Submitted by Heidi_McC on Tue, 11/13/2007 - 15:35.
I have to agree with Dawn on this one... this would make a great Article! Glad I posted the question to get it all started.... I really appreciate all of your help PJ! You are better than reading a book! I am going to have to get some AV leaves and try this out.... I got the dixie cups today! LOL... and I have the perfect sunny warm location to start them in. Now who has leaves I can play with? LOL
Submitted by PreciousJoy (not verified) on Thu, 11/15/2007 - 02:17.
Leaves wish I had leaves god only knows I gave thousands 's over of named ones away. IF i DID I'd be sending them your way. Hopefully someone here on GH will share a few leaves with you before it's too cold to shop/
If you can find a plant at Lowes, HD , Walmart they'd be good to play around with !
Submitted by PreciousJoy (not verified) on Tue, 11/13/2007 - 12:30.
The best pots are plastic with holes in the bottom. Important don't over pot 'pots too large fore plant' Start small and re-pot every 4-6 months in new soil-less mix and larger pot just going up one size at a time. The 3 oz. solo cup will be good for months as it will take a good 6-8 weeks to see baby leaves starting to come up and a good 6-12 months for a blooming plant. All depends on Culture .
Keep it warm and give plenty of light.
A good draining soil-less ( sterile is best ) is the type of soil African violets like. Mater fact I use it for all potted plants inside and out have for years !
Now to make things simple I use a potting mix like Miracle Potting soil, or African violet potting soil , or Jungle Growth potting soil, then I ad 50 percent perlite until slight moist .
You can feed Africa violet food each time you water 1/8 teaspoon per gallon .
Water only when cup is light. Keep evenly moist but don't over water. Number one reason African violets die is from over watering.
Use warm water when you water.
I like to start my baby plants from Mom off in 2 inch plastic pots or no larger than 2.5 inch. This size is good until you plants are about 6 inches across.
the rules of thumb for pot size with African violets is the 1/3 size rule. Which means keep the pot 1/3 the size of the plant. Root ball size can be considered in tis also.
Like if the pot is 2 inches it will be good size for a plant 6 inches across or below.
A four inch pot would be good say for an African violet 10-14 inches across.
Their roots are shallow so short , squat, azalea type pots are best.
There are different size Africa violets. Micro Mini ( under 3 inches across) , Miniature 3-6 inches , Semiminiature 6 - 8 inches across, Small standards are about 8 inches though African violets 8 inches and above are considered standard size . African violets growing over 16 inches would be large growing African violets.
Then there are trailers. trailers are not measures by size of plant but by size of leaf.
there are Micro mini, Miniature, Semiminiature and large growing trailers too. But a Micro Miniature African violet trailer plant can fill a large pot and hang down over the sides with hundreds of crowns as it's size is measured by leaf size.
After reading what PreciousJoy say about violets, next time at the junkyard i'm going to ask the lady there if i can have a couple's of leaves, she has pink,white,purple.
Submitted by PreciousJoy (not verified) on Mon, 11/12/2007 - 21:33.
Your so welcome ! Growing African violets is so easy ! I thought everyone grew them ! Their the easiest plant to propagate that people share them around the World !
Here is a super duper link ! Go to the bottom where you see the index there are easy terms of every aspect of growing African violets . Step by step with pictures too !
Submitted by Heidi_McC on Mon, 11/12/2007 - 21:40.
Wow! You sure did have one heck of a set up for AV's!
Now silly question... I see all over the place special AV pots.... is that nessecary, or will any pot do? Is there special soil requirements for when the baby AV is transplanted out of the dixie cup?
Submitted by Heidi_McC on Mon, 11/12/2007 - 21:19.
Wow PJ! That sounds easy! I think I may have to try it now.... I thought she was half crazy.... lol... guess I'm the one that is cuz I have never tried it! Thanks for all the info... guess now I will have to try it!
Submitted by PreciousJoy (not verified) on Mon, 11/12/2007 - 21:02.
I don't grow house plants anymore due to my health I have none want none can't take care of them but I use to always had at least 500 different varieties all named of African violet leaves leaves down ! I did not know how to stop. I grew them for fun and to share . This is what my African violet leaf pots use to look like !
Submitted by Micki43164 on Mon, 11/12/2007 - 20:38.
Heidi, you should talk to Precious Joy...she is the AV expert. You don't want to talk to me...I kill them. Good luck!
A friend is a bloom that never fades my trade list http://www.gardenhere.org/node/483
Submitted by PreciousJoy (not verified) on Mon, 11/12/2007 - 20:38.
