I had 7 plants in a greenhouse window over the kitchen sink in my son's house. I live in the MIL apartment with no room. They loved it, and I loved going in and watering them every week. Due to illness, his houseguests, etc.etc.etc, it has been almost a month since I watered. Believe it or not, the only bad effect was the large lower leaves were wilted, but the new growth was still green. I just now finished cleaning all the dead flowers and stuff out of them and discovered each pot had two extra plants in them!
What kind of dirt do I use to transplant them into? I also have two mini's that are growing new plants in their little pots. Do I use the same dirt for them?
Pati
Neglected AV's, so ashamed
I don't know what everyone uses or recommends but I got some Schultz professional Potting Soil Plus. For African Violets and Flowering Plants, it says it is specially formulated to encourage blooming for African Violets, Gloxinia and other popular Gesneriads. I haven't used it yet, but I have some babies that I have started and plan on using it when they look like they need to be transplanted. I am a newbie with African Violets, so far so good.
Linda
Your "extra" plants may be suckers, which will turn into new plants just fine, but need a little TLC to do so. Check the culture page at robsviolets.com for information. You'll also find advice there on repotting, which you may need to do if you've removed enough lower leaves that the violets now have a "neck." It's amazing how tough AVs can be at times..... and then other times you look at them funny & they go limp or spotty or something..... but mostly, they're pretty tough!
If you're using self watering pots or wicks, both of which keep the soil pretty moist, you might consider using 1 part perlite to 1 part potting soil. I've been using that on all my violets & with the leaves I'm propagating, and it seems to work really well. Even the specially formulated mixes don't have enough perlite in them to keep my self watering pots from getting too soggy.
Critter, Great information, thank you! I'm sure that when all the droopy bottom leaves have to be removed, my big plants are going to have substantial necks! My mini's are the only ones wick watered, and I'll use the perlite/potting soil mix for them. You're right about the AV's being tough, who would have thought these would have survived a month of neglect! I think that using food with each feeding made them stronger.
2dogpugs, Thanks for the Schultz Potting Soil Plus name. Let me know how successful you are with it. My total experience with AV's has been to buy them, I love the flowers, and then just throw them away when I killed them. *sigh*.
I have turned over a new leaf (pun intended) and plan to really take care of these. I have had them over a year now, and they have done so well with my benign neglect. Once a week I fill up their bowls with water and Optimara Violet Food (water soluable)for one hour, then empty the residue out and leave them alone. I think I just over-mothered the last batch.
Pati