Don't remove the crowns. More crown will grow in the middle but maybe not right in the center.

You have lights on for 13 hours. Usually growers have them on for 10 hours per day. At show time, they do increase up to 16 hours a day, but this is for a short period of forcing growth and flowers. Keep lights on for about 10 hours per day unless you take plants to show.

At the same time, continue to think about broad mite because of the down-turned leaves. Do you have symptoms of very hairy leaves, brittle leaves? Misshapened flowers? If so it is time to think about broad mite.

But it it more likely it is a light problem. I think you will see changes once you turn down the light hours.

Nancy

I second Nancy -

8 inches is about right - but the recuperation time is I would say 6 months. AVs do not grow under T5, unless you put them 24" above I guess. The plants are damaged and it will take time for them to grow new healthy leaves. But even the itty bitty leaves are working now - so do not remove them. Your plants will kick back and bloom earlier than in 6 months - but they will look a bit strange. When the plants will grow several rows of good size leaves, you will remove the odd ones.

I would say that 10-12 hours are OK, doesn't make that much difference.

So far - just observe - you keep an eye on pests - just as Nancy said - and you keep an eye on plant growth - you stressed your plants - and they usually react with growing suckers - just as Nancy said - the crowns off center.

But the plants are amazingly resilient, they will take time to row out of damage.

Do not get rid of your T5s - one day you will be interested in growing other gesneriads - and there are some that require exactly T5s. Or you can grow your tomato seedlings next year, or Orchids.

Good Luck

irina

Turn off the lights for 2 weeks . They will lossen up.

Travis

Travis, are you saying to turn off the lights completely for two weeks?
Thanks,
Chris

Thank you Nancy and Irina for your help. I have some pictures, if I can figure out how to post them, I will.

Yes turn off the light for 2 weeks.

Water with water only and use 1/2 tesp of Hydrated pickling lime pet quart of water.Pour this in the pot untill it runs out of the bottom. Do this in the sink.

The plants will tell you if its the light or not. They should loosen up and reach slighty upright.

Then you can start looking for mites.... I dont think it will be a bug problem. Mites will have a totaly different look.
Travis

I do not know - may be for a week? 2 weeks seem too radical.

The best resort for violets - plastic dome - or some kind of transparent plastic cover - the greenhouse effect helps to basically revive sad plants.

i.

Travis, could you explain this pickling lime a little more? I have never heard of using this. Thanks.

Look Guys I grow tens of thousands of violets and been growing for over 35 years. I do not confess to know it all.I have Seen it all and done it all. Tight centers of plants can be PH, Lights,Cold and bugs. If its bugs it will be more than tight centers. If you have mites it will be a different look than the tight centers. Avid will take care of the mites and your thrip problems.

The lime will raise the ph and the plant will loosen up.

Travis,
I'm glad to see you sharing your expertise and opinion here :)

Dora

Hmmm,

Pickling Lime is also known as slaked lime, or calcium hydroxide. Its a way to introduce calcium, which plants need, and reduce acidity at the same time.

I add a pinch of pulverized dolomitic lime (from the natural stone source) in my terrarium mixes for begonias - it counteracts the acidification that tends to happen with long strand sphagnum peat in a closed environment. I actually got it from Cedar Creek Violets.

Garden Lime (like the type used by the pound on lawns) can have traces of other things in it, including lead, so this is really clever - I would think that using human food-grade pickling lime, you can make sure you're getting a very pure form of the calcium hydroxide; CaOH. And, you can buy it in smaller amounts (rather than the 50 lb bags meant for lawns).

Interesting - I hadn't thought of pickling lime as an easy-to-find source of very pure calcium hydroxide. What a great tip!

-Jane