African Violets and Gesneriads: Removing trailing av leaves, 1 by GoldLeaf91011

GoldLeaf91011 wrote:
syrumani...I grow everything in my same wick mix...all violets from start to finish.
My mix is:

1 part good bagged peat based soiless medium like, ProMix, Fafard, etc.
2+ parts coarse Perlite (I use Schundler purchased in 20 lb. bags)
1 part coarse Vermicilite (Schundler brand also)

The community boxes work just fine especially when growing lots of leaves labeled carefully. I have babies coming up from leaves planted I bet not 6 weeks ago. Ramblin' Sunshine was first to pop up. I cover the boxes with plastic wrap and they don't need any watering. I do check now and then but they stay moist. They are very self sufficient. I place the community violet leaf boxes with the date planted under lights on the top shelves where it's warmer. I should add, I burn holes in the bottoms of the boxes for drainage and use the lids for a saucer.

To answer your question 2manyplants, I do cut the tops of larger standard violet leaves. Takes up less space and gives more light to the other leaves in the box as it doesn't shade them.. Plus, It does help the leaf from growing. The photo shows mostly semi and mini violet leaves in this particular box and since the leaves are small...no need to cut the tops off.

On rooting strep leaves. The one big tray has cell inserts...rectangular in shape. The strep leaf sections fit nicely in them. Since the cells are deep. I put plain perlite in the bottom about 1/3 of the way and filled with my regular wick mix...then domed the whole tray. It's been weeks and it's still moist and no need for watering. I checked last night. I tugged gently on a few leaves and they are rooted.

I also have strep leaves in a community box covered with plastic wrap. They are doing well so far. I place the strep prop trays/boxes on the bottom shelf.

If you have just one or several leaves, do the same thing only on a smaller scale. Use individual small pots or solo cup with holes. I wick everything so I would add that. No need to be fancy. I use plastic baggies for domes lots of times.

Community tray of strep leaves...