Would like some suggestions, please

I have Rob's Sticky Wicket. Got a small plant in August and it now fills a six in pot and is beginning to trail over. Besides the 3 or 4 main stems coming from the main crown, there are now additional stems that are about 3 inches in length coming from the main stems.

Do I simply cut the secondary stems off and root them? Do I just leave it alone and "let her go?" This is my first experience with trailers and I am in the dark as to what I should do.

Thanks for any response.

Nanna

Nanna,
Can you post a pic?
I think you can do either.If you read CritterO's post about doing a crown cutting that would proable work, if I understand your question .

You can also check the Rob's link on trialers and see if that might help. It helped me decide what to do with that Ramblin Angel that just won't bloom. Darn thing still ain't bloomed:)

MsC

If the secondary stems have no space, I would probably cut them off. I am more likely to do a crown cutting if the main growth is about to get too tall (note: "about to", not "is") or the plant isn't trailing enough. But yes, it depends on how the plant looks overall.

MsC - have you tried slightly lower temps on that one that won't bloom?

Here's some pictures that may help.

The first two are at different angles to show the fullness of the plant

Here's the second

In the next pictures, I have tried to push back to follage so you can see the secondary trailers.

2nd

last.

I would appreciate any help you can give me.

Thanks,
Nanna

This message was edited Nov 22, 2005 7:35 AM

MY two cents WOW It's beautiful your doing a good job. If it was my trailer I'd plant it in a Pan Pot 5 or 6 " . I may pinch a few of the center crowns . But other than that it looks great.
I see your gorw lights and the amount of hours you use sure make your plants Happy Bloomers ! Allison

Rob grows trailers in pots no deeper than 2-3 " deep ;
Personally, we prefer to grow our trailers as ground covers. This is how the plant shown above was grown. As the plant spreads, place it into wider, but still shallow (no deeper than 2-3"), pots. Trailers have a shallow root system. Occasional pinching, pruning, and removal of foliage will encourage even more dense, lush, growth. Go to our "Library of Articles" in our "Culture Corner" pages for more detailed information.
http://www.robsviolet.com/trailing_violets.htm

He also says if you want them smaller to pinch them.

The size of a trailing violet is determined by the grower. Because they are spreading plants by nature, even "miniature" varieties can grow into very large plants. The plant picture above, for example, is a semiminiature variety but, because it has been allowed to spread (and been grown well), it has become a very large plant. Should you wish to grow yours smaller, simply keep the plant pruned-back by pinching the tips of runners to limit its growth.

I had a friend who called there one time and was asking his wife. And she recommended growing tailings and Epsicas in Pan Pots.

Congratulations ,and very beautiful plant you have there Nanna.

Keying, What do you mean too tall. I want the plant to remain full. I want to prevent it from becoming leggy; with all the growth on the trailers and sparce around the main crown.

Nanna

WOW!!!

If you want to keep it in that pot and "let 'er go" over the edge, I think that would work fine. Pinching the centers out of crowns should encourage it to continue getting fuller with more crowns, so I don't think it would become sparse in the middle if you let it trail.

I did recently find some shallow 6 inch terra cotta pan pots at Dutch Plant Farm up here in Frederick. I bought the 4 that they had in stock, and I will keep my eye out for more if you'd like a couple. At 1.49 each, I thought they were a good deal. Now I'm working on some little jute hangers for them.... I spent way more on cool beads for the hangers than I did on the pots, LOL!

If by chance you do pinch it back, can you post step by step photos for those of us who hope to someday have a violet that looks like that! Pretty please. I'm a tactile learner and seeing photos of 'how to' really help me.
Thanks!
Lali

Hey Lali, again, I'm following you.

When I pinch back you will be the first to get a new plant!!!!!

I pulled up some infor on Rob's (thank heavens for Rob's) from the Library section. It looks like just what I was looking for. But, please, if there are more suggestions, pass them along. I'll keep you posted on what I do.

