The leaves that were sent to me from a couple of you here are rooted. Well not all of them but most of them. I check them every few days and yesterday I had a problem with some kind of mold on one of the leaves and I had to pull it out and cut away the bad part and disinfect it. When I did that I saw roots which was exciting. I then checked a few others and they had roots too. If they are like the one momma leaf I have now I should have babies soon maybe in a couple of weeks. I am looking forward to that.
And the first momma leaf I got before I joined here is looking like the plantlets are ready to be separated. I went to a plant show this weekend hoping to meet some people but I didn't really. While there I heard a man who was selling leaves and he was talking to someone and he said he separates his plantlets when the leaves are the size of his fingernail. That seems too small based on what I am hearing from ya'll. The leaves I have on my plantlets are larger than my largest fingernail probably at least the size of a nickel. It's bee about 4 months I think. Gail posted about a woman who waits six months though so I haven't done it yet.
Roots!
Anna,
I think most of us just do it when it seems ready or when we have the time.Some plants grow faster or have bigger leaves and you can sometimes seperate sooner.Others with tiny little leaves or all white leaves need to wait a while.
Lynn
Good morning, Lynn. Last night before bed I checked the leaves you sent me and all of them are rooted too! Only a couple that Gail sent me are not though I imagine they will do it soon. Why would you have all white leaves? Oh because of variegation right? The babies of a variegated leaf might start out without much or any green and I think someone said fish emulsion was what you add right?
Anna, how long did it take your leaves to root?
Anna,
I'm so glad they are rooting for you.Sometimes a variegated violet will send up white baby leaves.The next leaves should be greener.A mild feeding will not hurt,but as long as they are still attached to the mama leaf they will be alright.
Lynn
GrowHappy I am not exactly sure but I think about two weeks, maybe three?I received Gail's on the 3rd and Lynn's on the 5th. As of last night when I did my nightly check, all but one or two or Gail's were rooted and all of Lynn's were. I did a broken leaf and it hasn't rooted but I don't know if I did it right - I did it like a begonia.
I have been trying to do some reading on the Internet and it seems that people say it can happen in a week but none of mine did and other people say it can take a couple of months so maybe it's variable for some reasons maybe the age of the leaf of the variety of violet? Same with babies. I read where someone said she had babies show up 9 or 10 months after she planted it that she was about ready to throw it out.
When I get an african violet leaf without a petiole (the stem part), I turn it over and use a razor blade to cut a new petiole (so it has a stem..). Someone told me that a long time ago but don't remember who it was. It works for sure. ***edited to say that I am cutting the petiole out of the african violet leaf.
It may also work that you just stuck it anyway.........
This message was edited Sep 23, 2009 7:32 AM
Oh I did that too but there was some reason I couldn't but now I don't remember why. For some reason I only had the top part of the leaf and I'd read somewhere that someone started leaves that way so I thought I'd try it and if nothing happens then I learned that does not work right? I have another leaf started as you just described Gail and it's rooted just fine.
Anna,
I am curious......when you said you did it like a Begonia,do you mean you made slits across the veins and pinned it to the soil,like a Rex Begonia?? I have never tried that with an AV leaf.
There are so many factors that contribute to how fast a leaf makes babies.....what they are potted in,how much light,domed or not,what variety it is,the age of the leaf....and so on.As long as the mom leaf still looks healthy I don't worry about the time.....and a couple of times the well rooted mom leaf died and babies still grew!!
I have had leaves make babies so quick I coudn't believe it...and others have not made babies for months.
Lynn
Not that way but the other way you can do begonias at least I think I'm remembering this the right way. Oh shoot I don't know the name but my mom did them that way. You take a section of the leaf and put it in the soil. It has to have a vein I think that's what she said but I haven't done it or seen her do it in many years.
My goodness your mom leaf died but the babies lived? Maybe once all of the babies have started growing the mom leaf doesn't do much any more.
Gail and Lynn in addition to having roots on almost everything already I think that the poor plant I loved so much and that lost so many leaves Two W Marne is going to make it! It was down to 3 leaves I think with 5 or 6 broken but tonight on my evening routine I noticed that it now has 2 new leaves that are growing larger. In fact all the plants are looking very well with new growth on all of them. I have been a wee bit concerned that even though I seem to have a green thumb with other things that I might not have one with these but it seems like maybe I will be able to keep them alive. I imagine that having healthy plants to start is a big part of it so thank you both again.
Anna,
You are welcome.When my babies of others get big enough I will remember you.
