Need help for rooting leaves

I've put down 25-30 pots of leaves and some are rotting or getting white stuff on them. I've got a few special leaves coming and I don't wanna screw them up. Can yal give me some help?
I put these down in my mix for AVs, put all the little cups in a tray and put a clear dome on top. They were mostly all planted with the Texas Style method and were started on 11-21. I just took a few pics so you could tell what I mean.
Don't know what's up with the leaf in front, but the one behind it and to the right looks rotted for sure.

Debbie

Here's the white stuff on the leaf.

Here's a couple that have lost their substance.

Baja, it does not look like you put any perlite in your potting mix which means that they may be getting too damp thus causing the rotting and the mold. Also, keeping them covered might be causing that too. I do not keep mine covered anymore since I had the same problem at one time. I would use some AV potting soil with perlite in it. I think I use one-third AV potting soil and two-thirds perlite and they seem to all be doing well now. I hope this helps.

Jesse

Jesse, I used 1part AV mix, 1part coir, 2 parts perlite, 1/2 part vermiculite and about 3 T of bonemeal. In person you can see the perlite. Here's what my mix looked like when I first mixed it and it was dry.

So, the white stuff is mold?? Anything to do with it or are they gonners?

Debbie

The white stuff looks like powdery mildew to me... possibly your mix is too wet, and cool temps might also be a problem, especially with the lessened air circulation under your cover. If you can see more than a slight breath of "mist" condensing on the inside of your cover, especially if you see droplets of water, you need to let your potting mix dry out a bit.

I'd try uncovering for a bit and running a fan nearby for air circulation, see if you can knock back the mildew. There are other treatments for powdery mildew (from lysol to cinnamon) that you might try, but I think air circulation and/or warmer temps seem to be the most effective thing from what people have posted here. If your leaves start looking droopy, you could cover them for a bit until they "crisp up" again in the humidity, then uncover again.

Mostly, my leaves and small plantlets do better covered... but I'm careful not to get my potting mix more than barely moist, and I also poke a few ventillation holes in the domes on my containers.

Good luck, and keep us posted!

I agree with critter. The damage to the leaves in the 10:18pm picture looks like water spots from letting water sit on the leaves. Vermiculite holds water. The white stuff is mildew. Might be from moisture and temperature change.

Looks like everything is in a large plastic cover. I would lift the cover for a couple of days and dry everything out.

Baja , Going back to what Jesse mentioned. I would stop using the 1part coir, vermiculite , and bone meal not really needed. Mix your potting mix with 60 percent perlite for leaf or even more if you are going to cover.
First you best chance is fresh healthy leaves, not old not too young.
Do you have holes in the bottom of your cups ?
If you do not want rot cut your leaves straight across no angle.
I fill my aoil-less mix up in solo cup with holes.
I cut my fresh clean leaf straight inch or less .
I stick it right into the middle of the cup /soil , straight down until leaf touches soil. This does not cause rot.
I water threw good with hot water. Let drain and then I place on trays or clear boxes I like to use. Put under light any type , keep warm.
Air circulation is very important.
I don't cover.
Do not let them dry out 100 percent ( like I have not being able to get to them )
But do not keep them too wet. more towards the dry side. I always water with hot water this time of the year and warm in summer.
I have had friends who gorw excellent AV plants, show...but always rot leaves.
I mentioned this way to a friend who was visiting in Oct. she went home and tried this and she is so Happy her leaves did not and have not rotted ! For the first time in years :)) She live more up North and it's colder there even friend's up Noirth it has worked !
I read this method in an old AV journal . Wish I still had it.
The story was about a Nursery that needed thousands of blooming plants for Special Sale/Show. They had people that were not experienced.
The cuts on the leaves some had too much slant .... needless to say they did not have any blooming plants :((
But the next time was a big sucess !
One year Winter I bought about 500 leaves and put them all in boxes, in two greenhouses and zipped up the coveres. They did sit there healthy as they were warm and needed hardly any watering. BUt not until I took the tops /covers off and they got air circulation did they take off :)) I had babies every where !
You can take any leaves that seem OK take them one by one out of their pots, check to see is soil too heavy and wet, dmap/cold. I would dump the soil and replace with 60 percent Perlite , waer with hot water just tiny bits at a time. Don't keep wet and cold. Don't cover and they should be ok for you ! If you have roots great keep them ! If not you may need to make a new cut straight across .
Good luck :))

