Hello everyone!
This is my first post here in the AV forum.
A couple of weeks ago or so, I bought my first AV at HD. It was blooming.
Now that there's only 1 bloom left, I repotted it to a self watering AV pot. When I repotted it, I noticed that seems like the potting medium only consist of peat moss type thing, and some styrofoam beads.
Do I need to change the potting soil? With the new self watering pots, seems like it's always overly wet.
If I need to change the soil, how should I do that? Take all the peat moss off until the roots are exposed and repot? If so, will it cause transplant shock?
Thanks !!
Question about changing the potting soil
Welcome baileykat!
You will love this forum for it's friendly folks & hang on because we all love to add another addict to our group.
Congrats on your new violet!
Yes, I would change the potting mix it is in. That is a growers mix and not to great for growing in the self watering pot.
I use the self watering pots & love them, I have great luck with them too!
I use a half and half mix of Shultz AV potting soil & perlite.
You can take as of the old soil off the rootball as you can with out damaging the roots. I sprinkle a lil rooting powder on the rootball and pot it up with the new mix. Then I water it in with slightly warm water and drain the rest off. I wait a day or two before I fill the watering container & I don't always keep water in mine either.
Hope that helps some???
Again, Welcome!
MsC
That helps a lot! Thanks, MsC!
Now I just need to get the AV potting soil and rooting powder.
They are so cute!
If I can keep this one alive, there will be plenty more AV hanging around my house, that's for sure....LOL....
Hi baileykat!
Good advice from MsC.
Soil must be loose and porous to use self watering pots. I believe the 'Schultz' AV Mix has fertilizer in it, so bear that in mind.
Welcome!
Hey Welcome to our group BaileyKat!
You will learn lots of good information here. We have some very learned people in our forum and a very friendly group too.
See you already have gotten some good advice.
Joanne
http://www.rachelsreflections.com/
Baileykat....this is a wonderful site for you to spend literally hours reading about violet culture and so much more. Every grower experiments and finds what works well for them in their environment.
Thanks for the tips and suggestions, everyone!
What a great website....so detailed. Haven't gone through everything, but the repotting section is so helpful, with the pictures and all....
Welcome Baileykat, Sounds like you are well on you way to an AV addiction....just like the rest of us. One will turn into...20.. wait and see after you see those first blossoms.
I use self watering pots and just love 'em. I also use Schultz AV Mix with great success so far.
Good luck and keep us posted!
Don Ü
LOL....
That's what usually happens....
Start with one, and then multiply so rapidly :o)
Welcome, Kat. I warn you, you will have too many violets for your own good soon if you hang about here.
What is the general composition of Schultz AV mix?
Quote: " I warn you, you will have too many violets for your own good soon if you hang about here."
That's what I'm afraid of, but somehow hoping to get hooked on. Isn't it ironic? :oP
LOL....
your gonna love it here, wonderful people & so informative.Good luck with your new violet, careful !!! its addicting
They are like potato chip. You can't eat just one.
-Or eat just a bag.
You have to buy a crate. (or AV flat)
Oh gosh, that's so true!
I am now surfing the web for AV's while snacking on chips, as we speak....is that a coincidence or what?
Better stop doing this for now and start walking to the park with my 2 year old before he start screaming bloody murder again!
LOL...LOL....
Alrighty, everyone, I changed the soil yesterday (Saturday).
Now, the question, how long will it take for my AV to....gosh, so hard to say the word...die, if I didn't do this correctly, how long will she be in critical condition?
Looking okay right now, but then again it hasn't been 24 hrs since I changed the soil.
The last thing that I kinda disturbed the root ball before planting died on me.
It was not an AV btw, it was lavender, but in my defense, the lavender was too root bound and it was overwatered, so the roots were rotting anyway.
But still, I haven't attempted to tease anymore rootballs while planting anymore, anything plopped right out the nursery pot to its designated area undisturbed, until yesterday, of course, my second root ball involving experience. I did sprinkle the root hormone powder thing.
Wish my AV, and me, luck.....
edited because I can't spell. It is sunday morning...LOL.
This message was edited Aug 20, 2006 10:07 AM
lavender is notorious for hating having its roots messed with, especially if you start with one that is rootbound.
a tip (not sure if someone mentioned this) - if you think the leaves look wilty, don't add water (unless the mix needs it) but slap a humidity dome or bag over it (loosely) for a few days.
We'll see about that, I just planted several Lavenders today that were nearly barerooted by my hasty digging-up job...