Nanna

My Rob's Sticky Wicket was big like that. I don't know what possed me to take it apart and make a half a dozen plants. Oh well to share some , and they'll grow big. I buy my pan pots two places. One Blirbird greenhouse. I also like their other size pots the 2.50 and 4 " as their Azela pots, they call the Av pots :)) they are not deep.
Description: Economy. Durability. Some people call these Azalea pots or tubs but we know better. This is the standard for potting African Violets
http://www.bluebirdgreenhouse.com/html/supply01.htm

The 5 " pan pots start at ; Quantity 10 (5" pans) $4.49 .

I also like to shop Secret Gardens for Pan Pots ( they call them bulb pans theirs are a nice sturdy shiney white and only $3.25 per 10 . You can buy just one if you want ~ 35 cents ! I buy my thumbprint, 2 " pots I buy the 500 at a times. ( great for babies, mini's and semi's only 7 cents each.they have the 3 and 4 inch in eound and saqure and green and white I buy those also !
http://www.secretgardenrareplants.com/catalog.cfm?category_id=16

Do the pan pots have a drain hole in the bottom??

Nanna

Yes they have holes I think 5 or 6 of them they are wonderful. I can't say enough about them. I just started using them this years for my trailers, and Epscias wow and Streps. I know you would like them. Allison Oh when I wick them or 4 " pots I use two wicks.

Thanks V-T I think I will order some.

Nanna

I know you will like them ! I can't wait to see your beautiful trailers and other plants growing in them ! Allison

Thanks, Allison

Nanna

The Bluebird ones do, according to the picture.

The terra cotta ones from Dutch Plant Farm in Frederick have a single drain hole in the center.

Bluebird green house and secret gardens all have holes maybe about five like othe AV pots. I know I have had orders from both places. I like to use two wicks for large pots ! I'll tell you what Bluebirds are great and they'll pack with plants, but you can not beat the price and qulity of Secret Gardens. I have bought thousands of pots fro them . The 2 " 3" and pan bulb ( pan Pots) and a nice white shiney sturdy pot. You can also pay from either Bluebird greenhouse or Secret Garden on line with Pay Pal or charge cards. Secret Gardens has some neat plants too :)) Allison

OK Guys, here's what I decided to do. I tried to follow the suggestions on Rob's web site www.violetbarn.com/trailing_violets The hyper link did not include that I found the information in the Library, About training violets, the specific information I used is under Grooming. To promote dense growth and good form.

Here's the picture after removing all the larger leaves to allow the light to get to the center of the plant. You can see there is tons of new growth. There was one runner that was sticking straight up. I cut it off, scraped it and put it in a 2 1/2 inch pot. There are about 6 to 8 runners that are laying down. When I get my 8 inch pan pot I will anchor the runners as evenly as possible around the pot. I left the follage on the ends of the runners that are starting to trail over the pot.

Wish me luck. I will post another picture in a couple of weeks.

Nanna

This message was edited Nov 22, 2005 1:06 PM

This message was edited Nov 22, 2005 1:08 PM

That does LOOK drastic, but I followed their example and mine is really filling in nicely. It allows the light to get down to the stems and they REALLY do put up new plantlets along the runners. Mine is.

You be sure and put down all those leaves for trading..lol

Hugs MsC

Ok now put those leaves down ! Also you may want to start with a 5" pot first their pretty big not deep but big then go up one size at a time.
Allison

Thanks for the concern, Allison. It's already in a 6 inch pot. By the time the plant fills in and I repot, I think it will be ready for 8 inches.

I will put some of the leaves down. There are about 20 or 30 of them. I'll see what I can find to do a multi-mega leafing.

DONE. I have 24 leaves of Sticky Wicket. Care to guess how many plantlets that will make. Sticky Wicket for everyone!!!!!

Nanna

This message was edited Nov 22, 2005 4:16 PM

This message was edited Nov 22, 2005 4:17 PM

Ok but order the 5 " and 6 " pan pots too. They are bigger in different ways just not as deep. Allison

Oh My Goodness! Tha'ts enough for everyone and then some..... you may find yourself offering these on Ebay this spring, LOL! I have 3 or 4 double-leaf pots from a couple varieties, and I thought that would be a lot. WOW.