PS the leaves with mold take hot water and wipe rinse them off let dry . Re-pot in mix with 60 percent Perlite. They should be OK. Keep un-covered air circulation important. Plants need the same things we need :)) When and if I ever had any type of fungus , green algea apear in winter I put a capful or two of Lysol in a gallon or hot water when watering my leaves and it was gone ! and the plants / leaves loves it ! I grew thousands of babies never a problem !
Edit I can't type, or see, or spell :))

This message was edited Dec 26, 2006 11:49 AM

VT, did you really mean a "cupful or two of Lysol in a gallon".? That's quite a bit. Perhaps you meant a 'capful or two'?

I use 1/2 teaspoon of Lysol per cup of water. You could brush it on the leaves with a makeup brush or lightly spray them. Definitely put some perlite in the AV mix.
Nancy B

Thanks, Nancy

:)) Capful works wonders and brushing on if benifical too !

1/2 teaspoon in a cup guess you could use more in a gallon than capfull or two. To be honest I stopped measuring. I think my plants thought it was plant food and they loved it :)) I always used hot water.
I don't have this problem now only have a few mostly Gesneriad leaves down now , ceiling fan going and no mildew :))
Happy Growing !

I didnt get a chance to look at all the other posts. I have mine under a dome too and I have to open the dome periodically cause too much humidity causes rot. Which I found out . that white stuff is powdery mildew more thanlikely from too much humidity. I'd take that top of f for a bit to let things dry out, and whole milk sprayed on those leaves should kill out the powdery mildew, may have to do it a couple times, but it always works for other plants when I use it for powdery mildew.

critter, I could see way more than a mist of moisture on the dome. So that's probably where the water came from that yal said looks like water damage. I never watered from the top, but I'll bet the dome did. I took the dome off a couple days before I posted this. Yesterday, I sprayed them with Dyna-Gro Neem Oil and they look way better today, but I'm sure I've lost a lot of em.

VT, which Lysol are yal using? At Wal-Mart they have the sented Lysols and then they have the Original Lysol Concentrate. I didn't know which one to get so I sprayed with Neem Oil. Will putting Lysol in the water for wick watering also cut down on alge? I also don't have a fan in there but will fix that today. The temp is 63 where the leaves are right now and yesterday afternoon the temp got up to 70.
I don't have my own plants to cut from. These were sent to me and I got some from the AV meeting I went to in Nov. And everything I've read about rooting leaves says to cut at an angle, so that's what I did. So next time I get new leaves, I'll try the straight cut.

Thanks for everybodys advise!! Hopefully the next ones will go better. But I have these special leaves coming next week and I really don't want to screw them up.

Debbie

I have not been cutting my leaves, as I did not understand I was supposed to do that. I have left a short stem, dipped that in rooting hormone and then planted in a very light mix. So what am I missing?

I fount in cold months that you see Mildew or and algea more often . I used the original lysol but Hubby but a scent sometimes and it worked fine to. I just put it right into the water . Top water bottom water it worked ! 63 is low for Av's and too low for leaves, babies. Last Winter several people got heating mats. When it is cold you will find your babies don't need watering often nor plants. I water when their pots are light and going toward the dry side . I use hot water and have always had good luck with this ! In the hot summer I use warm.
Some people spray milk then it crinkles and they wash the leaves and mildew goes away always sounded nasty to me would ants want it? kitty would lol so I've ever have.Neem oil is great. Put a drop of dish soap that does not have degreeser in it like Ivory...Again I use warm/hot water and mix what I need in small sparyer. I like to evengive a new plant a bath in this neam oil I have been known to drench themtop . bottom every leaf not missing a spot and even spraying roots and soil taking plant right out of pot.
Most all books do say cut at angle. BUT I read this great article in an AVSA Magazine ..a long story and to be safe and not want rot cut straight across. Either way is fine, more experience cut at and angle, always use clean sterile tools. But to be safe cut straight ! I have had several friends who could never grow by leaf. What ever they did they rotted. They gave up. But after coming to our home seeing all our babies they tried it and for the first time in years they have rooted leaves with babies NO ROT Yippee !
Diane don't worry it's Ok . Have you been getting babies ?? I cut mine about 1/2 inch to one inch though I have known people use stem of one - two inch with sucess !There ae many ways to grow Arican violets ! Rooting hormone is not nessary with African violet leaves . v's root so easy . But what yo want is babies not roots. Sound crazy heh ! Rooting Hormone will promote roots when you want babies and Av's are a reasures Gift from Nature they are the easiets plant to progate and share ! In most cases Rooting Hormone will even slow down the process of babies :((
Wish I could fine this picture where the babies grew many of them on a leaf with no roots , big babies healthy. The babies do not grow off the roots. I'll try to find he picture ! and links ro our sticky about NO Rooting Hormone reccomended !

