First, here is an updated pic of my xmas gift to me, from the violet barn:
I have 2 questions for the more experienced grower
Here are the questions.
The top right is Rob's love bite. When I got it from him, although it did look healthy, the leaves were curling up. I took it out of the box looking like this so I figured that's what the leaves are supposed to look like.
Now that it's growing, I'm wondering if this is normal. The leaves feel brittle and they curve up a lot. I don't think this is normal, is it? I've tried emailing Rob's violets but can't find their email address anywhere, I might have to call them on my lunch time during work.
I went to Dr. Optimara and couldn't figure out what it was.
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Here's my other question.
How do I get these plants to absorb water? They only have 1 small hole in the bottom of the cup, so they don't seem to be sucking it up. When I water from the top it doesn't seem to be soaking into the potting mix. If it does, it goes extremely slow and I don't think the water is getting to the bottom.
Any ideas? Should I repot in my own mix that I have?
Thanks everyone
Here's a pic where you can really get a good view of the curled up leaves....
(wow, now that I"m looking at it, the tips of the leaves are drying up too.....oh no......
Hmmm.I am going to go look at mine and see if any of them are doing that.I did notice they are really hard to water because the water doesn't soak in mine either. Maybe it might be worth a shot to repot them.I want to wait til they are finished blooming though.I have never repotted one when it was blooming so I don't know if they would keep on blooming or if it would shock them too much.
I have purchased from Rob's several times, and I like the plants, but not the potting mix. It seems to heavy. I would repot in a mix that has a good deal of perlite in it. The water is absorbed faster.
Oh, I just noticed the title. Ha! I am not a more experienced grower. : ) So wait for other answers. : )
Hadfieldp - since you ordered from Rob's several times that qualifies you as "experienced" (at least as far as I'm concerned :-). Thanks for the info, I agree on the mix, the water is just not penetrating.
I may repot tomorrow night (I'm getting tired).
Also, I did another search on Dr.Optimara and I think what I might have is potassium deficiency. It lists leaves curled up and tips turning brown as 2 of the symptoms.
I don't even want to hear the word mi----s (that bad word in the a/v world)
Thanks
Hi Maureen,
Looks like the leaves are becoming 'spooned' or 'spooning' That's nothing to worry about in itself. I rather like spooned leaves. Where and how are you growing your new arrivals? Are they getting enough humidity? Go ahead and repot if you want. I have always repotted to suit myself, you know in my own mix, check the roots, etc. The plant you have (Love Bite) looks just a bit high in the pot received anyway.
I don't know what's up with those leaves either... but I do have a couple of healthy looking plants of 'Rob's Love Bite', and none have ever had their leaves curled up like that, so it's not typical of the cultivar.
They do use a heavy mix, so repotting would be a good idea... I've repotted plants in bloom or bud without shocking them into dropping their flowers, but you might leave the other two as they are until they finish blooming and just repot the one that might be having a little trouble.
It seems that I saw something somewhere about leaves like that being a pH issue, but I sure can't find that reference now... repotting however would be a solution for a bunch of different possible cultural causes.
Snow, I just saw your post... I was typing while you were posting... are "spooned" leaves typical for a variety, or can they occur with any variety?
I don't think the plant looks bad in any way, but I did agree that the leaf shape seemed odd... I'm sure Rob's will have an answer for you, even if it's just to tell you there's no cause for concern. :-)
Maureen mine all look ok,except for the fact they too are extremely hard to water.Hope your little guy will be alright.I am going to repot mine all too so they can drink easier.LOL I agree with your mi----s comment .: )
Thanks for the suggestion Pam.I agree with Maureen,you are well qualified : )
Critter and Snow I guess we must have all been typing at the same time : )
Thanks Snow, Critter and Cedar. I'm noticing now this brown drying tips. And I do not like the look of spooned leaves, looks un-natural to me. I'll see what Rob says. Meanwhile I'm going to give them a good drink and keep a close eye on these babies.
The humidity is definitely low in my house. I don't have any add'l humidity other than natural, which is very low in my living room.
