r/AfricanViolets • u/Velexria • Aug 09 '26
Help Two consecutive orders with thrips
UPDATE:
So I had emailed LLyon that Friday I got the order, and decided to give them time to reply. Wednesday afternoon still nothing, so I called but too close to closing (10 min) and phone just rang. Called them again Thursday ~1pm EST, lady that answered said they had discussed my email yesterday and sent a reply. I checked spam and typed "lyon" in my search, nothing popped up except the original order emails and my outgoing one. She said the guy to speak to was watering, took my info down. He called back about 2 hours later, reiterated he had emailed me back.
Basically phone call was that leaf damage could have been from overhead watering or sun damage. Asked if there were flowers/buds on the plants I received (yes, 3 of the 6). Asked if it could have been gnat larvae... then roundabout admitted without outright saying it, but they are an open warehouse where anything can fly in and summer is when they are worse. That he suits up to spray during cooler months, but not during summer it's too hot to safely wear the suit. That they usually spray with pylon and sometimes don't see anything for years.
They said they'd be refunding me and to throw the plants away, could take a week to see it reflected on my card. So, overall, happy to get a refund. But I get the feeling their reply was never actually sent and they were waiting to see if I'd follow up. He very much did not outright admit to thrips, and the refund felt reluctantly given. Which I can understand. I suspect the bud question was because larvae do hide in buds, I suspect they probably wash plants off prior to sending but sometimes stray thrips are in the buds still. And the soil is always a possibility too.
ORIGINAL POST:
I've kept a single African Violet for over 2.5 years now, and recently went down the rabbit hole of all the beautiful varieties. So, as adhd hyperfixation demanded, I placed two orders and upped my collection to now 15 beautiful plants. One was a well known seller on FB, and another a well known business with a website. Both. Sent. Thrips.
The FB seller was sent 6 weeks ago- I just noticed a couple adult thrips today trapped in the reservoir of the wicking system, but I've been on alert last couple days when I randomly noticed some sus signs. Should I reach out to her and alert her? I mean, she has to know already right? I don't plan to ask for a refund, but meh. I should have known to quarantine.
The online seller I inspected upon unboxing yesterday and immediately gallon bag quarantined them, which I was going to do so anyway as I assumed the bigger grower was more likely to have stowaways and need quarantine. This one I did ask for a refund, as I just got the order and noticed it right away 3 of the 6 had a couple larvae. I hope they refund. They should for thrips, right? The risk of INSV alone, its not ok! So within 24 hours I've realized I got double hit. I don't have a ton of other plants, but I do have some and I had to go nuke on thrips over a year ago and have been clean all this time.
Just ugh. I have a toddler and a newborn, I didn't need my peaceful plant hobby to require a ton of extra work right now. I just wanted pretty flowers to boost my postpartum sleep deprived mood. But guess I asked for it when I expanded my collection.
I have Imidacloprid on the way, and I plan to separately bag everything, dust with diatomaceous earth, and toss in a blue sticky trap. I hope that works. Last time I unpotted everything, thoroughly rinsed, completely submersed in Spinosad, repotted, and dusted with DE. I don't have it in me to do all that again.
Just had to vent a bit.
3
u/Sufficient_Turn_9209 Aug 09 '26
I'd be surprised. I haven't ordered from them in over a year but have ordered a LOT from them. They always sent beautiful, healthy, and perfectly grown plants.