One good link from sticky an Robs " Violet Barn "
Question: We keep our home quite cool at night, about 55f degrees. Will this be too cold for our African violets?

ANSWER; http://www.robsviolet.com/faq_page_1.htm
Don't forget windowsills will be ten degrees colder. And stand temps might be different than room.

I've seen those seed heating mats and I've wondered why they cost so much when you can go to wal-mart and get a heating pad for 8.00. So, what's the difference?? Do they come with a thermostat so you can set the exact temperature you want?

That I can't answer I've never used one. I have some seeds that are rare and costly I really want to grow perfect plants and they need to stay 80 degrees . I don't want to spend money for heat mat I don't have nor aford but I also want my seeds to give a few plants. I thought about the heating pad too.

VT--Yes, I've gotten babies in the past, most of which were lost this summer when I was in the hospital for several months. I've started new leaves and I think all of them have stems attached, but short ones, maybe 1/2" to under an inch. The next time I try I will cut them differently and see what happens. If the babies aren't coming from the new roots, where are they coming from. Mine were all attached when I repotted them.

See my forgetful mind Diane . Gosh I tell ya I don't know what day it is jalf the time. Oh my.
Of course you've gotton babies ! I've seen your beautiful babies :))
One thing wonderful if you lost some you can grow more !!!
There are so many different ways ! It's fun to try different ways and see what you enjoy and what works best for you !
It would be cool if you took little notes of which was which and see if there is a way you like best !
I've got these seeds I want to start next week and they were costly. I saw the plant in Plant Files and just fell in love ! I wiahs I had a heat mat as they need to keep 80 degrees Het mts cst s much. I keep trying to fiue how to keep themwarm ad givethem ig they will need . PLus now I have been able to get a few seeds from two different places I want to keep notes on them. I look at Daves News each day and PF photos and fall in love with so many plants and flowers !
OOOPS OT ther goes my mind again.
I bet people here on the forum are going to have lots of baby African violets to share in Spring !!

Heating pads and electric blankets are not designed to be used with anything set on top of them, nor are they designed to be used where water puddles are possible. They come with all sorts of warnings, which you should take seriously, because electrical fires aren't something to take chances with. I know of DGers who say they've used an electric blanket under their seed starting trays for years... but I've also read a harrowing account involving throwing a flaming electric blanket out of a second story window to keep the house from burning down... and heating pads are no different. Please do not use either one under plant trays.

There are other low-cost solutions for providing extra heat for plants, such as a light box (enclosed space heated by an incandescent bulb on a thermostatic switch) or even putting an incandescent light bulb below a metal plant shelf.

In addition to safety concerns, I believe heating pads are now designed to shut off automatically after X minutes of use.

now that I've gotten that off my chest, LOL....

I think cutting the stems at an angle is supposed to increase the number of plantlets coming from the leaf. You'll see plantlets sooner if less stem is buried (I think simply because they take longer to reach the surface of the soil mix if they are coming from a stem end that's an inch or more down), but any way you cut the stem you'll get babies.

I read something a while back that I've been trying, and I think I do get more plantlets faster by this method.... In addition to cutting the stem at an angle, I scrape my fingernail gently along the front of the stem, just enough that I see a little "wet" where I've removed the outer "skin" of the stem a little. I think of this as essentially making an very long, shallowly angled cut... and plantlets do seem to develop from all along the scraped part.

When I scrape the stem like that, I may also leave the stem longer than I would otherwise. I pot the leaf with the stem at an angle, so that the scraped front of the stem faces upwards and is fairly close to the soil surface. The trick here is not to end up with the leaf itself lying on the moist potting mix, as that can lead to rot.

