I just started this about 2 weeks ago I did order new leaves and I am scared that they won't
make it I am missing perlite and just put in AV poting soil what can I do any help
Kim
PS I will send one more picture.
I think My AV are wilting
Should I start all over will they perk up
does the soil feel moist at all.....have you had a cover over them to give them humidity?
I have a cover and it has been on, soil is moist and I have a grow lite that I have been left on it has been cloudy and rain so I trun on the lite a couple of hours before I go to work and than when I come home and go to bed they are wiltty Bad speller not all but I also have house plants and Tomato and chive what do you think
Dimmer
With no perlite added, if the soil feels quite moist, I am thinking the problem may be too much water. Repotting might be a quick fix. Use barely moist mix (with 50% added perlite if you now have some) and then use the cover to keep extra humidity around the leaves (if they don't have roots yet, extra humidity will do more good than moisture in the potting mix). If you see a puff of mist condensing on the inside of the plastic dome, it's about perfect. If you see lots of big water droplets forming, it's a little too humid, and you might want to crack open the dome a little for a day or so.
I know Allison doesn't like covering leaves, but with FL's humidity they don't need it. I like to use a cover with a few holes poked in for ventillation, seems to keep the humidity optimal (I do this with other seedlings too).
Edited because Allison just said I'm being critical of her on every post today... I am not disagreeing with Allison's method, quite the opposite I thought. She has mentioned that covering leaves turns them to mush for her. I think that may be because of Florida's humidity, and certainly not covering her leaf boxes works really well for her. Humidity is lower here, so a vented cover seems to be a good thing for me. Different conditions, different methods work, that's all I was saying.
This message was edited Mar 10, 2006 6:39 PM
well even here in florida...with "starting" leaves....cuttings of any kind...if one does not have a mister (mist system)...a cover can work as welll...just have to be careful here they don't get too hot...
In the winter we watch to keep them warm and in the summer not to get too warm. Today our A/c was going. Our home is kept pretty cool in the summer or I can't breath. The plants seem to like it.
I don't cover anything. No need to for me. I just stick it in and it grows. Leaves, begonias, Chiritas, Epsicas everything. Sweet and simple. No reason why just Blessed. I sent out 10 larger priority boxes this week and don't have any empty spaces. And some of the plants were pretty big. My Nurses say they keep multipling. I think the more I give away the more God gives me. Hubby says I have too many to care for. I'm sure he's right. But I told him if God did not want me to have them to share they would not keep growing so fast !
I am sure happy my one pot order came in . I have lots of babies and plants to larger pots, and suckers to trans-plant !
Well back to covering I don't need too. But everyone's home is different .
oops, just lost what I typed.
sorry to hear you're having wilting problems.
I also think the problem is probably that the mix is too wet. With potting mix that does not have extra perlite added, it should be just barely moist, not wet, not even moist - just barely moist. Then cover.
If you do decide to try re-potting some of them, you could cut some of the leaf stems shorter, and you could cut off the tip of each leaf.
BUT please be careful not to spread the wilting, because the wilting will turn to rotting (if the leaves don't recover). I would recommend sterilizing your cutting tools inbetween each cut. Yes, it's a hassle. Will it stop further wilting? Not always. But it's better than using the same scissors/blade on leaf after leaf.
Actually you don't need to fully sterilize. A wipe with hydrogen peroxide (the "full" 3% strength out of a bottle) will do the job.
Also, if you can use new mix, that would be better. Moisten it by using water with hydrogen peroxide added.
Some people find it easier to moisten soil in a zip loc bag. Put soil in bag, add a bit of water, close bag and shake/massage. It shouldn't even stay together.
If you don't feel like repotting them all, you could try soaking up the excess water from the mix by sticking a bit of kitchen paper into each pot and letting the paper pull up the water.
Just some thoughts......
key and allison and jill...good imput...allison glad you have a/c there...i have to "ration" mine in the summer as i can't afford it...i'm still trying to find the info for us where we can get help from the 1 BILLION plus that the state of fla has....
Great info Keyring.
Bob if I don't use air I would not breath. I also have by-pap breathing machine. Everytime electric goes out from hurricane or such they want me to go into the hospital. I went for Charley . Hated it and won't go again. They get all upset. Last year we were lucky did not lost it once !
Allison,
I took the plantlet of e. teddy bear that broke off and potted it in a small pot with some mix I brought. It must have rooted in about 12 days or so. It is now firm in the soil if you tug on it.
It has been happily adopted by one of my co-workers. Everyone says they are nominating my desk for Home & Gardener office desk of the year thanks to Allison's beautiful AV's & epicias. LOL. They are on waiting lists for "babies" of their own.
Jan...
Looks like everything has been covered. Good luck with your leaves, Dimmer. I know how you are feeling. Don't give up.
Thanks to all I guess I will start to repott
Good luck Dimmer.
Yes Jan Epsicas root so fast and grow like weeds for me :)) Teddy Bear is a fast super grower. And I love it's flowers too :)) Happy your office is looking ice. Hope all your plants are doing well !