Tips on growing African violets?

[camille1585]

A bit over a year ago, just 5 days before Christmas, my 90 year old grandmother passed away, and I missed the funeral due to covid related travel restrictions. For nearly as long as I can remember she had a bulb pan with 3 south african violets in it, on a nice metal stand in a corner of her living room. She has kept those 3 plants alive through the decades, occasional replacing a dying plant with leaf propagations from the other ones. As a child I was always fascinated to see that she could grow an entire new plant from just a leaf!

Needless to say, I have a strong emotional attachment to that plant. After her death my uncle took the plant, and when I visited him this past christmas he let me take a couple leaves to make a propagation attempt.

I potted them up and have been keeping them in a not too bright and with high humidity. 2 of the 3 leaves are still alive, and one has started to produce little baby shoots, so things are looking good. I'm hoping the other leaf will soon follow.

I'm generally good with plants, but have never had african violets before. At what point can I take it out of my little terrarium setp up? How do I care for it? I know from my grandmother that they should be watered via the saucer, not too much food, and kept in bright but indirect light. But that's the extent of my knowledge

I am already affectionally calling it 'Reine', after my grandmother (yes, she really was named the word for Queen in French!), so I can't bear the thought of accidentally killing it...

[nemesis]

Wow, Camille, something I might be able to help with lol. First, I wouldn’t change anything just yet. Your neophytes have away to go. Keep doing what you’re doing for at least another month or two. They need some size before they can act independently. What I actually do is leave them until they are quite a bit larger, and even them, I don’t separate them. I let them grow into a plant of their own. You are right re: the wicking method, and providing them with a tray of rock. Keep the soil moist is, but not wet. Just like orchids, they like dry feet and air around their root system. I use a 50/50 mix of perlite and African violet potting mix. When they are ready to transplant into their own terra-cotta pot, gently place them into the pot using a wick of microfiber that extends about 1/2 way up into the soil.

I found orchids while looking for African Violets at a local nursery. I run what I call an African Violet ICU here. All my friends and relatives bring sick AVs for me to , “fix” lol. My fee? A few stem cuttings Hahahaha. Hope this helps.

[DeaC]

THE VIOLET BARN - Violet Barn could be useful. Site not only sells but gives growing info. I've ordered from them and violets are a great addition to orchids.

[Kim in CT]

I echo the recommendation of the Violet Barn. I stop by their booth every year at the Connecticut flower show and they are generous with their advice about growing conditions and propagation. As with orchids, there is a lot of misinformation online. Two of my key learnings from the Violet Barn are 1) never use commercial African Violet soil, as it is too dense for good growth, and 2) be patient with leaf cuttings. As long as there is no rot, you're good. I've had cuttings go 6 months before sprouting leaves!

The potting medium sold by the Violet Barn is truly magic. I grew this from a leaf cutting and it's now 14 inches across (4 inch pot). When my orchids are resting/pouting, violets fulfill the need for Must Have Flowers Now.

[early]

Originally Posted by Kim in CT

I echo the recommendation of the Violet Barn. I stop by their booth every year at the Connecticut flower show and theey are generous with their advice about growing conditions and propagation. As with orchids, there is a lot of misinformation online. Two of my key learnings from the Violet Barn are 1) never use commercial African Violet soil, as it is too dense for good growth, and 2) be patient with leaf cuttings. As long as there is no rot, you're good. I've had cuttings go 6 months before sprouting leaves!b

The potting medium sold by the Violet Barn is truly magic. I grew this from a leaf cutting and it's now 14 inches across (4 inch pot). When my orchids are resting/pouting, violets fulfill the need for Must Have Flowers Now.

Lovely Kim. My grandmother grew AVs also but all I remember is her telling me not to get water on the leaves.

[camille1585]

Thank you for all the information! I'll go have a look at the Violet Barn. Kim, that is a fantastic looking plant! How long did it take to grow to that size?

I didn't realize that these needed a special substrate, and I don't think I've ever seen it in stores. That raises 2 questions: Is it a problem that I potted the cutting in standard pot plant substrate? I've been very careful with watering until now. Second question, what would be a good recipe to make my own substrate? Not being in the US,I can't try the Violet Barn mix...

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Thank you for all the information! I'll go have a look at the Violet Barn. Kim, that is a fantastic looking plant! How long did it take to grow to that size?

I didn't realize that these needed a special substrate, and I don't think I've ever seen it in stores. That raises 2 questions: Is it a problem that I potted the cutting in standard pot plant substrate? I've been very careful with watering until now. Second question, what would be a good recipe to make my own substrate? Not being in the US,I can't try the Violet Barn mix...

Camille, I'm not the AV expert, but the photos are of one of my wife's plants. I asked her what she uses as a substrate and she told me it is regular potting soil. She said she hasn't been able to find an AV mix, so was forced. As you can see, the plant is very healthy. It has actually been propagated and both plants are the same size and blooming.

[Kim in CT]

Hi Camille,
That violet is maybe 2 years old, I think,... but my sense of time can be warped.

Me: "What do you mean the washer broke. Didn't we just buy it?"
Husband: "It's 15 years old."

Violet Barn's potting mix (from their web site): Contains 40% sphagnum peat, 50% vermiculite (coarse and extra coarse) and 10% perlite, with wetting agent.

If you want to mix your own they may be willing to give you more info since you're overseas, particularly about the mysterious "wetting agent."

Kim

[Dimples]

Including a wetting agent isn't that important since most people bottom water their AVs. Wetting agents are included in potting mixes in case it dries out to the point of being hydrophobic during transport or storage and to a lesser extent once it is in use. The wetting agent will help the mix rehydrate quickly, but a drop of dish soap in the water used to wet the mix before potting will work equally well.

Camille - if you add equal parts perlite/aggregate to any standard potting soil, you will have an AV soil equivalent.

[estación seca]

It's too hot in summer here to keep them alive for many years, but I know people elsewhere growing them to show. I've had them collapse after just one day in the house of 90 degrees F / 32C.

The key to remember is they're mossy rock lithophytes. For a long time after propagation they have small root systems. It's easy to get the mix too wet so there's no air. That plus watering choice guides medium composition. If you use water wicking you need medium with smaller particle sizes than if you water by hand.

My friends repot every plant every two years because of medium breakdown. As plants grow the stem elongates, and this supposedly reduces flowering. The people I know break the crown off with just a little stem when they repot and reroot the plant.