I often search the internet for pictures of african violets for my own little database. These pictures are of AVs I have or would like to try sometime in the future. I often run across interesting little tidbits here and there and recently I found the following pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/359379964eqYJgm
This person has posted pictures of an AV leaf she rooted in a gel substance and I thought it was fascinating. So I did a search for the exact same brand she used and I could only find it in a 6-pack version from a nursery here in California. The 6-pack version comes with what is basically a mini plastic greenhouse. The gel is in little plastic pots like a 6-pack of pudding or yogurt or something. Each little pot is sealed with a foil covering and you poke little holes in the foil to stick the leaf through into the gel. You put a little water in the bottom of the greenhouse, place the plastic pots of gel with leaves into it, then cover with the clear plastic top.
I figure it's worth an experiment for me because I don't have all the extra set-up of special lights, etc. I figure I need all the help I can get. I'll keep you guy posted with what happens. It'll have to be a written account since I don't have a digital camera to take and post any pictures.
What do you think? Anyone tried this before?
Marilee :)
I'm trying a rooting experiment.
Never tried it but would be very interested in updates.
This method is used in England. It works.
I think it's available at Charlies Greenhouse (online and catalog)
Oh yes I posted a thread while back about this with this link and other link wondering if anyone ever tried it ! I may sometime if I ever get caught up with everything else. !
Taz I bumped my thread up. And here is the link
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/556835/
I think it would be fun and you can see everything growing !
here's the link http://www.charleysgreenhouse.com/index.cfm?page=_productdetails&productid=8145 I love the idea and ordered some
that is a great idea...i haven't tried it but i understand it works really well...let us know how it goes
Sounds pretty cool, Anita, you're the Guinnea pig and will have to report back with a photo documentary on how it worked for you!
Here it is on Ebay. I have been thinking about trying it also. http://cgi.ebay.com/SUPAPLANTS-GEL-2-ROOT-REFILL-ROOT-PLANT-CUTTINGS-IN-GEL_W0QQitemZ3983552556QQcategoryZ519QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
JesseK
Jesse - your link didn't work - try this one http://cgi.ebay.com/SUPAPLANTS-GEL-2-ROOT-REFILL-ROOT-PLANT-CUTTINGS-IN-GEL_W0QQitemZ3983552556QQcategoryZ519QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem The ebay price is definitely better.
I'd be happy to do a pictoral documentation if MsT doesn't mind some help?
Oh I'm sorry about the link. I must not have copied it right. Thanks for posting the correct one.
JesseK
Oh, I don't mind at all, Anita. Please feel free to jump in and help here. I don't think I'll be getting a digital camera any time soon so any help is appreciated. Those cameras are pretty expensive and I really can't afford one right now. (I shouldn't even be buying so many leaves/plants either but I can't help it. Sshhhhh! Don't tell Mr. Personality.) :)
Marilee
LOL
Hey Jesse or Anita? What name did you search for on eBay? I can't get either of your links to wory so I just thought I'd search myself. Thanks. :)
Marilee
ETA: Never mind. [grin] Gel 2 Root is what I tried. I found one for $7.99. Is that the best price? Sounds better than Charley's $12.95. Thanks.
This message was edited Feb 28, 2006 6:59 PM
I searched root2gel
Thanks, Anita. :)
;-)
Taz the web sight you have up is from the same lady of the web sight I posted a thread about in Nov. lol But she also goes further explaining it step by step.
Her main sight brings you to the sight you have above and to the sight where she give you all great important information !
http://www.africanvioletfun.com/jana/index.html
Okay. Let me try it again. I went to ebay and typed "gel 2 root". And it brought up one bottle of the gel. I will post the url again to see if it will work. If it doesn't, just go to ebay and type those three words or numbers, just like I typed it. Only one person has it, and they have an ebay store called "the alternative garden." I hope you can find it. The price is $7.99 on ebay. I think that is a much better price. I'll post the url here again. Hope it works this time.
Editted to say that the url will not copy and paste correctly for some reason. So just go to ebay and type "gel 2 root" and you will find it.
JesseK
This message was edited Feb 28, 2006 11:25 PM
Thanks, I did find it and I purchased a bottle. :) I have learned the hard way that eBay links NEVER work. Those weasels.
And Allison? Yeah, I did figure out they were the same person because the pictures were identical. Your website is better than the one I posted, though, because she goes into more detail. :) Thanks.
Marilee
Yes it's wonderful ! I posted it last year .
Now I have read about one Gel root that is toxic and not good around pets and people then the other Root Gel is non-toxic.
I try to be really careful for us and our pets. With ALS comes a respitory Disease and I'm begining to think the neem oil is bother me ? I'm supose to stay at least 30 feet from smoke, fumes, people sick and so on. And my husband says when he comes into the house he can smell the neem oil strong.
Let me find the Gel root I am thinking of using.
Oh also for the $7.99 how much are you getting ? Qulity, and shipping ?.
Thanks, Allison
OH it would be fun as many people who want to try to join in !
It would be fun to have a contest, who gets a flower first from their gel grown plant. That's what we're doing in the SFO AVSA group with the project leaf.
