At one of my violet clubs the other day, one of the ladies was telling us about repotting. It started after I had asked if she had Green Dragon, I'd lost mine, and it would be great if she could share a leaf with me. She brought this beautiful plant just as full of bloom as could be....she checked the side of the pot (she prints a date label of when it was last repotted on every plant) and said she would need to repot it in two weeks...to take as many leaves as I wanted...well, I always take older bottom leaves of peoples plants, I don't want to mess with the cemetry and take the 3rd / 4th row like is suggested for the best propagation. So when I took a leaf off the bottom row she said "oh no, take the 4th row leaves....when I repot, I take every leaf off up to the 3rd row" . I don't think I ever heard of taking that many leaves off when repotting, but it is definitely working for her. Now I could hardly believe that plant had gotten that size with stripping it down to 3 sets of leaves 6 months earlier (maybe 4 months...some she repots more often as they are smaller). She has all her plants potted in the oyama pots.
Well I when I repot, I only take off a row or two, depending on how it goes after I take them off, deciding if I need to take one or two more leaves. I have never taken that many leaves off a plant unless I was lopping off the stem to reroot the crown.
So my question to all of you is...do you remove all the leaves up to the third row or how many do you take off when you repot?
tish
When you repot...
Tish,
I just take off those that are too large or beginning to look old.I believe Helene said you should only have 3 tiers of leaves on a show plant.
Lynn
This lady is not growing them to show, just for her own enjoyment, but that must have been where she heard about the 3 sets of leaves. I didn't remember hearing or reading about it anywhere before.
Great topic! For me it depends on the plant. Sometimes I strip them way back depending on how crazy they look. Others I might just do the first row. I've grown some of the most beautiful Av's in Oyama pots or something similar in potting method. It's great! Seems everyone has their own way of doing things and they all work. As far as leaves for babies, I haven't seen that it makes any real difference which row the leaf comes from.
MsC
I agree MsC.What works for one doesn't always work for another.I just grow for pleasure and pay no attention to how many rows there are.I do remove smaller leaves under larger ones though.
Lynn
Yeah me too Lynn, I hate seeing those lil rascals poke their heads out from a big leaf. Of course I have to pay attention, many of mine look really bad. They'd all make a great lesson in "what Not to do".. right now .I like growing mine as close to "show standards" as possible but I've never shown one . There aren't any clubs close enough for me to enjoy, but I can always grow them as IF I might. That's one of the beauties of AV's...you can grow them any way ya want & their still a joy to see.
MsC
This is interesting. You usually don't see more than 3 rows in the pics from the AV magazine. Maybe removing to the third row makes the remaining leaves larger overall. It would make a great article in the magazine. I don't remember reading about that during the past 2 years that I've been subscribing. It seems that I'm often forced to remove that far because my leaves get ratty some how or other.
I'm glad you mentioned the smaller leaves growing below the larger one...I thought I was the only one with this happening. I wonder what I do wrong that causes that. I know I have watering issues, I tend to let them get way to dry a little too often. Also, with it colder weather, the furnace runs more often and its been drying them out very quickly this winter.
tish
I agree Tish! You got me thinking and I took inventory. Optimara's Alabama, Cezanne, Evergrace and one russian, Lesnaia Fantaziia all have small under-leaves. Does anyone else notice a difference with the Optimaras?
In one of last years AV magazines May/June it says to remove leaves that are smaller than the ones above them if they are longer.If they are shorter,lift them and place them on top of the larger ones.
I know there is a great book out called "Growing To Show" and I believe Nichole and Bonnie both grow show plants.
Lynn
Lynn, where is Mrs Bonnie and is she alright? Haven't seen her here in a while.
Melanie,
She is great.I see her often on Jim's site.I'm not sure if she is currently a member here.She can receive Dmail though.
Lynn
Kim, I think bonnie is still here...she was my secret santa exchange, so she was still a member in Dec. Will probably answer if you Dmail her.
tish
Jamie - are you talking about the 2-toned leaves? The leaves with some dark, some light parts? I took a plant like that to a club meeting once, and they told me it was a "birthmark" kind of thing, that the plant will outgrow as it matures.
As for show plants, I don't count the rows, myself (shh, don't tell!) . . . as long as there is decent symmetry, it is a candidate for entry for me.
All plants, at some time or another will have either juvenile leaves (these are the long stem, usually rounder leaves) on a baby or small plant. As the leaves on a plant grow out, they will eventually overshadow leaves underneath them. The general rule is to remove that row of leaves, or at least that leaf, if you cannot see the leaf when looking at the plant from above.
One time you would not want to remove the whole row of leaves (leaving one or two on the row), is when doing so would alter the symmetry of the plant. Everything is on a point scale when you enter a plant in a show . . . you need to decide whether having a gap (thus losing points) in the leaves would be better than losing a point or two for having a smaller leaf . . .
I just take off old or baby leaves. Whatever makes the plant look fresh.
