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African Violets

Hi All AV lovers! I'm new here...

16 years ago

I just found this site and LOVE it!!! I've been an AV freak for quite some time now but lost all my AVs last time we moved (almost 3 years ago). Last year I discovered AV leaves on ebay and went a big hog wild, I wound up with about 100 varities (almost 200 leaves to plant!). This past weekend I just took inventory of the varieties I still have left and have 78 (lost a few in the leaf stage), I have most of the babies separated from the mommas but some were pokey and took their sweet time filling up their cups. I use the Texas watering system but would like to give capillary matting a try on a bunch of new leaves that I plan to start as soon as I set up more lights, anyone use capillary matting (fleece or checp acrylic blankets)??

Anyhoo, glad to meet all of you!! ~Becky~

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Comments (8)

robitaillenancy1
16 years ago
Hello and welcome!

Yes, I use capilary watering and use mostly fleece for my mats but I have used old blankets as well. I prefer the fresh new white but the dark brown blankets do hide a lot of soil spills etc.

I mostly use wicking with containers but for leaves and small plants I have found mats work just fine.

Nancy
bspofford
16 years ago
Welcome to the forum, Becky. I hear you about the OCAVD, we all have it. (That's Obsessive Compulsive African Violet Disorder)

And it only gets worse, and there is no cure.

Enjoy!

Barbara
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momto3boys
Original Author
16 years ago
Hi Nancy and Barbara! I totally agree with you on the OCAVD!! African Violets are like potato chips...you can't have just one..except the immune ones like my sister, she only has 2 african violets (from me) and she's quite happy with only those 2! Wierdo!!

~Becky~
violetta1976
16 years ago
Hi Becky, and welcome! I'm in the same phase as you - I lost all my AVs (left them in my mother's care in Boston when I moved out here to Portland) years ago and am started to collect again now. I'm TRYING to keep myself in check this time around just because of lack of space - I only have about 30 different varieties going, but it's hard to control the urge! Once OCAVD hits you're pretty much a goner!
onetwo083075
16 years ago
I've been lurking for a while and have posted once or twice I think, but decided to start posting today again. So I'm new as well. Welcome!! And thank all of you for your knowledge and help. I have gotten such good advice on taking care of my babies from you, it's been awesome. :) So thank you again!
haxuan
16 years ago
Hi Nancy, I'd like to try the "matting" method too but I don't know how. Could you please show me how to do it? I wick-water all my plants but now I wish to use the mats for leaves. (You see I live away from my AVs and only visit during weekends.) Thank you very much in advance.
And welcome Becky!

Xuan
fleur_56
16 years ago
Hi all I am new here too. I love african violets but never been able to have but maybe one at a time. Well now I can and I am trying not to go too wild. I do have some questions. I have been looking at the pictures from the shows and they are beautiful. Why do mine get alot of tiny leaves are you suppose to thin them out? I am so new at really growing them and I want to do my best for my babies. Any suggestions????????? Thanks and great forums
fred_hill
16 years ago
Hi Becky,
Like Nancy I wick water most of my plants. At one point in time I had all my plants on capillary matting which I purchased from Cape Cod Violetry. The matting works well, however, if you have one diseased plant in the tray with the rest, eventually they all will have the same problem. I just want to warn you to be very careful and to make sure your plants are disease free. I lost two collections using matting before I switched to wicking.
Fred in NJ

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