SOunds fun Lorry Flowers not roots :))
This is the Gel Root I will use as some I read about were not good for pets or people skin , clothes you names it. Their both sold on Charley's.
The one I am going to use does cost a little more maybe it's sold in quarts. But it is non-toxic which means a lot to me !
GEL Dispenser, 1 qt
Qty. Price:$12.95
http://www.charleysgreenhouse.com/index.cfm?page=_productdetails&productid=8145
Safe and non-toxic
General Product Information:
Why gel2root works
Unique
Gel Propagation is a unique medium specifically developed for the propagation of houseplants; whether softwood cuttings, leaf cuttings or offsets are used.
Natural
GEL Propagation is homogeneous and provides the cutting with a natural chemical to promote root formation. The root-inducing factor, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), occurs naturally in plants. It initiates the cell divisions that lead to the formation of roots within the stem.
It takes at least several days for there to be enough divisions and sufficient cellular organization for a small, torpedo-shaped root to be viewed even with a microscope. Some, or even many days later, and due to cell division, cell expansion and differentiation within the new tissue, a new root becomes visible at the surface of the stem.
Learn more about this safe product
http://www.charleysgreenhouse.com/index.cfm?page=_productdetails&productid=8145&learnmore=1#lmore
Me too, I don't want to use a gel that's toxic. This one seems like a good one.
I also have the issue with the smell from the neem oil, some times I just take my plants outside to spray them down (I use it as a preventative and just to give the plants a bath when they get dusty) but the smell bothers me just a bit too.
I dont seem to have any problems per se, but don't much care for the scent to linger in the house.
I don't use bug sprays just for that reason.
You know I have been wondering about rooting gels for use w/ AVs- one thing they say is that the gel prevents "embolism" which prevents adequate water and nutrients from from being taken up by the cutting. I think that I will try as well- but not in the contest.
Yes I think it's doing me bad. I think from now on will have Hubby take outside and Spray.
I trans-planted my Opt. Annabelle this morning and took most soil off their's is heavier than I like and I doubled wicked it and put in new pot, Sparyed it again each leaf top and bottom and Sprayed into soil good. I also put four leaves down for SHaring ! But I also SPrayed them both sides . The smell bothers me and makes me feel weaker and may be the reason I'm getting the mirgrains so bad I can't function ?
I'm going to send you Jill couple leaves in our Trade box !
I like to use thing Non-toxis. The other Gel Root on Charlies and other places I read were not Non-toxic.
And though one was like $ 9.95 it was only like 2 oz.
So I may be getting more oz. for my money and a safer natural non-toxic product and in the long run saving lots of money and family and pet health !
Well Anita Gel Root and Root Hormones is not needed for progating Av's. African violets are so easy to grow and many of these products work against this.
I thought I'd try a safe non-toxic as it would be fun watching it grow in the gel. But from a person who has grow thousands of babies in the past year with ease in soil-less mix I do honestly beleive it's the best way.
If I can do it anyone can do it :))
I agree as I have luck with the soiless mix. I am curious to see if there is a difference in time? I know my mother uses just water and other's use just the perlite. I figured it can't hurt, plus I can see what's going on since the gel is clear!
Allison, the size I purchased off of eBay is also a quart. Same size -- different price. On eBay: $7.99 and with shipping totalling $15.98.
Marilee :)
The one that I saw on ebay was a brand called Supaplants and is in a quart bottle. Two ounces for $12.95 is really expensive. I found both of them by typing the words "root gel" on ebay. It has both the $12.95 one and the $9.99 one.
JesseK
I typed in "root 2 gel" and found the SupaPlants brand. It's a refill bottle -- intended for refilling those little 6-packs, but you don't have to use it that way. It's $7.99 for the refill bottle on eBay, which is $12.95 on Charley's site. Quite a difference in price. I don't know what Charley's charges for shipping but the vendor on eBay charges $7.99. There is no tax. The vendor on eBay is called "The Alternative Garden" -- they're a small organic garden shop in Hudson, New York.
Marilee :)
Marilee What is the item number nothing pulls up.
I'd also would want to read about it as one kind on Charley's I would not feel safe using . When the other is safe and non-toxic and natural which is very important to me.
Did you get a quart or 2 oz. ?
Shipping and handling is $ 6.95 on CHarley's and if I buy two it's $ 11.95 .
I'd like to read about the other product your talking about .
Also I'd just be doing it one for fun. I have hundreds of leaves that root and give me healthy babies so fast it would be too costly to use all the time but fun to try and watch them !
Allison
Allison - I just looked and the pics of the product are the same. Very curious as to why the big price difference?
Yes their the same ? Do you have the number from Ebay ? The links won't pull up. And their the same ounces ?
Allison, the item number is 3983552556. :)
Marilee
Marilee
I went on Ebay and looked . It looks the same. I did not see where they say the size ? How the hek can they sell it so cheap ? I wrote Charely's greenhouse and told them a lot of their products are way higher than other vendors, sellers... and why ? I wonder if they'll email me back?
Mostof the time items cost more on Ebay as they have listing and final fees to pay.
Allison
The bottle looks the same, Allison. But you're right -- they don't list the size. But we'll find out since I ordered a bottle. When it gets here (if it gets here), I'll check it out and let you know. :)
Marilee
Thanks