The plant growing off to the right isn't a sucker like we usually see. Usually it is attached to the stem and growing from the stem in lower leaves. You can separate this plantlet with its roots when you repot it. Knock off the dirt gently and keep as much of the root ball as possible for both plants.

Good luck.

Oh, I see you are from the Seattle area. I'm originaly from Mukilteo, and coming 'home' next month for a visit. If you want to pursue growing violets, you have two great clubs there, on in Seattle and one in Tacoma. Lots of friendly and very knowledgeable people.

Good growing,

Barbara

Hi,

It looks to me like the small leaves in the center of the big plant are the crown, not another sucker.

Many growers don't like the self-watering pots, but my violets love them. I guess I'm lucky to buy them from a vendor that makes the pots right and they function perfectly. The catch is that you have to add extra perlite and vermiculite to the standard peat mix recipie. Peat by itself holds too much water and the roots can drown and rot in a self-watering pot. Sounds like what happened to your plant.

If you change to a regular plastic pot, remove some of the older leaves, bury the "neck" and use the common 1/3 peat, 1/3 perlite, and 1/3 vermiculite mix the roots may be able to grow better. New ones will form from the neck area also, and over time the roots should anchor the plant so it isn't wobbly. It looks like your plant could benefit from a little more light too (when the leaves stand up instead of lying flat the cause is usually too little light). Good luck - I think it's great that you have a nice new baby to raise!

Thank you to both of you! I was going to repot it today with some Violet mix I bought from Home Depot or the like. But then I read on here this morning that mixes like that are not good. So I will be looking for the correct mix and trying your suggestions. Thanks again!

Jen,

Unless you buy potting mix from a AV vendor like Violet Barn or Cape Cod Violetry, you won't find it for sale in any nursery, or big box store. It's so very easy to mix it yourself, and you can use the violet mix you already bought. Simply think of it as your peat part in the standard 1-1-1 potting mix. One part peat moss (your violet mix), one part perlite, and one part vermiculie.

Depending on the brand you bought, it may already have fertilizer in it, and if so, don't add fertilizer or feed your plants until that fertilizer is used up. I have no idea when that might be, some others here may have. I would guess, and it's only a guess, 8 weeks ought to do it.

You may want to check out the Seattle AV club; I think they sell potting mix. I know they sell pots.

Good growing.

Barbara