Hi T-gal,
Its a bit hard to diagnose your problem from the poor photos but I would suggest you repot them in fresh soil mix and see what happens. If the situation doesn't improve you can always spray with a mitecide. It is generally recommended that you spray with either Malathion or Kelthane at 1 teaspoon per gallon of water. I don't like using either of these chemicals because they are dangerous and smelly. If they do eventually get worse Fred in NJ

See the white spot on the leaves where the leaf meets the stem? This type of foliage is called Girl Leaf. Girl Leaves can be the very devil to raise. They are a challenge.

I would change the soil, making sure you have equal parts of vermiculite, perlite and peat moss so the soil doesn't get water-clogged.

Then check the light. Even at 12 inches from a south window if you are in a southern state that can get very, very bright.

As I say, girl leaves can be a challange. Learn to love it!!!

At this point I would not say you have mite but if the center seems to be getting paler, you might do a search on google for mites.

Nancy

Another solution could be a fertilizer lock up due to improper soil ph. I agree that repotting might be your best bet. . . from what I can tell, it doesn't look like mites.

Gee, sounds like me a couple of years ago. I'll bet you a nickel that it's pH. Get yourself a pH tester (from an aquarium or hydroponics store) and test your water. Test your soil too. Test EVERYTHING! Okay, maybe not *everything*.

I tossed 70+ minis and microminis for just such a thing. Now, don't panic, because I saved a couple and worked on the pH; over many months they do seem to be growing out of it (fingers crossed).

If the plants have a special meaning to you, by all means try to save them. If not, I would simply replace them and be careful about pH. IMHO, anyway.

Good luck.

Korina

Thanks for the pH testing advice. That could very well be the problem as I have not changed the soil on the plants for so long. The sentimental plants I would not be able to throw.
Was reading the thread with well over 50 postings from this week and noticed that Fred gave the potting recipe and said coarse vermiculite. Made me think that the vermiculite I used last time I potted was not coarse but very fine. That possibly didn't lighten the soil very much. Years ago, I did have the coarse vermiculite. Haven't seen it lately at Walmart. Thanks again for the advice.

Hi TG,
I was just rereading this post to see what you had decided to do about the mite situation and funny thing, I just answered Toni in the long thread about perlite. Perlite comes in various sizes and the coarse one is the one I use to ammend my mix. I did at one point years ago buy some perlite at Home Depot and it was too fine for me. It was almost like sand. If you are looking for a small amount I would recommend giving Cape Cod Violetry a call. I know he carries it because thats where I get mine. You can also do a search on ebay. I found a few places that sell coarse but many of them are in large quantities that I have no room for.
Fred in NJ

Hi Fred
I was thinking that my vermiculite was too fine. This is the only kind I have found in the last years, but years ago I remember it was much more coarse. I even used the mica that had been insulation in an old house for the purpose of vermiculite. Am wondering if this fine type would actually be holding too much water. Vermiculite for holding moisture and perlite for drainage, right? I went to Bismarck and got the Ph tester but when I got home discovered it was for aquariums and had a suction on it to hold to the edge of the aquariums. Have to bring it back and get something different. I really am encouraged thinking that this may not be mites but just poor conditions. Another thing is that I have not fed my violets in many years. They were potted in the vermiculite, perlite, and violet soil combination and have probably run out of nutrients long ago.
Guess I just took them for granted for too long. Now they are coming into bloom and look very stunted and blooms stunted. My Pixie Trail is still alive. Not blooming yet.
Old family ones from the 1950's and 1960's I still have the two varieties for sure and maybe the one more if the color comes back the way I think it should. That means I haven't lost any of the originals. That is good.
Did you ever here of one called Pansy trail? The flower was
a two tone kind of darker and lighter lavender. Thanks for thoughts. Sherry

FC2 has it listed but not as a registered variety. "Pansy Trail (E. Fisher) Single violet. Medium green, plain. Standard trailer"

Barbara

Barbara
Were you able to see a picture of the Pansy Trail.
Sherry

Sherry, no picture provided. I also checked the photos on the AVSA website, nada.

Barbara