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African Violets

Entire plant broken off roots.

16 years ago

For the first time this year, the weather hit 70 degrees. I had a window open and went out on the balcony to start getting it ready for spring. It was a pretty windy day in the Windy City and when I came back in, I saw a small lumpy thing in the kitchen floor. When I looked closely I saw it was my best african violet--A deep purple Space Violet covered in buds and large healthy leaves. But that's all that was there: leaves and buds. The roots were still in their self-watering pot on the windowsill. Having the cross wind when I had the balcony door open cause quite a gale inside my place.

So, there are two questions. 1--I've got the plant sitting on a bowl of water with what's left of the stem in the water. Any chance it will take root? 2--Assuming the roots are still healthy, is there a chance it will grow out again from the roots?

Thanks in advance!

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Comments (4)

christie_beginner
16 years ago
hello
well i dont know wether another plant will sprout again from the roots, but i do know that there is such a thing you can buy called rooting powder. it comes in the form of powder, but sometimes as a liquid and it is usually intended for cuttings of plants which you want to clone, but i'm sure it should work on your plant and help it grow roots again. just follow the instructions.
unfortunately, as i'm from the uk, i dont know wether they sell it in chicago, or where, but you can always find some on ebay etc.
until then, keep your plant the way it is, but make sure that the leaves dont get wet, and make sure that the water stays luke warm
good luck
christie
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bspofford
16 years ago
Wow, that must have been some gale. If it was my plant, I would take off bottom leaves until I had a stem that I could re-root. Trim the stem of all leaf stubs, pot into a smallish pot, and bag it until it re-roots. I wouldn't use rooting hormone, not necessary. After a couple of weeks, tug on the plant gently to see if it sent out new roots. If it has, start to 'wean' it from the plastic bag by opening it a little for a couple of days, then a little more, etc. Pot the leaves also for new plants and 'just in case'.

The more I think about this, the more I wonder if the stem might have rotted, and the wind was enough to flip it to the floor. Be sure to check the end of the stem on the crown; it should be green, not brown and mushy. If brown, treat as above by removing all the brown part until you get to good fresh green, then pot up.

Good luck.

Barbara
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tomtedbear
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks to Barbara and Christie, I broke off a few bottom leaves (and have them in a pot rooting) and then just set the remaining plant on a self-watering pot of fresh African Violet potting mix. I left it alone for a few weeks and just gave it the tiniest of nudges and it's definitely rooted! The roots from which the plant broke off did not grow a new plant.

Thanks for your help and advice.
robitaillenancy1
15 years ago
You may have had root rot and that's why the plant broke away from the roots.

Those self watering containers keep a lot of water around the roots, rooting them. Solution is to lighten the soil mix, ie. put in a lot of perlite so soil does not become soggy.

Nancy

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