Tips for growing larger AV?

18 years ago

My mother gave me an "African Violet pot" this weekend, and, being a good son, I'm gonna give it a try. It's one of the pots with a glazed ceramic resevoir and a porous insert. Now, I'm not about to leave my poor plant sitting in a pool of water, but, the pot is also 6" wide...

Until now, I've been following the recommendation to use 4" pots, so I have a few questions.

1. Are there any tips on helping this plant grow into a larger home?

2. After I repotted, I disbudded, under the theory that the plant should spend its energy exploring its new home. Should I continue to disbud for a few months to encourage leaf and root growth?

3. Assume for a moment that I can coax the AV into happily existing in a 6" pot; are there any special steps to keep it happy? Periodic disbud, more/different fertilizer, etc?

Also, for anyone who has used this type of pot, what's a good method for controlling the amount of water that the violet gets? The idea of letting the insert sit in a resevoir full of water makes me shudder, but since the pot itself is so much heavier than the 4" plastic I use elsewhere, I can't tell when the plant is ready for a drink.

Thanks in advance,

Allan

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Comments (3)

stichodactyla
18 years ago
Hi Allan;

I have a couple of those self-watering pots. They work ok, although I let the reservoir dry out once in a while.

As far as growing them bigger, you might want to try starting out with a particularly large variety. My Blue Dragon is in a 6" pot and blooming like crazy. I could probably send you a couple of leaves if you want. I think the space violets (Evergrace, everjoy, etc.) get really big also.

Rachel
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aes123
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks for the info Rachel. Right now, I only have two AVs, both noids, so I don't know how well they'll work. The one that is currently in the new pot is actually my first AV, an Optimara noid that has been my guinea pig for the past year.

Thanks for the offer of a few leaves, but I need to work on my leaf propagation technique before I accept any. Last year, I bought 6 named leaves and lost them all. This year, I'm gonna try raising a few plants from seed, to jump-start my collection. After I have a half dozen (or more) plants, I'll have plenty of leaves to perfect my technique, and can start on some named varieties.
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Hi, Amy, Welcome to the forum. There is a lot of information to be had here. The best advice I can give you is to go to Rachels Reflections website and read everything there. It is very comprehensive and I don't think anyone here will dispute the information. We all have some particular way we do things that make our violets grow the best for our own conditions, but in general it will be pretty much the same. Please pay particular attention to potting mixes and the recommendation to repot your AV into a lighter mix. The standard is 1 part coarse vermiculite, 1 part perlite, and one part peat mosss. This helps to keep the roots from being waterlogged and causing the roots to rot, thus killing the plant. Most violets purchased outside of an AV vendor are potted in a mix that is way too heavy and gets easily waterlogged. Good light, regular feeding, a smile from its owner, and you should be fine. Again welcome. Barbara Here is a link that might be useful: rachels reflections
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Thanks for the input everyone!=D aegis500: I was wondering if it was just meant to grow like that. It's fine for me if it does, cause it's still cute in it's own way to me!=) I'll just let it grow out for now, cause it does have many old leaves left, and the new ones have been crowded out by the flower stalks! Perle_de_Or: I wish I had thought of taking a proper picture of it in full full bloom!=0 Somehow I went ahead and disbudded before doing it!=( *kicks herself* Though I do have pictures of non-full full bloom, and one of it hidden behind my spring onions in full bloom (not a good picture or angle, but you might see it if you squint hard!=P). I also took a picture of it now!=) Hope you guys don't get too disappointed by the photos though!=X Preparing to bloom: Blooms beginning to fill in: Really hidden full blooming at a bad bad angle (sorry if you can't see it guys!=(): Disbudded (hopefully it's healthy enough?=/): P.S: It's always had the old curly leaves since I got it, and the new leaves curl at the edges too... Do some plants just do that? Or could it be a pest or disease? I've always wondered that, but the flowers were perfectly fine, nor did I see any spilled pollen, so I've just been leaving it alone...=0 I do hope there's nothing seriously wrong with it though...=( But if there is, hopefully someone can help me identify it!=)
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korina
18 years ago
Allan, the theory behind self-watering pots is that the porous insert only allows in as much water as the plant will take up; just add and extra part of perlite to your mix, to increase the air spaces. Also, check it ocassionally as the insert can become clogged with fertilizer salts and minerals from the water. It's no fun to suddenly discover your pretty plant, dead all over everything.

As for your leaf propogation technique, try a couple of leaves each of your noids; if they die, no big deal. The trick is to keep the soil (I use my regular 1:1:1 mix) *just* damp, not moist or wet. This will help prevent rot in the enclosed space I assume you're putting them in.

Good luck and have fun germinating!

Korina
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Tips for growing larger AV?

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stichodactyla

aes123
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Tips for growing larger AV?

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stichodactyla

aes123Original Author

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aes123
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