Hi,
You seem to be doing everything correctly with the exception of fertilizing. I grow all my AV's on wicks and use 1/2 the recommended amount of fertilizer. Other than that what are you using for wicking. I use 4 ply acrylic worsted weight yarn. One piece for each standard and split it into 2 plies for minis and semis. You also said nothing about the size and type pots u are using. I keep all my stds in plastic squat pots and repot when the crown of the plant is more than 3x's the size of the pot. I keep all my minis and semis in 3oz. plastic Solo cups. If you are interested I have a couple sheets on the care and rejuvination of AV's that I passed out when I went out to lecture. If you are interested, email me and I will send them to you.
Fred in NJ

Fred,
Thanks for your reply. I have not used ANY fertilizers on the violets, since they have no roots and all were potted in 2 3/4'' squat pots. Most were standard or semi-minis and I used 2 ply acrylic yarn for wicking the pots and I used one wick per pot. Also, the fertilizer is mixed to reomended strength, but I add that to water in the wicking tary, so it is diluted to about 1/2 strength, when all is said and done. I am beginning to believe either the peat moss available to me is sub par, as is the case with the available potting mixes out now or the violets themselves were looking ''tired'', b/c they were and shipping and repotting, cloudy days, cool days, and disinfectant dunks might have been too much, but that doesn't explain the decline of the couple that I recieved in optimum position.

The peat works fine for my carnivores and is your standard sphagnum peat moss, not sedge peat or peat with additives.
I say it might be suspect, b/c it used to be a bag of Miracle grow potting mix or Farfard mix was light and fluffy, suitable for many houseplants as is and certainly ideal for any plant with additional perlite and vermiculite added. Now it is compacted, black, and most unsuitable for anything. If it is amended and used, it breaks down quickly and contributes to root death....it just isn't the same as it was 10 yrs ago, IMO.

Thanks Again.

Hi there,

Like Fred said, it looks like you're doing pretty much everything right. My guess is that your hunch is right and the potting medium you are using might be the problem. If you are into mixing your own (which I recommend, since you know EXACTLY what's in it!) here is a recipe that I use to mix my own AV soilless mix:

4 qt. Canadian sphagnum peat moss
4 qt. horticultural vermiculite
4 qt. perlite
1/2 cup dried manure
2 tbsp dolomitic lime (non-hydrated), powdered not pelleted
2 tbsp superphosphate (20% P2O5), powdered not pelleted
2 cups horticultural charcoal

This recipe makes approximately 13 quarts. Of course, check the pH of the soil mix and adjust with lime as needed, but I find that this recipe is pretty consistent. Usually I buy both the MiracleGro sphagnum peat moss and MiracleGro perlite that comes in the 8 qt. bags, and the vermiculite and horticultural charcoal I get is made by Hoffman. The superphosphate and dolomitic lime I buy is pelleted and made by Espoma - I use a mortar and pestle to grind them up into powder to make a more even mix.

If you don't want to go through all the effort, I would recommend adding some horticultural charcoal to your existing mix. It can really help loosen it up!

Good luck with your violet ventures and I hope things improve for you!
Christine

Christine, I like your mix I did want to add charcoal at first, but was unable to find it in bulk sources. I want you also to be aware that the only perlite I can find by miracle grow IS enriched with Miracle grow fertilizer that contains urea nitrogen. I am not suggesting you not use it, b/c your results must certainly be better than mine, but that is why I am not using it. At any rate, I guess I am doing everything I can and no one has pointed out anything fatally wrong with my methods, so I can wait and hope that future efforts are successful and I have future efforts on the way already!!! lol.....the addiction is strong, in spite of the odds against me at the moment.

I would also like to add a note or two. Me, who can grow violets just fine, but have a lot of trouble with streps and kill nearly every orchid I ever had.

When you get plants thru the mail they have been "well traveled". Box travel is not kind. also the plants are used to growing in different home/greenhouse conditions. I let my plants set a couple weeks to adjust to my home and rest from their travel. Then I repot into my potting mix with some marathon to kill any root mealies or such.
Kept in a different room than my other plants for a month or two until it looks like they are pest free.

If your roots were rotted, they were possibly too wet, too long. It doesn't take long for violets to die from wet roots. Violets like damp soil, not wet soil. Drier is better. More perlite never hurts. I use any av soil at lowes, home depot, walmart and add more perlite and a little more vermiculite to the mix. I used to just add the perlite but I read where several sources said vermiculite holds fertilizers and minerals so I started adding it again. For my PH issues, I add a little baking soda to my water with the diluted fertilizer...but I don't fertilize every time I water, some dry out quickly and other plants not so quickly. But everyone who grows them uses a little different mix, adds different things, like lime, etc. It does sound if your mix is sour, it is not good. Maybe next time you think the plant's soil is too wet, you can set the pot on newspaper or paper towels to draw out excess moisture. If it continues to be too wet, add more perlite to the mix. Remember DAMP, not wet.

