More questions

I have two questions. How do I determine what size pot to use for my AVs? And could someone tell me where to find the little plastic cups that you all use to set your leaves in? What size are they? I looked at Sam's but I could not find any that look like the ones that you are using.

JesseK

Well, I'm afraid I can't help with the first question, but I can with the second one.

I purchased a package of 80 (3 oz) solo cups from my local pharmacy (Walgreen's) for $1.79. I was there to pick up a prescription and accidentally ran across them there. Others in the forum have said you could get them in large packaging from one of those warehouse type stores. Here in CA we have Costco. However, since I accidentally ran across them in a smaller packaging at my local pharmacy, I bought those because they were so cheap. And I think 80 is plenty for my needs.

The lady who set up the web page with instructions on how to root with the gel compound says to use a 1 ounce solo cup and I don't know where to get those. I did see several listings on eBay for 2 ounce solo cups and they were only a few dollars for a large amount but then you pay for shipping which seems kind of absurd if they can be obtained locally. If not, then I guess it would pay to spring for shipping.

I think a lot of it depends upon how many you want. If you wants to do a large quantity then that's one thing. But if you only need a few then I wonder if you can get the 1 or 2 ounce size cup from your local deli/restaurant who uses them for sauces and stuff. I think Chinese restaurants use those little small cups.

Anyone else want to jump in here? It's 2:40 am here and my brain cells are fried. [grin]

Marilee

ETA: Okay, I went back to eBay and in the search box I entered "1 oz solo cups" and found 2 listings from the same vendor. They come out to about .19 cents each from someone in eastern Canada. She/he sells them with lids. Shipping will be determined by how many you want. :)

I also did an internet search and found the following listing for 1½ oz. clear plastic souffle cups by Solo Cup Co. Inc. You get 250 of them for $4.25 + shipping.

http://www.acemart.com/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=AM&Product_Code=SOLP150&cm_ven=ShoppingCOM&cm_cat=CPC&cm_pla=&cm_ite=1-12_oz._Clear_Plastic_Souffle_Cup_(SOLP150)


This message was edited Mar 1, 2006 3:21 AM

You grocery store should have solo cups. Don't forget to punch the drain whole in the bottom.

MY hubby gets me 3 0z. solo cups 150 package at Kash and Karry grocery store or Wal-Mart for less than $2.00. Last year they use to be $1.50 think they went up to $1.69. Now when he can't get them he has to get 5 0z. and they come 80 in a package. I prefer the 3 Oz. but the 5 oz. works the same for me when I have to use.
I use to order the 3 0z. by 2500 case . But with shipping was not any less it was just hard to find them sometimes.
Laurie got me some of the 2 0z. I can't wait and a terric price ! I can't wait.
Now with pot size for plants I like using the 1/3 rule.
The pot should be 1/3 the size of the plant. So a mini plant 4-6 inches across will be perfect in 2 inch pots. Miniatures don't ever need a pot larger than 2 inch sense they don't get larger than 6 inches.
Semi-miniatures are 6-8 inches they will grow well in 2- 2.50 inch pots and never need larger.
Both Miniatures and Semi-Miniatures should be re-potted 2-4 times a year into clean new pots " But the same size pots" taking away some old soil top and bottom grooming maybe even taking some root ball off. Giving it new bleached pot and soil-less mixture top and bottom .
Standard are 8 inch up can do well in 4 inch pots.
Large will go 5-6 inch pots.
All my babies go into 2-2.50 inch pots, when they are 6-9 inches across they go to 3 inch, then 4 inch.
Most Standards up to 12 inches across never needed
larger than 4 inch pots.
African violets like a tight shoe. If they are in pots to larger they are going to die trying to fill the pot with roots. They are easy enough to over water but in a pot too large makes it prone to over watering and root rot.
When I joined a local African violet group I had to re-pot all my plants into smaller pot !

Good Morning Nanna ! That's right don't forget the holes in the bottom :))
Thanks Nanna

Thanks for your help. I think I need to repot mine because they are all in pots way too big for them. I am so used to gauging the way that I plant my succulents and cacti. AVs are a bit different than them.

I finally got a little bit of money so I want to join the AVSA. Do you all think that is a good idea? I never thought I would get so attached and in love with my AVs. But they just make you love them. I've got so many plants, mostly cacti and succulents. And I've had those for a couple years. But I think once you get bitten by the AV bug, you just fall in love with them. Am I crazy or does anyone else feel this way?

I have been reading the AVSA website and I think that I have had my plants way way too close to the lights. Here is what they say on the site:

The "at least" part give room for the intensity of the light. I have a 4 light set up and they give off lots of light. You also have to remember if you have lights on top of lights that the shelf above a light fixture can become warm. That can lead to problems.

