African Violet Trading Etiquette
The best way to get into trading African violets is by joining a local club. Clubs offer you the opportunity to participate in shows, attend social meetings and get-togethers and meet great people. However, joining a club is not always an option for everyone so the practice of trading African violets by mail has developed. What you will find here is a collection of suggestions (not rules), as to what is considered common trading etiquette, handed down from the experienced trader to the newbie. Following the forums, I found myself and many others wondering, "What's the procedure for making trades?". Hopefully African violet enthusiasts will find these hints and tips useful in guiding their trades and getting packages ready for shipping.
Communication: The most important part of a trade is good communication between trade partners. Be totally upfront when planning your trade. Be specific about your varieties and whether you are sending leaves or plants. Details, details, details. If you have all the details, there should never be a bad trade.
Trades are not always plant for plant, leaf for leaf, they can be completed in a number of ways. An African violet for a strep or other type of plant or the exchange may simply be repaying the person for their postage if you have nothing to trade. Perhaps you're in an area where you can purchase an item that someone else can't get and exchange it with them for plants. For example, I hear AVers talking about getting AV pots or plants at Lowes all the time. This is something I can't do since Minnesota has no Lowes stores.
Even Trades: Common practice is an equal number of leaves or an equal number of starter plants. Many times trades are made which are quite "uneven" such as leaves for plants or more from one side than from the other. Most say if they are trading leaves for starter plants, they feel they should offer a little more. Extra leaves from another plant or perhaps a dollar to two to help with their shipping. Most of the time any offer of money will be rejected as long as plants are being exchanged. There is nothing wrong with this, as long as it is mutally agreed upon by both trade partners. Many times one person will have an excess of the same plant and need to make room for new ones so will sometimes send a "surprise" gift in addition to the planned trade. Never under-estimate the generosity of an African violet enthusiast!
Records: Don't rely on your memory to know who you are trading with and what you are trading. Most trades will be arranged by emails .... keep them or copy them to another program so you have records. Excel is a great spreadsheet program that works good for keeping records and notes.
Leaves: It is most common to send two leaves with each trade, as most vendors do, to assure the possibility that propagation will be successful. This doesn't mean you can't send just one leaf, but be sure your trade partner knows this.
Plants: If you're trading "starter plants" be sure to let your trade partner know what type of pot it is in, such as a solo cup. Don't remove a plant from the pot for shipping unless you have discussed this and it is agreeable to your trade partner. A general description of the plant, size, number of leaves etc. fine. You might want to mention if it was a sucker or a baby you started yourself from a leaf. In some cases, the plant may in fact be a baby – still attached to the mother leaf. Just be sure to tell your trade partner what you have available during the planning of the trade.
Plant Health and Pests: We all know the problem that pests can bring. Trading involves sort of a "Do unto other as you would have others do unto you" attitude. You wouldn't want anyone to send you unhealthy or infested plants so be sure you don't send them to anyone else.
It's Spring! You excitedly start making plans to do some trades, your plants are gorgeous but you have to wait until it warms up. Along comes mid-April and the trades have started, but what's this? OH NO!! You find thrips on your plants. Was it the gorgeous one you couldn't resist buying, or that sad looking little thing you rescued?
Trades ..... there are trades planned!! NOW WHAT??
Well, first off, don't panic. Pests happen to everyone at one time or another. Get some spray and begin treating your plants then contact your trade partners and be honest with them. Tell them, they will understand. You'd be hurting them much more if you sent them infested plants.
Pestisides: Let your trade partner know if you use any pesticides or a systemic in your soil. Your trade partner may have small children or pets that have developed a taste for African violets. Pesticides, such as a systemic which is added to the soil, make the plants poisonous so you must be sure to let them know.
Shipping: Please remember to discuss the type of shipping in your trade. Priority mail (2-3 day delivery) is a must, you want the leaves or plantlets to get to their destination ASAP. The other important side of "shipping" is the weather. Be sure to check with your trade partner to make sure their weather will be good. This is particularly important in early spring, mid-summer and late fall trades. Early spring and late fall, you need to check for cold nights – mid-summer trades need to be wary of weather that is too hot. Adding delivery confirmation to the package when you ship is an additional (personal preference) option.
What To Do When Your Trade Arrives? Isolate, Isolate Isolate. This cannot be stressed enough! This is something you should do whenever you bring home another plant, whether it's from a store, a show or received in a trade. Recommended time for isolating new arrivals in order to watch for pest infestation varies up to 3 months or more. Unfortunately, not everyone has the room to do this so make arrangements to isolate for a minimum of one (1) month. No one will deliberately send you problems, but things can happen that you have no control over. Remember ..... just as in purchasing from a store. Trading is your choice and therefore your responsibility. You have chosen to take the risk of bringing unknowns into your home so be prepared. Isolate the plants and soak your leaves in a 10% bleach solution for a few minutes or wash them in a mild detergent and rinse well before you begin propagation. If the leaves are limp, recut the stem and soak them in warm water until firm.
What To Do If You're Not Happy With Your Trade? Don't go running to a forum and post anyone's name. Contact the person first and tell them you were not happy and explain why. Be pleasant, in most cases if there is a problem, your trade partner will repay your shipping or work something out with you. If you're not successful, ask one of the administrators at the forum if they would moderate for you.
Rosebud / Cher
---{---{---}{{@The violets in the border are Cherries and Cream, Pineapple Sherbet and Rainbow's Quiet Riot. Thank you Shantel for your help with the pics. Examples of trades. Photo 1: Flower Child babies in solo cup. Photo 2: Rob's Antique Rose babies, leaf dusted with cinnamon to help prevent rot. Photo 3: Apache Brave
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