So sorry to say, I watered my AV's on Thursday and didn't get to check on them over the weekend. I can home today to find a bunch of them dessimated. They had a white webby stuff on them and lots of leaves chewed up. Well, I started to remove all the damage I could to see if some could be saved and took them to the kitchen sink to try to rinse the web stuff off. Well what pops out of one but some kind of catapiller, worm thingy about 1.5 in long. I can only imagine he is the culprit (should I say was as he is now on a fast boat to drain land), Well sad to say but several of them are beyond saving. What may be salvageable is no on the kitchen window shelf where I can keep a better eye on it. These were mostly minis & semi minis that Allison was so generously kind to share. I just don't know where he could have come from as there are no other plants in this room except Allisons. I have my Walmart Optimaras in another room altogether. He may have hitchhiked in on one of the cats. Hopefully, these little guys are now over the AV Rainbow.
Jan...
AV's have met their demise
What an awful thing to happen...so sorry to hear it!!
Jan,
So sorry to hear about this! Did you get a picture of the little critter before he went to drain land?
OH Jan how could this of every happened ? All 40 something plants ? Oh my I could cry for you and me I gave you my best the rarest.
I have never seen a wrom or catilpillar of any type near my plants at all. And yes they could have come from any where. How did it do all this damage so fast in just a coupld days ?
Did you take a pictures of it and the damage ?
Bugs can be carried threw screen, tools, clothes you name it they travel. But this is new to me in the AV world. I know at work you have some plants I gave you with Optimaras . Did you do any switching around, soil, pots anything. Even in the same room.
WOW a worm and this much damge never heard of such a nightmare.
Jan I was just telling my hubby . He said so weird . But he said yo've had them like two months. And now I recall you carried in an orchid and even put it on my kitchen table with my other plants which he brought i=out ASP as what ever grows outside in our home never comes in.
You had not watered them for finve days ? Are your windows open or A/C on ?
We are both baffeled about this never hard of such a creature doing this to Av's ????
Jan what about all the plants I gave you and you brought to work and dispalyed them with your new optimaras ??? Are they Ok
http://davesgarden.com/forums/fp.php?pid=2071024
Jan, I am so sorry. I can send you some leaves, if you want them.
Jan, I have some new babies just now about ready to be taken from their mother. I would be happy to send you some of my baby plants. I think this is just terrible what happened to your plants and I would love to send you some of my new babies so that you can get a frest start on starting a new collection. If you would like some, just dmail me your address.
Jesse
Hi Allison,
Please don't be upset. It wasn''t my intention. First of all, all the plants I have at work are fine and thriving and blooming their heads off. I watered Thursday night so it was only Fri,
Sat & Sun. I usually only water twice a week, sometimes 3 times for the tiny ones.
Also, I did not lose ALL the violets. I completely lost 4. Another 5 are "chewed up" but will probably recover as the crowns don't appear damaged. And yes, 1 catapiller can do that much damage undetected in a couple of days. I do love my plants, but unfortunately, I do work and have a house to maintain and repair without help and can't always watch over them 24/7. Like your husband said, I have had these several months and they have been doing just great until this critter came along.
Thanks everyone for your offers but it appears I'm a pretty bad AV mommy and think I'll just stick with the Walmart specials for now.
Jan...
You are NOT a "bad AV mommy".... Think of how well they'd all been doing for you! I'm so sorry this happened, but I'll be sorrier yet if you let it discourage you from getting fun new varieties... This sounds like the sort of thing that could happen to anyone, just sheer bad luck. I'm glad you didn't lose more plants, and I'll bet the damaged ones will recover quickly under your watchful eye! :-)
Fear not Jan, I divided my first AV's from their mom leaf yesterday. I only divided two noid's and one Maggie Lee. From three leaves, I now have 25 little babies. I have over 300 leaves down, so do the math, you'll have babies coming to you soon to replenish your collection. (as will everyone! LOL)
i'm happy to help replenish your stock.
You are a good Mom hek you only lost 4. That's nothing.
Oh it will be Ok Jan your a great Av Mom ! You did not lose many I thought you meant all of them Only 4 completely . Can a leaf or two be save from the plant to put down ? Always a good idea to put a leaf or two down from each plant for insurance and then to trade and share :))
I forget but I think I gave you around 40 or so babies so you still have a lot left :)) And I'm happy the ones at work are doing well.
I never known of a creature being able to do this and eat so fast so many plants. WOW . Like a scary movie. The caterpillar invades and eats all Av's a worst nightmare. I learn something new everyday.
4 dead plants are nothing I drop more than this in a week. You still have many :))
Is there something you can treat them with to make sure no more are around ?
All will be fine !
Allison
This message was edited Apr 25, 2006 11:34 AM
Yes, you're a good mom! How can you get mad at a cute little CallerPitter~ At least they turn into beautiful Flutterbies!
LOL
I do love cats and grow outdoor flowers specifically for this but this wasn't a normal butterfly cat. It was more like a cutworm type cat.
And yes they can wipe out a veggie garden in no time. I have examined every violet top, bottom, inside out. Removed any leaves that even look suspicious. Cleaned, alcoholed and bleached the shelves and lights. I only put down leaves from the standards because the others looked too small. Of all the leaves I put down, about 50% have rooted. Yes I still have quite a few plants left but you always feel rotten when you lose one. Since the minis seem more temperamental than the standards, I am thinking about bringing them to work when they are stable and swapping with the standards. That way I can keep a better eye on them since I am here more than in the plant room.
Thanks everyone for your support. I feel a little better now.
Jan...
Oh my he is chubby . I bet he'll be a very pretty colorful Butterfly after eatting the pretty colorful African violets .
It's Ok Jan you still have a lot of plants left ! I kill plants left and right.
We all do.
Oh I bet the Mini's will love going to work ! Sound like you have lots of leaves rooted too :))
Everytime I water my leaves and this is like every other day I find cups full that dried out and died :((. And if they dry out the roots die and they have to start all over.
It's sad to lose a plant but 4 plants lost out of 40 plants is nothing . Your a great Mom.
I hope I never see one of those bad cut worms .
I know how you feel about losing AV's especially when a special friend like Ali has sent them, trust me, I killed my fair share of the coveted beauties she sent me until I got the hang of growing them - At least you can blame it on a Callerpitter, I only had myself and my watering can to blame! LOL.
I don't kill them too much any more!
here are a few pics of the AV's at work. Not the greatest since I used my phone camera.
Jan...
E. Teddy Bear
Mosiac NOID in bloom
Optimara Jamaica
Optimara Barbados
optimaras (Noid, barbados & jamaica)
This message was edited Apr 25, 2006 3:09 PM
Chocolate Soldier & mosiac noid
well I'm impressed all to heck by the fact that you could get the images out of your phone. I haven't figured that one out yet.
they look great to me, especially E. Teddy Bear. (but shouldn't that be 'Ted E. Bear'? LOL)
WOW great pictures on your cell phone ! They all look so Happy. Thanks for sharing !
Well I 've just started separating my babies from their moms and I have some potted that I would really love to share with you. They need to grow a little bit on their own first I think but then I really want to be able to share with you since other people so graciously shared with me. I want to give back to others now.
Jesse