I also use a suggestion from Rob and others and cut off at least the very tip of the leaf, which keeps the leaf itself from growing larger and lets it put all its energy into rooting and making babies.

With a large leaf, I may do significantly more trimming just so it fits better in the propagation tray.

Smaller leaves do really well for me in plastic take-out containers, with holes for bottom watering and holes in the top for ventilation. Here's what one of my containers of mini leaves looks like newly planted:

and here's the same container with the lid closed. Note the slight "breath" of condensation on the inside of the lid -- perfect! :-)

Fun info Jil !
Here's a couple other links with pictures I like :))
Starting Leaves
( might have to go to top of page )
http://www.rachelsreflections.com/violets3.htm#basket
and down the page too she covers broken leaves babies coming up, separating ! Pictures .
Another good link has everything with pictures
http://rainbowviolets.com/id4.html
And if no mater what you do they rot be safe cut straight across. It works. I don't know why but I still use to get 3-6 or more babies per leaf.

critter, thanks for the info on the heating mats. I hadn't thought of the water issue. Do they come with a thermostat so you can set the temp where you want it to be? I took one of my heating pads and put a seed tray on top(nothin in it but seedling mix) and stuck my temp gauge in the soil and it went up to 95* and that was on low. Another reason they won't work.
My dome wasn't a slight breath. It was running down the side and dripping a little from the top. Thanks for showing this newbe what it should look like.

VT, I got 3* warmer by moving my leaves to the upper shelf on the stand!! But I should still probably think about getting one of the mats critter is talkin bout. They are still looking way better since I sprayed the Neem Oil.

Debbie

That;s Great Debbie !
Yes I am wondering if I so also need to get a heat mat for these special seeds I have.
Yesterday high 82 sunny ! high 80's today and tomorrow ! Rest of the week low 60's and high 70's perfect !

I also had a tough time rooting leaves until I got my trays from Park Seed and put them all under my new lights. The babies started popping up like crazy.

I too have a few leaves with the powdery mildew. Allison, are you saying I can put the lysol right in the water I water the plants with? This won't kill them? And doesn't hot water "cook" the stems if you water from the top? I've been using luke warm water.

Thanks,
Jeannine

PS - My mother gave me a $75 gift certificate to Park Seeds for Xmas. It was gone in 30 seconds flat!!! I can't wait for my goodies. I bought one of the big bio domes that hold 120 seedlings. My garden won't know what hit it this spring!!

Jeannine
That's an awesome gift ! I'd have had it gone in seconds too !
Yes you may put the lysol right into the water ! You may spray light mist and you may water with it . I like to water it in by top. Warm water is fine . I have used hot water from the tap for years with great sucess ! Weather bottom watering or top. I even take jugs of hot water with food out to special garden bed plants they love it too !
I told my Hubby mites had hot water , pest too maybe it helps keep them away.
Babies love light and food :)) So glad yours are enjoying their new trays and light !
Happy New Year growing !

Thanks Allison. I will try that although I will have to hold my nose because the smell of Lysol makes me nauseous! BLAHHHHHH!

Just use a little ! Me I love the smell of cleaning things. I always use too much. of everything even dish soap. lol

I wonder if Murphy's Oil Soap (which I've added to water in the past as suggested to knock back fungus gnats, and it does help) would be as effective as Lysol? The smell isn't as bad (to me). Neem oil also helps I think and may smell better to you than lysol.

I think the seedling heat mats will raise the temperature 10 to 15 degrees above ambient temperature... I opted to get a thermostat with mine. Park's had a good combo deal on mat plus thermostat for a bit less than buying them individually.

Before I got my heat mats, I started a few seeds in my oven -- oven heat turned OFF, electric oven light turned on, door propped slightly open with a towel, temperature stayed a nice, constant 80-81 degrees.

Murphy Oil soap is good but not for the same purpose as Lysol. Neem oil I used to wash and clean new plants for pre-caustions of mealies or other pest though it won't kill them it will help them not be able to eat.
But for Mildew, Fungus , Algea .... Lysol works the best for me. I use to use it all Winter when it was cool/cold. My plants love it too !
Just a capful in water won't smell too bad.
Now neem oil bothers my breathing and the smell bothers me.