Keep trying. I keep trying with streps and orchids. One day I'll get it right. Take care. tish

I am atking everything in and want to add that the first group of violets I repotted had 'rested' for about 2 weeks or maybe 3, before being repotted, but I agree that plants need some time to adapt.
I also am beginning to think that perhaps peat from different regions, harvested at different depths, and of different ages, might have different densitys and hold more less water depending on these factors. I am going to cut my peat to 1/2 part to 1 part each of perlite and vermiculite and see if this helps. The peat is not providing anything, but a place for nutrients and water to be available to the plants roots and of course anchorage. It in an of itself is actually not ideal, it's Ph is too low and it hold a lot of moisture, therfore, one should be able to lower or raise the amount they use with little consequence.

I think, when I repot my streps and pets, I will add some expanded clay granules. This is called turface and is nuetral in Ph and resembles tiny, tan rocks. It is light and small, a good aerator and should help cut the acidity of the mix, buffer the Ph once adjusted, and be similar to the ''gritty'' mix they must grow in amongst the rocks and stream banks in nature. Maybe it will hold promise for the violets as well. It is sold as aquatic plant soil at either lowes or home depot.

I am still trying to find a target Ph for the streps and pets. before repotting. I can only find that they like additional lime, egg shell oyster grit...etc, but no set number to strive for in regards to deal Ph.

I am crossing my fingers that the violets in the rooting tray get roots down and I can steer this cart back onto the right trail. Until the violets are happy, I am scared to repot the pets and streps, as these are more finicky, I think. My first bloom has begun to open on my strep 'rasberry network''....I am in love witht this plant and can't wait to see it!

I will keep everyone posted and enjoy reading your suggestions and comments.

Lemonsforcharms,

Ah. I just checked the bag and the MiracleGro perlite I have is enriched with MiracleGro plant food. Regardless of that, my plants seem to be doing stellar!

If drainage is a huge issue you might want to pick up some Oyama self-watering planters. They're a bit pricey but they are WONDERFUL! My violets love them.

Good luck!
Christine

I was considering them or texas watering in general, but my violet group seemed to be in favor of wicking and these are some long term growers, who have tried all of the methods at one time or another. I am also embracing the idea that each person has to tailor thier mix and watering method, lighting, temps, and so on to thier own habits and most importantly thier plant's needs. I think, when I get some plantlets from my leaves, I will try different things on different plants. I really don't have room for multiples, so I don't feel guilty experimenting on the excess for the sake of finding an ideal growing method for my situation here.

I am glad your violets are doing well, even with the miracle grow in the perlite. It goes to show that sometimes, the less you are aware of the better. Now you don't have to fertilize for a while after you repot:^)

I am pleased to say that the plants that I put down with the leaves have become turgid again and are showing signs of growth. There isn't any doubt that they are on the way to being healthy again. I am also pleased that I have a number of rooted leaves, but it has also been about 3 months since I put them down and I haven't seen a hint of any ''mouse ears''. Would adding a diluted amount of urea free fertilizer with a dropper help matters any?

I am fairly sure that my next repotting effort will be using the hybrid technique of wicking with a layer of perlite in the bottom of the pot as you would for Texas watering. I think that is more fool proof and after reading ''Growing for Show'', I think this makes the most sense for my growing situation.

All of my petrocosmeas and streps continue to do well and one strep is in bloom....my most sought after variety and the only one I really cared if I owned. It is ''Rasberry Network''. I just love its flowers and the fuschia color that is netted over the blossoms.

I enjoy reading all of the post here and appreciate the wisdom that you so freely share. I think I feel more like part of a ''club'' here than at my AV club...lol

Happy Growing

I wouldn't fertilize the leaves. There's a less risky way to "force" them: cut the top third off of the leaf to make sure that it stops growing and will devote all of its energy to producing plantlets.

I'm so glad to hear things are going better for you!!! :D The frustration is almost worth it after seeing everything go right, isn't it? haha

Christine

Christine,

Thank you for your reply. I did cut many of the leaves in half at the time I put them down for rooting. Should I cut them down further?

It is worth it and when I get to see my Gher's witch doctor with a full rosette and in bloom again, and my Lyon's spectacular, I think I will get a bottle of champagne to celebrate....lol I really want to see my Wrangler's gaudy lady with a nice full rosette of foliage too.....I just love the leaves and colors of the foliage on that one. I will just keep being patient and let them come around at thier own pace.