Guess what, I'm watering them with an eyedropper, and it's working great. Take a few minutes to water each one, but the water gets targeted to an area and seeps right in. I just keep rotating the container and watering.
Maureen, a good watering tool for minis or new plantlets, etc. is a hair color squeeze bottle with a long nozzle. Works real well. Can buy at any beauty supply.
Snowrose, I am so glad I came back to this thread!! I have been meaning to get an eye dropper, but I have one of those squeeze bottles! Woo hoo! (Runs off to check it out....)
Critter - spooned leaves are typical for some varieties. I had an old Tinari variety called 'Celeste' that had spooned leaves. Also, I have seen plants that are not supposed to have spooned leaves do it for some reason on occasion.
Providing more humidity for your plants if possible would be good, Maureen.
hadfieldp - Here's my can't do without watering device ;0)
Got one! This will work so great!!!!! And cheap enough to get several and sterilize in the dishwasher, etc., after use. : )
Snow: Great idea for watering! I have been using cut up panty hose and threading it through the bottom of the pots when I repot, but some of my AV's I haven't had time to re-pot with the wick thingy. I must get one of those bottles for watering!
Lin
Plantladylin - They work great. Always use it when potting up new plantlets from leaves, too. I wick water so I don't need it for routine watering but yeah, perfect for handwatering minis.
hadfieldp - Good! You're all set!
On my list to pick up this weekend.I have been using a turkey baster and that hasn't worked out too well.Thanks Snow!
Cedarnest - For me a turkey baster would be too clumsy and drippy. You will like the hair color bottle. They come in larger sizes too which are fine but this is my favorite. Sometimes when potting up new baby plantlets, I put 1 drop of Schultz AV fert. in the bottle for quick and easy convenience just to give a little something.
Plantladylin - I've never used cut up panthose for wicks. I use braided nylon mason twine. I might have a pic on how I set the wick when potting. I'll look. Found it. I've cut a slit in the side opposite of where the wick enters at the bottom so it goes from bottom to top and side to side. Slipping the end of the wick into the slit keeps it from falling out. Then pot as normal using a light 'wick mix' if your plants are to wick watered.
just dropping in to register my vote for the hair color bottle (condiment squeeze bottles are pretty much the same thing) and for braided mason line. I use both all the time too.
Ha! That was so fun, I think I overwatered! : )
Did you like it, hadfieldp?
I bought Hair Color today to do my roots .... LOL .... now I will have a water bottle for my AV's!
Snow: Thanks for the pic on your wicking. I have some of the nylon I bought from Bluebird GH when I ordered a couple of AV's a few weeks ago. I learned the cut up panty hose thing back in the 60's from an eldery neighbor, but I think the nylon thread is better. Pantyhose hold a lot of water and take up a lot more than the nylon thread. So, in the pots that have strips of p.hose, I have to be careful with how much water I pour into the bottom, so as not to really drench the roots. I have been doing with the wicks the same as with the nylon hose, pushing it through the bottom of the pot and coiling it up, placing soil as I go towards the top. I have 5 or 6 I need to re-pot with the wicking and fresh soil.
Thanks for the great info.
Lin
Plantladylin - Do you have a favorite soil mix you use when wicking violets?
Loved the little bottle, it was perfect.
Thought I'd pop in. I have experienced the same problem with Rob's soil not absorbing the water. Take a look at the blue sheet of paper that came with your order. There are many tips. One lets you know if the plant is ready to repot. Most of the plants I have received from him are. If you do decide to repot in lighter soil be sure to disbud first. The plants go into a little shock and not having to sustain blooms helps the new roots develop faster.
BYW the plants are beautiful. Here is something to try, if the "spooning" is a humidity related. Try a light spray before the lights go on or before the sun hits your windows. I use HOT water in the spray bottle. The mist comes out warm. I don't have to mist as much now because I have most of my plants on wicking trays. I have found the leaves become more supple; even the centers are more relaxed. Don't over do the misting and remember HOT water in the bottle means a warm refreshing spray. I spray my hand before spraying the plants to make sure the mist is not cold.
