Think my African Violets are History!!!

12 years ago

Last year, around this time, I had approximately 40 Africaan Violets.

Most were purchased in 2004, 2006, and 2007/8.

To many here, a 7-yr-old AV isn't considered long-keeping, but in my case, before 1992, my AV's usually died within a year, so I deem a 7-yr-old AV a rarity.

From 2004 until 2008 my AV's bloomed throughout the year. Moreso in winter.

After, let's say 2009, something went wrong. 98% stopped blooming.

Sorry for the history lesson. lol

A couple years ago, I bought two huge bags of Perlite. Perlite is one ingredient added to my AV mix.

The bag was left outside..Stupid me, didn't think anything would go wrong if Perlite was left outdoors, so I continued using, mixing with other mediums.

The last two types of plants this wet Perlite was added: African Violets and Clivias.

Oh, one more thing..My plants are sprayed with an organic insectide I make up, so it's been years since I've seen pest on plants. However, I never spray AV's or any other fuzzy leaf plant.

This winter, I noticed a white substance on AV's and Clivias. At first, I assumed it was the Perlite. I cleaned leaves, and all went well. A couple weeks later, the white 'things' returned..It was then I realized these little creatures were Mealy.

I once again wiped/cleaned them off, but they're persistent, and made another appearance.

Humilated, I placed every AV in a plastic bag, took outside, removed pots, and hosed..Hosed the entire bunch and pots. The day was chilly and water cold.

This isn't something I'd ordinarly do, believe me, but I was so darn disgusted, it was done as a last resort.

Hosing took about 15 minutes. AV's were brought back inside, and repotted in fresh soil and scrubbed, plastic pots.

The following day, most of the leaves were frost-bitten. Some 'entire' plants broke apart.

I'm also assuming Mealy munched on roots, because 50% were w/o any.

One last thing..this isn't an excuse, but I have back and knee problems. Last Aug, I had knee surgery..Unsuccessful knee surgery.

To be honest, I stopped watering plants, ALL plants as needed.

I don't know if the wet Perlite or lack of water attracted Mealy, but it had to be one or the other...or both.

I just counted remaining AV's..13! And I don't know if they'll survive the torture they went through.

So, I'm thinking about starting over. The problem is, I fear bringing in more AV's if the remaining plants have Mealy eggs. What to do?

Should I toss the remaining AV's? I dread doing this, especially since they're struggling to survive. I haven't any room to isolate..my house is more of a nursery than a home.. :)

If this happened to you, would you discard or keep AV's?

BTW, my Clivias survived the same cleaning methold as my AV's, and are Mealy-Free...Toni

Sorry this is so long.

Featured Answer

irina_co

12 years ago

Toni -

if your violets are of some valuable varieties you need to preserve - take leaves, dip them in a 1:3 solution of rubbing alcohol and put down the leaves for babies. You can throw your violets because they probably will be looking like who knows what anyway and the young ones will be up and growing in this time.

You cannot get rid of mealies by hosing. Your clivias definitely have eggs so these monsters will be back. Try to spray your clivias with a weak solution of alcohol. It kills them on contact. You need to get Marathon and add to your soil for some time until the last of them be gone. There is no home remedy for them.

Perlite is probably not the culprit. Mealies are abundant outside in summer and you can bring them with cut flowers, on your clothes, with somebody's plant - and if you have hoyas - these guys will come in droves and break into the house.

Tell us when you are ready for new AVs. I promise you a big box of starters.

Irina

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Comments (15)

birdsnblooms
Original Author
12 years ago
Irina, I don't think any of my violets are truly valuable, cost-wise, however, my plants are dear to me, sentimentally. You know? Especially older plants..A couple were purchased in 1072/3, others, 1982, and so on. Not violets.

Yeah, I sprayed and dabbed w/vinegar(several times) but it didn't work. Of all insects, Mealy is the only pest I can't rid..Scale, mites, no problem, but Mealy!!
Quite a few people have been complaining about Mealy this year..I wonder if eggs are in plants bought at big box stores.. Brought home...the start of disaster.
Come to think of it, I bought two violets at our local grocery store, autumn of 2010. Months before Mealy were visible. Hmmm.

Irina, beat ya to it..I already took leaves, but don't know if they'll root. It's been a long time since I rooted a violet leaf..
Do you root in soil or water?

Actually, I'm to blame. Not the Perlite, or surgery.. I normally spray w/home-made insecticide, every other wk. Since August 2010, plants were sprayed once. Plus letting soil dry too much.