That's great ! I like doing this. You may sell a few helps put money back into an addiction ! Lights, electricity, fertilizer, pots, soil, buying more leaves and plants :)) Then sharing to me is worth a Million :)) There is always someone that would love a plant, trades, Nursey homes, Salvation Army and more :)) Great Job beautiful plant. I can't wait to see it in it's pan pot a couple months from now ! Allison

You've convinced me Allison.

Nanna

Nanna, can you post a follow up of how your Rob's Sticky Wicket looks today, and did you get any babies from it yet?

Happy to respond.

The first two pictures are of sticky wicket. After the drastic cut down the plant is starting to fill in and trail.

This is a top view showing how the plant is filling in.

The next two are of allegro appalachian trail. I cut her back at the same time.

First picture is of the side that is trailing.

This message was edited Dec 10, 2005 7:16 PM

Second picture is of the side that was not growing. I cut it back. You can see the new growth coming.

Here are the leaves that were set on the 22 of November. They are beginning to root, but no ears as yet.

Nanna

The picture is dark. The leaf at the top looks black. It isn't. Still waiting for ears.

This message was edited Dec 10, 2005 2:03 PM

Here is another trailer I have been working with, Deer Path Trail. It grows slower than the other two. It only had one crown when I purchased it. I pinched the crown back. I hope you will be able to see all the new growth that has come since the pinching.

Nanna

The new growth is all around the neck of the plant and in addition another crown has appeared at the base of the plant.

This message was edited Dec 10, 2005 2:23 PM

Hey nanna...how can you tell if they are starting to set roots? Do you tug at them, or actually lift them out and see the roots.

Deb...who has lots of leaves down waiting for babies.

Very nice plants /trailers nad Pictures Nanna :)) Pretty soon I am going to take some of my CHIMERA Trailer apart not that it needs it it is trailing crazy compact and full, new growth everyday best trailer I've ever had. But I want to be able to share her. I also have three baby baskets on bloom stalks to put down , then she is going into a pan pot to grow crazy for me to enjoy :)) SHE BLOOMS ALL THE TIME.
I found deer path is a slow grower compared to some othere trailers but a beauty once it gets going ! Just my 2 cents can you center the plant in the middle of the pot to help it brance out more venly ?
Your pictures and plants are wonderful Thanks fro sharing them I really enjoy looking at them and reading all about how they are growing !
Deb i fount just a tiny touch or tug you can tell the leaves have roots.
Hek sometimes babies will come up before roots that ok too.
I have to tell you what I fount out. now this does not mean it's happening to your but I want to share my experice with you.
Last year I had over 500 leaves down. My two mini greenhouse were full and thier in a room of all windows. They were zipped up and did not require much feeding/watering. It was nice and easy, they always looked great and healthy but no babies. Well a few here and there and when I saw them I'd take them out put them on a tray close under lights on light stand.
Ok but my boxes of leaves two 8 feetx 2 ft full of them under close lights in space with good air circulation , these babies were growing fast within 4-12 weeks they were needing to be transplanted into their own pots. ( and I wait until the pot over floith lol)
So I unzipped the greenhouse and lifted the covers up just opening the front. This seemd to give them more air circulation and they started to need more feeding and babies were coming left and right. These were put down in the fall/winter months and they did not do well having babies until Spring :(( I di not have room on my light stand for them all.
I don't have as many down now so they are all on light stands doing great this year.
On my wish list is this mini greenh house. It's white made simular
to my other ones ( I only paid 13.95 each for) I have been usning for years but much more sturdy and one wheels. They also come with 2 ft. double light fixtures and come with th grow-lights. This is on my wish list . lol I
I think the heating pads will help you a lot. You get a lot of sun from your windows give them as much light as you can. You might even want to try some air curculation each day .
Hope some of this helps you. I know it can be frustrating when you have lots of leaves down and no babies.
Didn't you just put your leaves down in Novemrber ? Your can pretty much count on most leaves taking 6-8 and mny times longer . Hope this helps a little . God luck . Don't worry . Allison