I'm thinking about when the plant's baby leaves have already been removed, it's matured with larger leaves and then-Bam!- a row of small leaves comes in followed by another of mature leaves. To me, it seems like more of my Optimara's do that than the others. Sometimes the smaller leaves are rounded. On two of my Russian's, the smaller row's leaves are pointed. It's like they never can grow into a nice show plant. I suspect environmental change (for me, temperature). I'm getting to where I prefer Buckeyes, Wrangler's and Ness's. What about ya'll?
I prefer Wrangler's and almost any Trailer..because they can sucker to the hilt and it's ok.LOL
I hate trying to remove suckers with out tearing up the mother plant. I always make a mess of it.Which I guess could be good for trades cause I always seem to have leaves ready to go..
MsC
I just found and read your av articles on dave's yesterday because it was linked to a gesneriad article featured on the newsletter. I loved the trailer one! I bet you grow some beauties. Which are the best?
Sorry to say you have me confused with our dear Critterologist. She wrote several wonderful articles for DG's. The info in them is excellent,though.
MsC
Sorry, I'm still trying to learn everyone, since I'm relatively new to Daves.
I don't know anything about growing AV's. I've had quite a few over the years but when it comes to grooming, re-potting, symmetry etc. I don't have a clue. So, tell me ... if you remove all the bottom leaves to have only 3 rows, don't you then have a long bare stem/stalk where the bottom leaves were? I remember having a few Optimara Annabelle's that looked like Palm trees because all the lower leaves got ratty and came off. Do you then plant the stem/stalk deeper when repotting?
This was how one of my Optimara Annabelle looked the first year I had it:
This is the Annabelle Palm Tree, LOL. Should I have chopped the top off and re-planted the crown? Every Annabelle and Isabelle I had ended up growing like this!
Oh, Lin. LOL Go to Rob's Violets and click into lessons. It shows an overgrown A.V. and how to cut it down so it will fit back into the pot. Very good video. Best of luck. Oh, and when you repot every 6 months, take a little off the bottom roots so the plant will snuggle down into the pot and won't get that palm tree look. Its actually kinda cute LOL!!
Connie
LOL, Thanks Connie ... I don't have even one AV nowadays but if I ever get the urge to grow a couple again I'm going to try to do better. I forgot about the video tutorial's at Rob's violets!
Lin, Annebelle looks pretty straight. After seeing that pic I could very well see a new craze of violet topiaries (sp?). If she was covered with bloom stalks it would almost look like a rose topiary. You might have invented something and didn't know it LOL!!
Connie
jamiew
No problem it's an honest mistake, especially since our names are so similar.I'm having to relearn everyone on here, too!
Lynn I have had a few that look like that too. Some of my trailers looked that way before I chopped them up and made single plants out of them.
I agree LOL....I would love an AV tree.
Lynn
Just a reminder twist,twist LOL.We are getting ready to start bingo.
Bingo??? Can anyone play ?
Of course!! C'mon over.Nichole will be posting the picks soon and we have lots of prizes.^_^
It's under "Is Anyone Thinking About Bingo"
Lynn
Oh boy...here i go..
Thank you!
Well I am in NJ at DD house and reading this on an I PAD totally amazing to work with this . have to have one.
In jamies pic it is evident how smaller leaves should be removed as the larger leaves are quite defined.
Lin that palm tree is delish: to remedy this is : cut he top off and reroot. When repotting and removing leaves one also has to cut off some old roots then plop the plant down deeper into the same size pot thus hiding the neck.. Some people scape the neck- a bit thinking this will definately make new roots and this will ensure a healthy new growth.
I too wonder about mrs bonni. Helene
Helene,
Bonnie is just fine.Her area was hit very hard by the blizzard,but she is safe and warm.
Lynn
Lin....love the av tree....would love to see that pic in the av magazine...you could send it in annonymous...ha.
Little off topic....there was a chirita "tree" at a gesneriad convention...and its actually OK, to show a chirita like that...I believe it even got an award !!
tish
Well, live and learn something everyday!! I have a chirita tree! And it's blooming. I have to lazy to repot!! I have been busy painting a watering can. Helen it's turning out beautiful!!
LOL, I don't have that Annabelle AV plant anymore, or any AV's but if I ever get another I will experiment.
I had a Chirita a couple of years ago that did the same thing, can't remember which one it was though, maybe Linearifolia.
That AV topiary gave me a much needed belly laugh! I actually like the look, especially if it was blooming. It doesn't seem fair that Chiritas get away with that and AVs don't! It would be an awesome pic in the AV magazine.
It could be used in the magazine for an article of how NOT to grow, LOL.
hello from the so very cold nj.
I actual saw the same watering can in one of the catalogs here at my dd house - painted all over with pansies cost over $50.00 same shape.
palm tree violet very appropo for fl. I think helene
You should try growing one Helene.Great conversation piece.