that allow capillary action to work. Wicks are often used in self-watering devices such as the MiniWell, MaxiWell and the spill-proof WaterShip. Also see Wicklock.

Wicklock: A patented device developed by Optimara that allows a wick to snap into the bottom of a pot. Used with self-watering devices such as the MiniWell and MidWell.

Wisconsin: Optimara variety. Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, blue flowers and dark green leaves. Introduced 1987. Improved 1993. (AVSA Reg. No. 6606) More information.

World Traveler: Optimara series featuring extra large, standard African Violets (6-inch pot size) which are named for cities around the world.

WP: See Wettable Powder.

Wyoming: Optimara variety. Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, blue flowers and dark green leaves. Introduced 1987. (AVSA Reg. No. 6607) More information.

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