When to throw away

I have some african violets that have brown leaves on them. They were too close to the lights I was using and I think they got scortched. My question is this: can I just cut the whole plant back to just above the soil level or is it too late for them? All of the leaves have turned brown but I really want to save them if I can. What do you all think?

Jesse

Hi Jesse,

I wouldn't cut it back to just above soil level as the plant needs leaves to grow I would think anyway. But then I am no professional. Can you start a few leaves or pinch out the crown and leave some leaves on and when the suckers are big enough then transplant?

I have done that with some violets that have an attitude.

HTH.

Joanne

I hate when I do things like that...and I might add I'm always doing something silly to these lil guys.
:-0

I would take off the really bad leaves, to save starting and diseases.
Then I would put it in a terrarium type container, large baggie, etc and give it a lil lovin care...if the part of the crown that is in the soil still good then it will recover. I do this with lots of my trailers that get too leggy.

Good luck.

MsC

Edited cause MsC can't spell and type today....darned arthritis.:)

This message was edited Aug 11, 2006 1:43 PM

Oh rats....forgot the humidity thing too....thanks for filling that in MsC.

Joanne

Joanne
I couldn't manage all my plants without my terrariums...besides they are so much fun & allow me to "forget" about the plants for a bit...of course you are right the humidity is the really important reason to put them in there.

MsC

Jesse Hun
It might not be too late. Do you have a picture ? You may need to go to a smaller pot now.
My husband had his beautiful 6 inch potted Av outside. Dumb Dumb me put it in this handger thing I thought in soft light :(( In less than half hour all the leaves burned :(( He had a couple leaves left. It is growing not in shade garden in 90 plus heat each day and big and gorjous as ever. Each leaf is perfect shade and always blooming ! I posted pictures he took awhile back he is so proud of it he growing many Gesneraids and Begonias year round outside and they do great !
You may still be able to save your plant too !

Jesse, do you mean *all* of the leaves have turned *completely* brown, or that there is some brown scortching on all of the leaves. If all the leaves are withered or crispy, there may be no coming back for it. But I don't give up on plants until there is no scrap of root or leaf left! LOL, not necessarily the best approach... but I hate to quit trying!

Well I got two of the worst ones that I could find and took photos of them. The first one is not so bad but the second one looks so pitiful. I would love to save them if possible.

Jesse

Here is the second one.

Jesse

Jesse, I had a couple of plants get that reddish-brown color on their leaves from too much light... but the leaves seemed normal and healthy except for the color, and the leaves on your plants don't look like they're dying back or anything... With mine, I moved them to a spot they like better, and the new foliage looks normal. When the new leaves have grown out, I'll be able to trim off the outer ones that were discolored.

For "replacement insurance" though, I'd suggest taking the best, healthiest-looking leaf or two off each plant to put down.

Good luck!

Thanks critter. I think I will do that. I'm really upset because the Annabelle (I think that is the right name) that Allison sent me died. And I was so excited about getting it. I'm not really sure how that one died though. It did not get too much light. Anyway, I will try to save these two.

Jesse

Jesse Jill said is perfect. Your plants don't look that bad. They will grow out healthy.
What type of lights are you using ? How close are they ?
I have never had any plants burnt by gro-lights. Now the sun yes takes minutes.
Sorry about Annabelle.
You have Dmail ~

Jesse, my Annabelle is still too small for me to feel comfortable taking leaves from her. Give her time to grow a bit more and if you haven't gotten another one, I'll send you leaves. I'm so sorry you lost her.
Don't give up on those two above. I never give up on them til there's not a speck of green to be found. Baby them a lot and I bet they'll pull through. Plants never cease to amaze me with their determination to live.

Jesse, I've got 2 leaves down from Annebelle, and I'll see how quickly those little plantlets grow... hopefully I'll be able to send one this fall! Sometimes plants just suddenly decline, and you lose them, and you never do figure out why... and I think it can be hard for new plants to adjust. If most of mine are growing well, then I figure I don't need to make major changes.

My plants on the light stand upstairs are by a big window (south-facing, but with a light blind to sheild from direct sun). Some of them started darkening like that earlier this summer, and I decided they were getting too much light, so I took a bulb out of each fixture... 50% less florescent light, and now they're all happy!

It's Ok Jill I'm going to send Jesse out leaf pot and couple leaves Monday !
I have two plants and several leaf pots with babies coming up ! She is wonderful. One of my only plants always in bloom.

Oh, good! I know 'Annebelle' is one AV that you'd decided to keep growing and propagating... I'm guessing it'll be one of my favorites too!

Yes and I have two of her..and several leaf pots !
I still would like Isabelle :)) when she comes out. They were selling leaves for awhile wish I bought them then. She is supose to come out in the summer but until they have a bunch in bloom they won't sell her. Maybe in the Fall. She has Pink Bells ! I just love Pink and Blue bells flowers growing together :))