Lynn
Guess what I found, Anna! I found a leaf with babies of Two-W Marne that Viostrep had sent me. I didn't even know I had it.
Good for you for keeping it alive. If you just have the center with a leaf or two, it is amazing that you can get them to start new growth again.........hip hip hooray for you, but now we have a back up plan. (smiling)
I also have a leaf of it planted Gail and it has rooted so maybe that one will make babies too. Between us I am sure I'll have this plant by golly.
Smiling........by golly we have lots of her! NOw I need to find some other Two-W ones, like Manita (I think)........have seen them on ebay.........think I will check out Violet Gallery just by chance she has some of the Swedish leaves............
Gail that seems to be a hurdle doesn't it? There are so many varieties and the people who sell them only have a few hundred which sounds like so many but it's not really. I look at pictures on the internet and see so many that are lovely but I don't see anyone selling them so I reckon you just have to hope someone you know has it or maybe you find it by luck somewhere.
Oh, Anna..............I have already found 3 plants of Two-W's already. Just can't decide what to do!!!
That is funny. I'm glad to know they are there in case mine doesn't make it somehow or the leaf I have rooted doesn't make babies. I've heard that young leaves are not best to use to make babies and this was a young leaf.
I am not winning the bid and am not bidding any higher on these other ones of Two-
W...............
Gail , I have manita and sophi so don't bid on them , I will send leaves to you , I have leaves down and the mom plants are doing well , I didn't have them when I sent you marne othwise I would have sent those too :)
Connie
Thanks..........and I have a lot of leaves for you now, too..............can you hang on for another week before it gets cold. I just lost Sophi and a couple of others. I have a second chance on one, but I had to ask for it when I was the one pushing up the winning bidding. Usually vendors know who is bidding high enough to force top notch dollars for their plants and they always offer second chances........
I am not going to accept the one second chance and then have to pay 7 or 8 dollars for one plant.
It isn't getting cold yet here so don't worry about that , I just didn't want you to spend lots of money on something I can give you , I am going to send Field and Stream too so don't go crazy and bid on any of them if you find one , I haven't seen it listed lately but I have small plants and I put down more leaves as it is sooooooooooooooooooo pretty I need to make sure I have a few around :)
Connie
I posted on another thread but am very excited about trading again with you and now I have some awesome leaves to send to you..........dying for Field and Stream...........
Is Field and Stream the one by Arndt? I finally started keeping all the names of the ones I liked in a document on my computer. This is one that I thought was very interesting with the jagged leaves and the pale lavender with the green. Maybe in the spring I will have something that you want, Connie, and we could trade leaves.
Anna ,
Sorry I didn't see this till now , sure we can trade or I can just send you some leaves , I have some small plants of Field and Stream but I just separated them from mom and so their roots are just settling into singlehood and so aren't ready to be sent anywhere except to my bedroom form my living room and vise versa LOL , you are right the blossoms are the most lovely colors , they remind me of blue opals in that they are more than one color , lavender/blue and green , just gorgeous :)
Hugs ,
Connie
Oh, Connie...I just looked up Field and Stream. Can you tell me which vendor carries that? I have checked a few and can't find it. I even think my DH would like that one!
Thanks!
Connie
Oh I just posted that yesterday I think. I would love that either a small plant or a leaf or two whatever you have whenever it's ready. I don't have much yet but would gladly send something in return in the spring when I will have much more.
I just took off my first baby Bob Serbin plant today and realized that it didn't have many roots of its own though the leaf had quite a lot of them. Only one of the babies was bit enough to take off well some people might have taken them all but I am being a chicken and leaving them on longer. It had 5 leaves already but it probably shouldn't be sent anywhere for a little while longer until is gets some more roots so I both understand why you are not sending them yet and appreciate it.
Anna , I tried to Dmail you but the page doesn't give me the option this morning so will try later , wanted to tell you something , later I guess , have a wonderful day :)
Connie :)
Hi Connie :)
I know that Teazviolets on Ebay has leaves for sale , she charges a lot but if you want it she has them , I have seen other people selling plants at times too , I got mine a couple of years ago I think from Joanmarie on Ebay .
Hope this helps :)
Connie
That is a little too much for me but I will keep looking.
Have a great day.
Thanks anyway :)
Connie
Oh, I almost forgot...wasn't someone looking for Artic Frost? I have one now and I will be more than happy to share it when Spring comes. Please let me know and I will put your name on it. (She is just a baby with 3 leaves right now).
Have a great day!
Connie
Viostrep-Connie I will look for your dmail when you can access it.