Second try with African Violets

17 years ago

Howdy!

I recently bought my second African Violet from a local nursery. I bought the Optimara wick water system and some small pots to propagate leaves. I put the plant on the water system a day ago and went to check the soil and it was soaked! Do I need to repot the plant in a lighter mixture? Also I have read some conflicting advice for propagating leaves and suckers. I have looked on Rachel's Reflections and began started with her advice on putting the plants in an inch of water without a bag, but I am worried the soil is too wet. I had a beautiful African Violet that got a fungus (it's leaves began to shrivel near the stem and even though perfectly healthy looking would begin to drop) and I have only one small leaf that I am trying to save. Finally, I have an old ten gallon aquarium that I am considering using as a place to grow the babies (out of reach of my kitties!) Does anyone have an opinion on this? Sorry to have so many questions, but I appreciate the help!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

oldfool55
17 years ago
hello, here's how i do leaves, i cut the stem at an angle, put potting mix (with equal amount perlite)in a 2 or 3oz plastic cup with holes cut in the bottom sides, water potting mix till damp, place in a plastic bag I usually dont water again sealed bag holds the moisture in. Sometimes i take leaf out of bag after a month or so and it doesn't seem to hurt them you just have to water them then about once a week and then wait, and wait and wait don't give up.
bspofford
17 years ago
The most important thing to remember when using wick watering is to have the right soil mix. The soil most violets ae commercially grown in are way too heavy, retain way too much water, and root rot is the inevitable outcome.

Use a soil mix of one part spaghnum peat moss, 1 part vermiculite, and 2 parts perlite. This will give you a nice light potting mix. You can also add a little horticultural charcoal to keep the soil sweet. When repotting, do not pack the soil down. I also use this mix, damp, in starting my leaves.

The aquarium is okay for babies, just keep an eye on it for powdery mildew if you have a top for it. And the light is perfect.

You can do this, hey, you're an aggie!

