Just for starters, thank you all so much for your help. It's nice to know there are people out there who know what they're doing (because I certainly don't). Just an update: I repotted Dormie (a 3" soda bottle remnant is all I have to use, at the moment) and cut off the broken stems, unfortunately leaving it looking a bit scrawny. I haven't been able to get perlite yet, but I should be able to soon. I don't know, do you think I should keep trying? I don't want to just leave it to die, but it'd probably be good to know what its chances of survival are. Thanks again.

Welcome Oceanchick There are those here with much more experience then I have, and I am sure they will be able to offer you more advice, but I will just tell you what I can. From what you wrote I would suspect root rot. It is good that you have isolated the plant. Always a good idea with any new plants you bring into your home for at least a month or two. When you buy a plant from the grocery store they are potted in a very heavy soil, usually mostly peat. This holds water well, so it is good for the seller, but bad for the plant. African Violets need a very light soil that drains water well. The heavy soil from the store holds it to well and so causes root rot. Most African Violet growers use a mix that is 1 part peat, 1 part vermiculite, and 1 part perlite, or something close to it. You can buy the parts and mix them together yourself, or buy a soil labeled for African Violets and add more pearlite to that. By themselves, even potting mixes labeled for African Violets are usually to heavy. You said that the plant does have new growth areas. With African Violets, as long as there is new growth there is hope! I would take the plant out of the pot it is in and gently work the soil away from the stem and roots so that you can see what is going on better. Anything that is brown or mushy needs to be cut away till you get to what is left of a firm stem, with or without roots. Even if all you have left at this point is a green leaf with no signs of rot on it you may be able to create a new plant from this. You can gently handle African Violet leaves. They really dont mind. I even pet mine sometimes. (Big grin) What they donÂt like is water left on their leaves, then being put under strong light before they are dry. Once you have plant parts free of rot, you can use a tiny bit of root gel or powder on what's left of the stems and put them in the light potting mix. Add just enough water to make it moist and then tent the plant or leaves under a sandwich baggie or something similar. In a few weeks you should have new growth, and maybe new babies growing off of any leaves you planted, and you can remove the plastic. Good luck! Raven

Vicki, If I was in your situation, this is what I would do; make up my own mix of 1 part each peat moss, coarse vermiculite, and perlite. I would take the plants out of the ceramic planters and check the roots. If there is root rot, you can only salvage the crown or leaves if not too far gone. Cut the stalk to see if there is fresh green inside, and you may have to cut higher up the stem. If you are able to get to fresh green, remove the leaves except for maybe three rows, and put the stem in the new potting mix in a plastic pot. Bag it and place in light but not sun. If there is no stem and you can't make one by removing leaves, pot the leaves. This is why the ceramic planters ring the death knell for so many plants. Even though you are letting the plants dry out between waterings, if there is any root rot it doesn't just go away, you have to remove it. And you can use the same potting mix for the leaves. Good luck. Barbara

While I agree with all of the above statements, my take on it is this. First only one person waters the plants just in case there is miscommunication in who watered what with what. Take off a good leaf and start it. Just in case you lose your mama plant. Second and this seems to be the most important in your statement. it sounds as if you are "yoyo" watering. Being inconsistent in watering. This forced the plant to alternate between too wet and bone dry. Kind of like feast or famine. Many mediums soak up water at different rates depending on what they are made of. If they are mostly peat you can water and the water will run through but that doesn't mean the entire root ball got watered the way it should have. In your case you may not have watered enough from the bottom to the top. If your plant is having trouble soaking up water put ONE drop of liquid dish soap (no it doesn't matter what brand.) in the water you water with. You don't want bubble bath, but the soap breaks the surface tension of the soil, allowing the plant medium to soak up water better. Bottom watering should mean you place the plant in a pot bigger than it is, add ONE drop of soap to the water (also keeps bugs away.), water the plant from the TOP and let the excess drain into the pot. Then let the plant soak up as much as it can in about 1/2 hour. Drain and don't water again until the plant is ALMOST dry, just a little damp. Don't let your plant go so dry that it is bone dry. When you do this you will lose fine feeder roots that sustain your plant. You should water again when the soil medium is still slightly damp. If you take your dry plant and put it in a larger container and literally water it from the bottom without wetting the top first, it may work if you have a good soil mix. If you don't have a good soil mix, it will work eventually but it may take a loooooong time to get wet again. Also run a small fan to circulate the air around your plant(s). And space them apart. If you only have one plant this won't apply. But make sure you are consistent in watering. As far as tea or coffee, I put my left overs in my plants. I dilute it with a little water first just to be sure. (of what I don't know! lol) I don't think it hurts but make sure there is no sugar or cream in it. Don't laugh, had a friend who put coffee (with cream) in her plant until it started to stink! Rosie