Another thing..during winter, once a month my AV's are soaked in warm water, in the kitchen sink..even though leaves got wet, they never marred. It's something I've been doing for years.
After soaking, violets were set aside until leaves dried, then placed back on the shelf.

Like watering, I neglected to soak them this winter.
This might sound trivial, but believe me, I KNOW my poor plants have/d Mealy because of my negligence.

Last..Years ago, 1980's, I'd top-water. Violets would die. Somewhere along the line, 'probably read' I started bottom-watering..The only time they'd get watered on top of soil was when fertilized. Violets did fine.
Instead of following this procedure, I got lazy and top watered.

Irina, I pray my Clivia lives. I started the oldest Clivia from seed in 1982. It's a monster. Over the years, it's been insect-free, and flowers anytime after February until July.

Yes, I have Hoyas (35-40)..They're in the upstairs bedroom..I've inspected each, so far no insects. In fact, my Multiflora just finished blooming, and two others have buds. I pray my Indoor-Garden-Angel keeps bugs away. :)
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Yup, soil looks perfect and also does not look like the usual Optimara potting mix. But please, remove all the dead stuff. It does look like a rare Optimara "space violet" in even more rare green and white color. We do not usually identify AV's here, but because that was mentioned, I agree. If that is what you got, then it is one of the sturdiest AVs around. You got yourself a beauty. It is obvious you cared for your plant, giving it decorative pebbles in a pretty pot. And even sending for a moisture meter! But honestly, they do best in plastic. The glazed pot is also not ideal. Also, the leaf span will eventually cover the pot. So no top soil treatment required. When the leaves have the correct amount of water retention, they will feel stiff and look fresh and hydrated. Your foliage already looks 50% better in just a few hours. You can also place your little guy, in its saucer, then in a small bowl, such as a small cereal bowl, add your pebbles, and water. That will give it humidity. Aegis is correct, it is done blooming for now. Once it recovers, it will bloom again in several months. Also, his suggestion to get two more is excellent. The AVs do better when near others, in a grouping. If you want suggestions of where else to get AVs, do ask here. (We generally don't recommend the grocery store. But a quality orchard or nursery might be ok. The main reason is you do not want to bring in tiny bugs called thrips from retail store plants.) Yoh have a choice with bulbs. You could get a full spectrum bulb through Amazon. A tad expensive, though. As for light, depends on where you live. Where Aegis lives, full or direct sunlight is ok. But where I live, in sunny California, the light must be filtered, no direct sun, only partial shade. So, do read the Optimara link Aegis sent to learn about proper lighting for spring in your area. Summer light will be stronger and shifts position. It does not look like it needs the plastic bag treatment. But you can take a square piece of Saran Wrap and drape it over the top. You can prop up the Saran Wrap with some type of plastic pick. I use plastic lid stoppers from Starbucks. They have very long picks on one end with a wide rounded top. These are just temporary measures until your little guy recuperates. Note that African violets will seem counter-intuitive, at first. Their root systems are disproportionately small, they have no trunks, or main stems, so the leaf span is tight. They grow slowly. They need less direct light, and less water than you think. Aegis, that's a pretty Kahlih Marie from Harmony House! Joanne
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MojaveLove
12 years ago
Oh no! I'm sorry to hear about this Toni :( poor little guys...

I will for sure donate leaves to the "Help Toni Rebuild Her Collection" fund as well. I have Robs: combustible pigeon and cotton ball and I also have Irish Flirt and just brought home my first standard, a $4 Optimara called Maui. If you like any or all of these I will give you a few leaves :)
birdsnblooms
Original Author
12 years ago
Mojave..thanks..Last night another violet went in the trash. It was so bad, I couldn't recognize what it was..:(

Mojave, thanks, but please no cuttings. Really. I appreciate it, but for now, I'm going to hold off on violets until I'm sure Mealy are gone.
Plus, there's plants to take outside, and gardening, so I'll be super busy..'if the temps ever warm up, and rain ends lol.'

I really thought about getting Happy Harold and a couple others, but common sense tells me to wait..If my remaining violets have mealy eggs, it's best to hold off..

But Mojave and Irina I really do appreciate your offer..Toni
irina_co
12 years ago
Toni -

Mealies are infectious - and vinegar is not going to help. It is not about top watering and bottom watering - it is culture and yes - if you neglect them it weakens the plants and makes them more susceptible.
The culprit is probably plants from the store.