Barbara
Related Discussions
Second African Violet!!
Q
Comments (2)
They are very pretty. Remember not to water too much...dryer is better than too wet, too wet rots the roots. The peat the plants are growing in will hold water, so less is more! Good Luck with them. Two in 2 hours, hum, that's a violet fever coming on. ha, before long you will be looking for more places to put them al !!
...See More
Trying to save my African Violet
Q
Comments (23)
6 years in one pot - sounds like not repotted all this time... that's an unkillable one- defiitely worth saving. I have both these books. They probably have a similar information, but the one I recommended just deliveres better. Joyce Stork's book is more of the questions in answers - Pauline Bartholomew is more like a manual. It is more of an engineering approach - you do this, 2 weeks later you do that, 3 weeks later you do that ...- and in 12 weeks - you have a show plant to die for. Joyce Stork's book is based on the questions people asked AVSA and it is written in more detailed way - you have this problem - why it happened, what did you do wrong, what should be done better... I think each book appeals to the different readers and good to have both of them. I just prefer to go through the 5,4,3,2,1 - launch scheme first - it sure delivers - and then discuss possibilities. I think it is very important to have an initial success. Regarding how to grow AV covered. It really needs 50-60% humidity, not 100%, so think about covering your container with a angel cake lid or salad bowl lid with a good size hole cut in it. An AV needs water to evaporate - so it can absorb more water with fertilizer. If there is no evaporation - it sits hungry and pale. I.
...See More
Broad mites on African Violets? Please help!
Q
Comments (29)
The Forbid label had all sorts of warnings about human toxicity through inhalation, direct skin contact, etc. Birds are extremely sensitive to airborne particles and chemical fumes, even those that don't bother humans (fumes from teflon-coated nonstick pans, for example, can kill birds in a matter of minutes), and in general, it's pretty safe to assume that anything in the air that's harmful to humans will be more harmful to them. I didn't think it was worth the risk, even in a different room. Plus I'd have to worry about getting the overspray on my floor/wall/etc. What I did do is made about a half gallon of Forbid and, with my gloved fingers holding the soil/plant in the pot, dunked each of my plants (I have ~30, so not as many as a lot of people) upside down and swished them around for a few seconds. Saran wrap probably would have helped, but unfortunately I didn't think of it or see your comment in time, but just using my fingers worked relatively well. I did have one plant fall out of the pot and entirely into the miticide, but I fished it out quickly, and after letting it dry out overnight, I repotted it with apparently no harm done. Garbage bags covered with a layer of paper towels worked well to set the plants on while they all dried overnight in my bathroom, with the vent on to get rid of fumes. The miticide got a little dirty by the last few plants, due to some loose soil falling in, but I don't think it impacted its function any. I do need to figure out how to dispose of the leftover, though. However, that would have been a problem even if I had chosen to spray it, since I wasn't sure how much I needed, and it's not stable once mixed up, so I couldn't have saved it to reuse. I currently have it sealed in a cleaned milk jug while I figure out how to responsibly dispose of it. Thank you all for your help and advice while I figured this out! Hopefully this will be the last of the nasty mites!
...See More
Chimera African Violets
Q
Comments (23)
That is extremely generous if you, Irina! I'll PM you and I'll also send you my Pinterest folders link - if you see anything I have that you'd really like, we could work out swapping packages. Or I can pay you for yours. Funny that you say Yachiyo is a dropper. It is /very/ stick tight for me and never drops the flowers /ever/. They wilt and die on the bloom stalks and dry up there. I have to cut them off, they hold fast and don't pluck off. Again, I wonder if it's a humidity issue or yours and mine sported ways somewhere in the past and we have slightly differing strains. It's not the first time I have run into that issue. Interesting. Mind, I do get droppers sometimes in other things but it's still rare. I think gesneriads don't much care for air conditioning and dry homes which isn't an issue - we hardly ever run heat or air compared to most people. Even when we lived down in Georgia. Conversely we are used to high humidity - 70% isn't unusual. I do have to keep an eye out for mold and mildew and take some precautions. Still a few of my streptocarpus, if I move them around, will tend to drop flowers. Wow and DS Katja Tujua both for example are better not jostled for me.
...See More
lilypad22
17 years ago
Most violets die from overwatering. Remember moist is not the same as wet. I use the clear plastic deli containers, put some damp potting soil mix in the bottom (I buy any of the violet potting mix and add perlite to it, maybe 1/3 or better). then I put in my leaves with a nametag near them and put the top on. If in a couple days it is too moist, I pop off the top and dry off some moisture and put the lid back on or add a couple drops of water if it seems too dry. Everyone has a lot of different ways to root leaves. I used to use vermiculite to root them, but they do well in potting soil too. I didn't have as much luck just rooting them in perlite.

Keep trying and good luck! tish
aquaggie222
Original Author
17 years ago
Thank you for all of your advice! I didn't realize how addicting these beauties can be. I bought two more today (one with incredible pink and purple flowers) and have my eye on a third (reminds me of Aggie maroon and white). I will, first thing tomorrow, replant them in a lighter mixture and inspect them for suckers. What have I gotten myself into...
marjbcrp
17 years ago
I use a light mix for all of my AVs, no manner what stage they are in. I wick water mature AVs, and have the leaves, new plantlets and small as long as they are no bigger than 2 1/2" pot with wicks, but onto capillary matting. Works very well for me. These things are definitely a bit addictive.

I am not sure where in Texas you are, but there are some great clubs around - all of which just had their spring shows. I am in the Corpus Christi club. Finding a club to visit or an AV member to visit is one of the best ways to learn -- there is just something about seeing it in the "real" instead of talking about it. (plus a lot of times they will send you away with violets). Our Texas convention is going to be in Kerrville TX November 8-10 and it will include all of the Texas clubs. I will be happy to send you more information. Also, our local club has some good links to growing info at ccavs.org or there is LSAVC for Texas at lsavc.org - OR national at avsa.org.

Hope to see you at a meeting or a show somewhere!!

Marjorie in CC TX

Here is a link that might be useful: Corpus Christi AVS

Second try with African Violets

Comments (5)

oldfool55

bspofford

Related Discussions

lilypad22

aquaggie222
Original Author

marjbcrp

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Second try with African Violets

Comments (5)

oldfool55

bspofford

Related Discussions

lilypad22

aquaggie222Original Author

marjbcrp

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

aquaggie222
Original Author