African violets are the number one house plant in the World. They bloom year round and their easy and fun to grow and share ! Did our know there are over 30 thousand different named African Violets !
The easier was to propagate them by leaf is;
First you will need some 3 oz. solo cups or something close . Put holes in the bottom of the cups one for each leaf.
You will also need a good draining soil-less mix. sterile is even better. for an easy good mix you can use Miracle potting soil, or Jungle Growth , or any African violet soil.
Mix any of these to slight moist with 50 percent perlite. Keep in a tight close container for future use it won't go bad. Growing African violets by leaf is addicting ! and one leaf can give you several baby plantlets !
You will want to choose a leaf that is not old and not young baby pick a nice healthy leaf from the middle. A leaf right under / above a new bud is excellent for rooting. I like to water my African violets and give them a nice warm bath a day or two before cutting leaves. Always use a healthy clean leaf. And always use warm water and let your African violet air dry away from sun or light.
If you are working with named African violets write the name with permanent marker on your solo cup that already had a whole or few in it.
Fill your solo cup with your soil-less potting soil
Take you leaf and cut the stem straight across leaving only a inch or less of them stem. You don't want a great long stem.
Now take your African violet leaf and stick it right into the center of your solo cup filled with soil-less mix until the leaf touches the soil. Don't worry it won't rot.
Now using warm water ( never cold) water it right threw good . Let drain . Then place on a saucer in a nice sunny warm window. Now you want it to get lots of light but not hot afternoon light an indirect non glare burning light. The more light the better. at night place it under a lamp and grow lights are great too as you get more into growing them ! Keep in mind windowsills will become ten degrees colder in winter and African violets don't like cold . I take mine off the Windowsills at night or when it's cold and drafting. In the Winter you can root them but may be slower. Spring and Summer is the best time.
I like to buy those plastic shoe boxes . 6 quart size is great and will hold about 15 solo cups. As the babies grow you will have to move them as they need good air circulation and should not touch each other.
The longer you let the babies stay with Mom leaf the healthy the plants you will have . I let mine stay Will Mom until they have a crown and 4 plus leaves of their own and these leaves are taller than Mom. I always get 3-10 babies from each leaf !
Submitted by thwoods (not verified) on Mon, 11/12/2007 - 22:35.
Allison -- your African Violet instructions would make a great article -- which would keep it from getting lost in the archives of this space. I believe you could just cut and paste it from here to an article page.
Great instructions! Thank so much -- from all of us.
Blessings all -- praying for your needs. Theresa T
I know that you can start them from a leaf cutting. But I couldn't tell you how to do it for sure. I'm sure others will answer your question on how it is done better than I could.
Dawn
Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most!!
I have to agree with Dawn on
Leaves
Leaves wish I had leaves god only knows I gave thousands 's over of named ones away. IF i DID I'd be sending them your way. Hopefully someone here on GH will share a few leaves with you before it's too cold to shop/
If you can find a plant at Lowes, HD , Walmart they'd be good to play around with !
The best pots are plastic
The best pots are plastic with holes in the bottom. Important don't over pot 'pots too large fore plant' Start small and re-pot every 4-6 months in new soil-less mix and larger pot just going up one size at a time. The 3 oz. solo cup will be good for months as it will take a good 6-8 weeks to see baby leaves starting to come up and a good 6-12 months for a blooming plant. All depends on Culture .
Keep it warm and give plenty of light.
A good draining soil-less ( sterile is best ) is the type of soil African violets like. Mater fact I use it for all potted plants inside and out have for years !
Now to make things simple I use a potting mix like Miracle Potting soil, or African violet potting soil , or Jungle Growth potting soil, then I ad 50 percent perlite until slight moist .
You can feed Africa violet food each time you water 1/8 teaspoon per gallon .
Water only when cup is light. Keep evenly moist but don't over water. Number one reason African violets die is from over watering.
Use warm water when you water.
I like to start my baby plants from Mom off in 2 inch plastic pots or no larger than 2.5 inch. This size is good until you plants are about 6 inches across.
the rules of thumb for pot size with African violets is the 1/3 size rule. Which means keep the pot 1/3 the size of the plant. Root ball size can be considered in tis also.
Like if the pot is 2 inches it will be good size for a plant 6 inches across or below.
A four inch pot would be good say for an African violet 10-14 inches across.
Their roots are shallow so short , squat, azalea type pots are best.