Morning Allison! How's it going, today?

Better to day Nanna how are you !
My lights are closer and I have never burned anything. Nor do I have tight centers. I have four shelves with lights each 8 ft by 2 ft. Each one has 2-4 double 4 ft light fixtures all full . My leaves and babies and minis almost touch.
I also have a lot of plants in natural light they grow great also !
Most of my lights are 32 watt or 40 watt cool that's all I use . Always has worked great for me. Something you have to play around with. The end of the tubes give orr less light so girl leaves, variegated, light blooms, any plant growing tight and so on can go on the end. In our sticky there is a lot of informations about lights/light stands.
Light is the most important thing you can give your plants !
Allison

I was thinking that 10-12 inches was a lot of room to leave between the lights and the plants. That is why I asked you all about it. I know that you all have lots of experience, probably lots more than the people that answered the questions on that site. So I will definitely go with what you recommend. So how much space do I leave for the leaves that I have set up and how much for the normal plants? I really do want to get this right. I've never grown anything like this before. I can easily buy a growing plant but making one grow from a leaf is all new to me. And I know that I've got the best experts to help me learn. I do apologize for asking so many questions. I feel totally ignorant when it comes to the AVs but I want to grow something that my DH likes and this is the one thing that he likes. I guess I don't want to mess up because I don't want to disappoint him. I know that may sound sort of silly, but it is so important to me because I want to do it for him. So as long as you guys will put up with me I'm in this for good. Once again, thank you to everyone. You guys are such a great big help.

Jesse

Jesse, I suggest that you start with the recommended 10 to 12 inches for standards. See what happens. If the plants are nice and green but not blooming after say two weeks, move them up an inch or two. If the plants start turning their leaves down or have "tight" centers (leaves are growing very close together. Not space at all inbetween) move the shelf down an inch or two.

Your plants should be the ons telling you what to do. Watch them. Leaves reaching up want more light. Leaves bending down have too much light.

That is exactly what mine have started doing. They are bunching up tight in the middle. But I had them only a couple inches from the lights. In fact, and I hate to say this, but I had my Optimara Evergrace touching the bulbs. This is what caused it do start losing color. I finally realized that and moved it further away from the light and it is looking much better now. The outside layer of leaves will problaby be cut off soon and I will set those leaaves down to start some new plants. I can see now that I cannot go from one extreme to the other but find a happy medium in between. So 10 to 12 might be a little too far away from the lights whereas 1-2 inches was way too close. Maybe some where around 5 or 6 would be a good place for me to start.

JesseK

I just had to move my leaf flats from under a light, as a couple were starting to look burned. I thought glass shelves in my bathroom would be the perfect place for them, but the light was too close. I haven't actually measured out the spaces between shelves yet. I could take out one shelf and then set the leaves on upside down pots to get them at the right height. I've never done leaves before. Last year I lost all of my AVs, so this is a whole new beginning with all the help I have gotten here. You guys are terrific at answering questions.

Diane

Many of my leaves are totally burned or scortched. I had no idea of how close to put them when I first got them and put them way too close. So I have moved them down some and they are doing okay. But the burned part is still there. I do not know whether I should remove the burned part or just let them sit like they are. This was my first time doing the leaves and I have already learned a lot of new things. It is a growing process. And I learn new stuff everyday. Can you keep me updated with your results? I would like to compare them with mine since we both seem to be doing about the same thing. Maybe we can help each other learn. I know that all of the people on this forum have helped me so much already. I am so thankful for everyone of you.

So what happened to all of your AVs last year Diane? I'm just curious as to what happened. I hope this year you do really well with your AVs and wind up with lots of beautiful plants and flowers.

JesseK

I have my leaves and babies so close to lights they almost touch but never burned ? What kinds of lights are you using ? Mine are on 12-16 hours a day and I've never had a problem.

I have two of the 4 foot shop lights, with one plant light bulb and 3 cool white bulbs. Mine are on from 12-16 hours a day. I really don't understand why mine seemed to get so hot and scorch the leaves, except for the fact that I had them really really close. Plus they were really really dry. So I put the dome on top so that they would not dry out so bad. But the leaves look really bad. What am I doing wrong?

JesseK

If they were "really really dry" maybe they didn't so much scorch as get crispy from too little water? Leaves like moist (not sopping, but not dry) potting mix, and a high humidity environment (baggie, dome, etc)can also be helpful for them (unless you live in FL, where high humidity is all around), especially while they are still developing roots.

Critter,

I think that you have a very good point here. It is really dry in my house. So what I did a few days ago was put the dome on top of them and that seems to have helped some. I think there are several factors here and I'm learning different things that help as I go along. Hopefully one day I will have it all down pat. Thanks to all of you for your different suggestions. All of them have been so helpful.

JesseK