Go to Home Depot or Lowes and find Bayer's Tree and lawn care spray, go for concentrate. You need the one that has Imidacloprid as an active ingredient. Make a solution according to the instruction and water every plant in your house. It is a systemic and it will kill any mealy bug as soon as it will start feeding. I would try on one plant of the kind first - to see if it makes any damage - but it shouldn't. It will last in a plant for a month or more - so new hatches will die too. You can repeat it in a month. It is not a strong poison, it is a synthetic tobacco, but still work in gloves and do your watering so you do not spill anything.

I do not do any rooting in water, I do it in a loose soil mix under the domes and 95 percent of the leaves root. What you can do - get a Jiffy starter kit - tray, pellets and dome, water and fluff pellets with a fork and stick 2 leaves from each violet for rooting. Water so the pellets are barely barely humid, and keep the cover on. Keep it close to the window but not in a sun - and in a month or so you will have mouse ears poking.

I would give my prayers not for Clivia, but for Toni - so she will stop getting desperate, relaxes, gets organized and does what needs to be done. It is hobby, it is fun, do not make it a punishment.
I do not soak all my plants in warm water every month. I try to repot them more often so I do not accumulate too much salts.

Nothing will happen to your Clivias, to kill them you need to freeze them or boil. Foliar mealies do not kill plants, root mealies promote root rot. Foliars are mostly unsightly and very contagious.

If you are anxious to use the spray - spray an alcohol solution. Just try on 1 leaf first, as far as I know Streptocarpus cannot takealcohol, I do not know what else. Violets are OK - I would mix 1 part of rubbing alcohol with 3 cups of hot water - and spray. Mealies cannot stand it. You need to soak all nooks and crannies and wipe the shelves and pots and saucers - foliars leave eggs everywhere.

Irina
birdsnblooms
Original Author
12 years ago
Irina, I responded to your last post, accidently hit a button, and lost the entire page. Sheesh.

I keep saying vinegar when I mean Rubbing Alcohol. Vinegar was stated numerous times. AGE!!!
I've sprayed and swiped with alcohol. Rubbing Alcohol. 91%.
Last night, we went to Walgreen's...remember RA was about .79 a bottle? The least expensive, Walgreen's brand is now 2.99..

Anyway, I did NOT use vinegar for mealy..lol.

I'll have to check HD for Bayer's Tree & Lawn. 'no nearby Lowes.'
What's the difference between concentrate and ???
Irina, we don't use chemicals, so when it comes to none-organic products, I'm clueless.
What exactly is Bayer's Tree & Lawn used for? What does it do?
Before purchasing, I'll have to read all ingredients. With birds, dogs and an iguana, we must be extra careful.
A loud noise startles birds, next thing they're off and flying, sometimes landing on plants..Our little dog, Coco, finds everything interesting, and iguanas LOVE plants. Especially munching leaves.

How do you determine dossage using Bayer's on indoor plants?

Also, this spring I'm repotting or refreshing soils/mediums in all plants. I started this project about a month ago.
If I decide to use Bayer's, it's best I wait until plants are potted in their new homes.

Irina, I have Peat Pellets/Pots, and a little seedling green house with dome and vents..Includes heating pad.

Four of the violet leaves rooted. They're small, too tiny to set in pots.

Do you think my violets had soil or foliar Mealy? When violets were unpotted, I didn't see pests. However, violets that once had a healthy root were gone, like something devoured them. Mealy was on foliage.

It was this forum I learned of soil mealy. Before reading threads here on African Violet Forum, I didn't know soil mealy existed.

Irina, I soak plants in winter out of love. lol. It's a lot of work, but afterwards, tropicals look like they just came from Fl. Succulents are only soaked once during winter. It's relaxing, and IMO, plants enjoy it.
It might not be something that needs to be done, but I feel better after their bath and shower.

Thanks for the prayers..We can all use them. You'll be in mine, too..

Thanks again for all your help, Irina. I swear, you're a Saintpaulia encyclopedia..lol. hugs, Toni
GrowHappy
12 years ago
Toni, I'm so sorry you're losing your AV collection.:(
Let me know when and if you want more to get you started again. I have plenty of leaves down now which will be making babies soon. By the time you're ready, the babies should be big enough to send on.

Hugs,
Shanika
irina_co
12 years ago
hear hear. You tell us when you ready to accept the new ones. i really need to lighten my shelves.'

irina
birdsnblooms
Original Author
12 years ago
Shanika!! Hello. How are you?