There are different size Africa violets. Micro Mini ( under 3 inches across) , Miniature 3-6 inches , Semiminiature 6 - 8 inches across, Small standards are about 8 inches though African violets 8 inches and above are considered standard size . African violets growing over 16 inches would be large growing African violets.
Then there are trailers. trailers are not measures by size of plant but by size of leaf.
there are Micro mini, Miniature, Semiminiature and large growing trailers too. But a Micro Miniature African violet trailer plant can fill a large pot and hang down over the sides with hundreds of crowns as it's size is measured by leaf size.
After reading what
I knew the GH experts
I knew the GH "experts" would have the answer to your question. They always know the right answers.
Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most!!
n/a
Starting African violet by leaf !
Your so welcome ! Growing African violets is so easy ! I thought everyone grew them ! Their the easiest plant to propagate that people share them around the World !
Here is a super duper link ! Go to the bottom where you see the index there are easy terms of every aspect of growing African violets . Step by step with pictures too !
African Violets link
Wow! You sure did have one
Wow! You sure did have one heck of a set up for AV's!
Now silly question... I see all over the place special AV pots.... is that nessecary, or will any pot do? Is there special soil requirements for when the baby AV is transplanted out of the dixie cup?
Starting African violets by leaf
Here is one of my old baby stations ! One of my first ones it was four shelves each about 8 foot long 2 foot wide 4
[img_assist|nid=2350|title=African violet/Gesneriad baby station|desc=|link=popup|align=right|width=152|height=250]
Wow PJ! That sounds
Growing African violets by leaf
I don't grow house plants anymore due to my health I have none want none can't take care of them but I use to always had at least 500 different varieties all named of African violet leaves leaves down ! I did not know how to stop. I grew them for fun and to share . This is what my African violet leaf pots use to look like !
[img_assist|nid=2345|title=African violet leaf pots|desc=|link=popup|align=left|width=250|height=188]
African Violet Question
n/a
Starting African violets by leaf
African violets are the number one house plant in the World. They bloom year round and their easy and fun to grow and share ! Did our know there are over 30 thousand different named African Violets !
The easier was to propagate them by leaf is;
First you will need some 3 oz. solo cups or something close . Put holes in the bottom of the cups one for each leaf.
You will also need a good draining soil-less mix. sterile is even better. for an easy good mix you can use Miracle potting soil, or Jungle Growth , or any African violet soil.
Mix any of these to slight moist with 50 percent perlite. Keep in a tight close container for future use it won't go bad. Growing African violets by leaf is addicting ! and one leaf can give you several baby plantlets !
You will want to choose a leaf that is not old and not young baby pick a nice healthy leaf from the middle. A leaf right under / above a new bud is excellent for rooting. I like to water my African violets and give them a nice warm bath a day or two before cutting leaves. Always use a healthy clean leaf. And always use warm water and let your African violet air dry away from sun or light.
If you are working with named African violets write the name with permanent marker on your solo cup that already had a whole or few in it.
Fill your solo cup with your soil-less potting soil
Take you leaf and cut the stem straight across leaving only a inch or less of them stem. You don't want a great long stem.
Now take your African violet leaf and stick it right into the center of your solo cup filled with soil-less mix until the leaf touches the soil. Don't worry it won't rot.
Now using warm water ( never cold) water it right threw good . Let drain . Then place on a saucer in a nice sunny warm window. Now you want it to get lots of light but not hot afternoon light an indirect non glare burning light. The more light the better. at night place it under a lamp and grow lights are great too as you get more into growing them ! Keep in mind windowsills will become ten degrees colder in winter and African violets don't like cold . I take mine off the Windowsills at night or when it's cold and drafting. In the Winter you can root them but may be slower. Spring and Summer is the best time.
I like to buy those plastic shoe boxes . 6 quart size is great and will hold about 15 solo cups. As the babies grow you will have to move them as they need good air circulation and should not touch each other.
The longer you let the babies stay with Mom leaf the healthy the plants you will have . I let mine stay Will Mom until they have a crown and 4 plus leaves of their own and these leaves are taller than Mom. I always get 3-10 babies from each leaf !
Happy Growing !
African Violet instructions
Allison -- your African Violet instructions would make a great article -- which would keep it from getting lost in the archives of this space. I believe you could just cut and paste it from here to an article page.
Great instructions! Thank so much -- from all of us.
Blessings all -- praying for your needs. Theresa T
starting Af. violets
I know that you can start them from a leaf cutting. But I couldn't tell you how to do it for sure. I'm sure others will answer your question on how it is done better than I could.
Dawn
Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most!!
n/a