No white roots, but I see something white around the central stem near the soil level. Hopefully it's pearlite, because it looks like it might be mealybugs.

If it's mealybugs, I'd recommend discarding the plant because of the difficulty of reviving a plant weakened by mealybugs. Mealybugs look like soft cottony white tufts.

If it's not Mealybugs, the standard advice is to cut off the dead brown roots, remove the limp leaves, scrape the stem a bit, and repot so the stem is covered.

Then keep the soil barely moist until the plant recovers.

I'll let others chime in now with more advice ...

The easiest way to recover a failing violet ... is to replace it.

I have toiled trying to keep alive failing violets (in some cases, for years), ... when all I really needed to do was to go to a violet outlet ... and get a new one.

Think of it as supporting the African Violet industry ...

It wasn't really my goal to have ailing violets in the house. That's was not what initially attracted me to the hobby. Though it is a kick to successfully GROW healthy plants.

With commitment and listening to the advice of successful growers, you'll eventually learn the rules of successful growing ...

NOT too much water (barely moist ... never soggy)

ENOUGH light (sunlight or fluorescent)

RIGHT_SIZED pot (1/3 the size of the wingspread of the plant)

DASH of fertilizer (half-strength)

ISOLATION from pests (mealybugs, thrips, mites)

I agree with Irina. If you try to reroot the crown of an already diseased plant and it doesn't make it, you end up with no plant at all. But I've had pretty good luck rooting leaves after they have been disinfected, as long as the leaves themselves aren't rotted.

Although, if it isn't a very special plant, I would probably just replace it. ;) As Aegis points out, we all kill one from time to time, and it's a learning process.

I believe the right kind of soil is the key in growing healthy violets. They can stay alive in lots of different kinds of mixes, but they don't always thrive that way. I use equal parts of peat moss, vermiculite, and perlite. It may sound like a lot of work to make your own soil, but it makes it almost impossible to overwater.

Hi, thanks for the advice! The white stuff is perlite, the soil is about half perlite, half African violet soil from miracle gro. I might buy another but figured this one is still alive for now so I might as well give it a try! I cut off all the dead roots and cut off about half of the stem. The inside of the stem was purple, definitely not brown. The underneath of these leaves is also purple so i assume it's just this type of violet. I scraped off the sides of the stem also and have replanted it in new, freshly mixed soil, again, half perlite half African violet mix. It's in a sunny east facing window in my kitchen right now, this morning it may have been a little perkier toward the middle but I might just be being optimistic. Hopefully it survives!

As for the leaves, I did take three perky leaves off of it that I have in perlite and soil, a plastic container, and a ziplock bag, hoping they will root. I also have a small little crown that was forming when I got it that I broke off and have re-potted as well. That new little crown is a little droopy and doesn't look great, but it did have some white roots when I potted it so I think it's got a chance!

Looks like you know what you are doing. Just keep away from the darn double pot for some time. Leaves and the crown root better if you take them off the direct sun and get them covered - plastic baggie, dome etc. Crown roots back in 2 weeks.

Hi Ocean! Sure hope you are able to recover your violet. All of the advice given is very good. Yeah, double pots, well, not so good. Let us know what happens. There is a certain amount of satisfaction in bringing something back from the dead. But if it doesn't work,,,well,,,,give it a nice funeral and get another one! Good luck!!! Rosie

Hear Hear! Funeral for the poor violet - and double pot bashing party to remember her!

Well said!!!! Rosie

Something cast iron can grow well in this pots.

At the appropriate location, with some heat from below, a half-dried "crown" of an African-Violet can be re-rooted. However, there might be a great variance in the inclination to re-root, dependent on the cultivar. If Fungus Gnats are present in the environment then it is almost impossible, unless you take preventive measures like spraying a strong solution of Dimethoate to the surface . Beware of Fungus Gnats - these are being magically attracted by the combination of "fresh substrate + plants". Kindest regards from GERMANY!

Hello Haweha - and thank you for the input. Yes - fungus gnat larva will eat new roots especially if you have a heavy infestation of them.

I do not think Dimethoate is widely available in US. And for the good reason

http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/extoxnet/dienochlor-glyphosate/dimethoate-ext.html

It is an old organophosphate pesticide, very stable in the environment, highly toxic to fish, birds, bees, it is cancerogenic, it causes birth defects... It will definitely kill fungus gnats. DDT will do it too, but we do not use anymore.

I agree with you - keeping the cloud of fungus gnats floating above your plants is disgusting and harmful to the new roots. I would sprinkle a little bit of Marathon - or other granulated systemiic based on Imidaclopride - if I get an infestation - otherwise - just watch for the new plants that come into the house. People use Gnatrol - it is bacteria based treatment of gnats - but it only affects the larva in the soil, so you need to do repeat several times to make sure that whatever comes from the eggs that flying insects are laying is destroyed too. This is the most environmently sound way to do them in, requres more work though.

I found where mine come from - I had a baggie of worm castings - that was full of fungus gnats eggs - and every time I added them to the soil - I had a new hatch of these yucky things. Now - if I want to add it to the soil - I pour boling water on my castings first and let them cool down. Counterproductive - because I would love to use all this healthy soil bacteria.

i.

Anyway - this plant looks like run of the mill commercial variety - Optimara probably - which you can purchase for $4 in a big box store. I wouldn't recommend going too far and acquiring all these chemicals for $$$. Just get another blue AV from the store and start with a healthy plant. Especially because the leaves are already rooting.

I am all for doing our best while saving something rare and unique.

Have you ever tried drying out your worm castings, Bone dry I mean then re hydrate it prior to use? I should think that might help too.

I agree @ Irina_co. The money you are going to spend on any chemical is a lot more than getting another like that at Lowes&Home Depot or may find it at your local grocery store.

I've seen several very attractive AV's sold in Meijers. Rooting leaves is fun. It may not be practical, but its fun.

Leon - you already got into ebay. You crave one that goes for $$$, you will try to get a leaf and start it yourself. Very practical - and you get the plants for exchange, and they grow so much better if they are started at home.

Sans - I am afraid that eggs will survive even the bone dry. They probably do in nature. What I need is to pasteurize warm castings - but I am thinking that heating the worm manure and keeping it on 185F in the oven for 2 hours will seriously stink the house. My hubby probably will have something to say about it.

I.

I just got some leaves from a collector who appears on another site : Senk's Yellow Bells, and a couple of other Senk's whose names escape me.

Now I'll really have some fun.

You got your hands on some very collectible AVs!

yup !

Hey Leon! Senk's Yellow Bells??? Sound pretty and I have never even seen one!!!! Is that the one you were looking for??? Good for you if it is! How yellow is it really? Got a pix???? Rosie

Ohhhhh, Leon,,,,,,how beautiful!!!!! I love it! Well there is another entry for my wish list!!!! Rosie

Tell you what, Rosie - If they root and grow I'll save you some leaves.

Leon, thank you!!! By that time I am sure I will have something I can send you in return!!!! My mom always said "Never return an empty hand" !!!! Thank you! Rosie

Beautiful Yellow African Violet. I have never seen one with yellow blooms Leon Ash. My Mother was a avid collector of AV. I am now growing some in her memory as I still remember alot of her directions about them. I have refreshed my memory reading all the posts here, old and new!

You could always use a double pot, but put the water on the plant and not in the part underneath. Not too much, since there won't be drainage.