I have four African Violets which have been looking very sad lately. The outer leaves are extremely droopy and they look kind of wilted. Nearer the crown of the plants the leaves are more upright and I am seeing some new growth. One of the plants is even blooming. The leaves still have good color, I can find no evidence of insects or disease. I water every couple of weeks by letting the pot stand in water for an hour or so. I also water from above - VERY carefully - every week. I have used African voilet fertilizer on them. Most recently I repotted and put them in my patio greenhouse which I have moved indoors for the winter. Since doing that, one looks a little better, two look about the same and one looks even worse. Should I try something else? Prune off the sickly-looking leaves? (about half of the plant) or just continue to be patient and hope they perk up? I have never had them do this before and am perplexed by what went wrong.
What's up with my plants?
I have no idea what the problem is - maybe overwatering? I let mine dry out some between watering. It could also be that your soil is too heavy.
I am not an expert either but I have learned that these plants need a very light soil and don't like a lot of fertilizer. I add a lot of perlite to a mix that doesn't have fertilizer in it. I cant' speak for anyone else but if mine stayed wet enough to last a week without water they would be very unhappy. Mine dry out in about 3-4 days. When they stay damp the are very prone to root rot.
Hi,
A picture would really help if you can post one.If the outer leaves are drooping,soft,or discolored remove them.I would take one out of the pot and inspect the crown to make sure there are no signs of rot.It sounds like over watering,but there could be something else going on.The roots should look firm and mostly white.
When you say one is even blooming,it's also possible they are too dry.You can't really put them on a watering schedule.When they look dry and the pot feels lighter,it is usually time to water.An hour or two is a long time to let them sit in water.Take them out as soon as the top of the soil starts looking wet.Hope this helps.
Lynn
Thanks for all the suggestions. I had been letting them get quite dry between watering but I thought that may have been the problem so that's why I started watering so often. The roots and crowns looked good when I repotted but the soil was fairly compacted. I used a seed starting mix to repot and that's when I fertilized (I usually rarely fertilize in winter). It seems like they are starting to respond to their new, more humid environment - between 60&70% vs. around 40% outside the greenhouse. Maybe all I really need is more patience. LOL!
I don't have a greenhouse,so my conditions are a little different.
African violets appreciate a humid environment,but do well in normal home conditions.I would be very careful about transplanting into a seed mix.Most of them are very heavy on peat and sometimes vermiculite and have very little perlite.Once they get wet they can hold way too much water and even if the top looks wet the roots can be suffocating (sp?).
The don't mind drying out a little,but bone dry,then water, and especially fertilizer when they are very dry is a big problem.
I know you will have it figured out in no time and everybody here is always very helpful if you have questions.
Happy Gardening,
Lynn
I just read someone saying what Lynn was saying that completely drying and then completely wetting the soil mix is a common cause of crown rot. Good to know. I also read someone say recently that the soil should feel like a wrung out sponge just damp but not wet.
Thanks, Lynn for the information and suggestions. I checked the crowns again and they are looking good. They are starting to perk up a bit and I can see evidence of new leaves sprouting on one. I removed the fretilizer spikes. I figured some probably leached out into the soil when I watered so I will let them get adapted to their new home before I apply any more.Thanks for your help and wish me luck!
Luck,Luck,Luck.....LOL ^_^.