Hope this helps.
Snow: No favorite. I'm really a novice at this from what I'm seeing here on DG. I have been growing houseplants and AV's for nearly 40 years and have never done anything special. Now I'm reading about sterilizing soil, soil less mixture, sterilizing utensils, etc. Makes me realize how little I know. I do mix regular potting soil with lots of perlite but other than that, I'm still learning!
Lin
Maureen I like re-potting into soil that works better for my home. Plus I like seeing what's in there. Healthy roots , pest and so on. I trans planted the ones I got a couple weeks ago from Bluebirds and one the roots was horrid of what there was a started over with a crown cutting . All get special baths.
Rob does not have time to answer emails but they do answer thep hone ! Have a question? Call us between 12-5 p.m. EST at 585-374-8592 (sorry, we don't have time to reply to e-mail)
Bumping up to show "spooning"
Spooned, Ovate, Cupped-up: Leaves are concave with high edges like a spoon.
There are hundreds of Av's in First class with description of foliage spooning !
I'm sure there are many other plants that do so.
The plants Maureen have are not described as foliage Spooning so maybe Rob got back and gave her an answer for this ?
Here on this link fro AVSA you can see all different typys of leaves and pictures. Pictures are small but do have a picture of a Spooned leaf .
http://www.avsa.org/BlossomFoilage.htm#Foilage
Here is another good picture of Spooned foliage
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=1347387&uid=127049
ALL YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT LEAVES
http://www.geocities.com/vrarchives/april/culture.htm
I know Rob's Love Bite is not typical of the cultivar like Jill mentioned above and there are many other reason why. One SR said more Humidity. Optimara gives other reasons.
http://optimara.com/doctoroptimara/11203-11406/11301.html
Mayb Rob was able to help.
Hi Allison, no answer from Rob yet. I don't know what the problem is, I am getting annoyed that they can't answer my email. Not everyone can call mon-fri between 12-5. I'm going to send them another email.
I was just on the Rob's website today ... I'm pretty sure I read somewhere there that they don't answer e-mail. It said they don't have the time or manpower and you MUST call them on the phone and it gives the hours. I will check the site .... back in a sec. Ok - here's what I found:
https://www.robsviolet.com/index.htm
If you scroll down to the bottom of that page, you will see their phone number and the hours to call and it says they don't respond to e-mail.
Lin
I know I read that too. And yes it's hard forpeople working to call. Critter says she grows this plant and foliage does not Spoon , and FC says it does not spoon. There are other reason why foliage can spoon and it's not always good and you should get a healthy plant from the start. Most likly he's send you a new one if you could talk to Rob.
Maybe you could call during lunch >? When I ever I called he just happened to answer right away himself.
Does anyone know where one can learn about wicking? I'm new to AV's Thanks, Gordon
Hi GeeMan nice to see you.
There are many threads in Forum here is you want to do a search.
Here is an excellent link that shows everything with pictures.
http://www.rachelsreflections.com/wicking.htm
Me I like using yarn or Mason Thread. I take a good size piece and bring it up threw the bottom of the pot leaving a few inches on bottom or what ever length you need. I like the wrap the wick around the bottom inside of the pot a few times then I bring the wick up to the top of the pot over edhe holding bottom . I fill the pot with soil-less mix then ai mold out proper space for plant going inside.
I like to water threw top water first and every once in awhile to wash build ups. I use warm/hot water.
Welcome, Gordon! Allison gave you some good advice. You may also want to use a lighter potting mix when you wick (at least half perlite) and go easy on the fertilizer.
I also wanted to suggest that you either find an old thread about wicking to bump up or start a new thread... Although we certainly wander off-topic all the time in this forum, it's too easy for questions and responses to get "lost" when they don't have a thread of their own.
Actually, I searched out an old thread that I thought would have some useful information for you and bumped it up just now... but feel free to start a new thread with questions if you'd prefer!
When you have a chance, please check out the "sticky" thread at the top of the forum... there's a FAQ there, and you'll find a list of links to just about every kind of AV-related information!