As I explained in my other thread, we've been very busy gardening..Really busy..Today is the first day I'm sitting on my B***..lol..after the aspirin kicks in, got to start digging again...sigh..Tomorrow we're going to buy pre-started veggies and a few annuals. I also have seeds, Castor Bean, Morning Glory and Sunflower, that need sowing, directly in the front garden.

Shanika, thanks for the offer, but as I explained, 'as much as I'd like new violets, a few I saw online in particular,' I have to hold off.

Those Mealy are little trouble-makers, lol. I can rid other insects, but when it comes to Mealy, forget it!
But thanks for the offer.

In the future, when I'm 100% positive every Mealy egg is gone, there are a few violets I saw online I'd like to 'buy.' lol. I can't accept others' leaves/plants..if something were to go wrong, I'd feel terrible.

I started 8 violet leaves to see if they rooted. 4 died, 4 rooted.
The sad thing is, although I like the violets I rooted, they aren't my favorites..lol..none are variegated. It was an experiment to see if they'd root..50% made it..

Now is the hard part..they're in water..the problem is, transferring to soil, and LIVING. lol. I've done it in the past, but that was long ago..back in the mid-90's.

Shanika and Irina, thanks for your offers anyway. hugs, Toni
birdsnblooms
Original Author
12 years ago
Shanika!! Hello. How are you?

As I explained in my other thread, we've been very busy gardening..Really busy..Today is the first day I'm sitting on my B***..lol..after the aspirin kicks in, got to start digging again...sigh..Tomorrow we're going to buy pre-started veggies and a few annuals. I also have seeds, Castor Bean, Morning Glory and Sunflower, that need sowing, directly in the front garden.

Shanika, thanks for the offer, but as I explained, 'as much as I'd like new violets, a few I saw online in particular,' I have to hold off.

Those Mealy are little trouble-makers, lol. I can rid other insects, but when it comes to Mealy, forget it!
But thanks for the offer.

In the future, when I'm 100% positive every Mealy egg is gone, there are a few violets I saw online I'd like to 'buy.' lol. I can't accept others' leaves/plants..if something were to go wrong, I'd feel terrible.

I started 8 violet leaves to see if they rooted. 4 died, 4 rooted.
The sad thing is, although I like the violets I rooted, they aren't my favorites..lol..none are variegated. It was an experiment to see if they'd root..50% made it..

Now is the hard part..they're in water..the problem is, transferring to soil, and LIVING. lol. I've done it in the past, but that was long ago..back in the mid-90's.

Shanika and Irina, thanks for your offers anyway. hugs, Toni
irina_co
12 years ago
Toni -

you need to transfer your leaves now, before they grow too big roots.
Just pot them in a very light soil and put your new transplants under cover - put baggie on the top or something. Variegated leaves are always harder to start. You pick the mostly green leaves off your variegated plant - and plant them immediately, do not let them sit. And keep them under cover.

Good Luck

irina

Advil works better on my muscles.And it is usually not my behind, it is my back that hurts.
birdsnblooms
Original Author
12 years ago
Irina..yep, my back and knees are causing pain. Getting old isn't fun..and times goes fast.

Don't think I can take Advil. I can't recall if it's Advil or Alieve, sp, but I'm on a medication. The directions on Advil or Alieve states not to take if on this medication.

Yesterday we went garden shopping. Jewel, 'grocery store,' had violets on sale. Flowers are beautiful. Although I vowed not to buy any, I decided to add three.
For the time being, 'since most house plants are outside,' I'll place the new violets in a different window.
So far, I haven't seen Mealy on the old violets, so I'm praying they're gone. Wishful thinking,,,lol.

I also want a violet from, either Violet Barn or Violet Gallary. But, before purchasing, I want to finish hauling plants outside and planting annuals/perrenials. And make sure the Mealy are gone.

Would Peat Pots work for the rooted violets? Or should I place in plastic. The Peat Pots are 2.5". Toni
irina_co
12 years ago
Probably they will...kinda - the roots will get attached. It is just for me easier to transplant afterwards from plastic - just shake them out.

I.
birdsnblooms
Original Author
12 years ago
Irina...What do you think about potting each rooted leaf in the same container? Think it'd work? Toni
irina_co
12 years ago
Toni - I usually put 2 leaves of the same variety in the same solo cup just in case 1 will rot. If you have space - you can go in a separate solo cups - just be sure that the conatainer is on a small side.

Irina

Think my African Violets are History!!!

irina_co

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