A new way of doing things

I used to use the wicking trays to water my African Violets but I have found something now that I like much better. I decided to try the container method and ordered a dozen 16 oz plastic containers from Reed's Greenhouse. I really liked the results that I was getting so I ordered an additional 50 containers thinking that would be enough for the rest favorite violets. However that did not do all of the ones that I want to do so now I'm getting ready to order 100 more. Here is a couple of shelves in my greenhouse with the pots and their containers.

Jesse

Here is a shelving unit that I have in my living room.

Jesse

Here is a closeup of the bottom shelf. I really do like these containers. They look so neat and organized.

Jesse

Here is the middle shelf. I will be glad when I can get the rest of my containers.

Jesse

Here is the top shelf. I do like my little tea pots.

Jesse

This message was edited Jan 28, 2007 6:09 AM

Looks very nice. And like you said "neat and orderly" I used plastic containers for about a year. The only problems I had with them was algae in the clear ones. AND the biggest was refilling all of them. I didn't have a good routine and it just seemed to become a "big thing". Other than that they were great.

I like the teapots as well.

Jesse love your set up ! Back when I was going to local AV group this is how a lot of the long time growers did their plants with the containers
like you are using. It's acualy better this way plants are not sharing watering tray makes less chance of spreading pest like mealies , viruses and so on that are often spread by sharing watering trays .
You gave me a bright Idea too ! There was a nice wood shelf left here when we bought this home. Hubby placed it in front of a new window he put in the living room ( he took a door out not needed and put a nice new big window in !!) I have a few plants on the shelf andd some Gesneriads leaves down and so on. But they don't get as much light as I'd like. It's been so dark and raining . Not complaing we need the rain but plants need lights. Well I was thinking we could place the smaller 2 foot grow lights on under shleves like you have.
Where did you get you small light fixtures ?
Then we can push shelf back a little where it still gets some light and top shelf can be used for low light house plants !
Then my plexi glass shelves can go on window for windowshelves !
Thanks for sharing Jesse and sparking new Ideas.
I 'm thinking of getting a few Streps from Gary in Spring !
Allison

I got the lights at either Walmart, Lowe's, or Home Depot. They all carry them but they are cheaper I think at Walmart.

Jesse

Thanks Jesse !

Very nice setup, Jesse. You have been busy!

How is this working out, Jesse?

very nice, i do the same thing, i also use physian 20 in my containers so they don't get alge, works very well.
mrsbonnie

Allison: I get these lights from Wal-Mart for $7.96 each ... and I have this thin green fabric covered craft wire that I buy on the little spools at Michael's Crafts. I just use this wire to tie the lights to the stands! It works real well!

It is working out great. I have just ordered more plastic containers and I hope to get all of my other african violets wicked and on their own containers. It sure does cut back on the amount of watering that I have to do and I think one good thing about it is it is consistent. The violet gets the amount of water it needs so no over watering. And when it is thirsty, it can drink.

However, I have discovered that my Episcias do not do well this way. Three of mine are in really bad shape and need to be repotted. But as far as my AVs go, all of them love it. Some are blooming great right now. I will hopefully take some photos tomorrow.

Jesse

Do you think the episcias would do ok if you lightened the soil even more for them?

They look great! I like how easy it is to move them around to find the place on the shelf that they like best and where they can really show off. I don't have enough distance between the shelves and the lights on my plant stand to do this, but I've got a few set up like this downstairs.

Lin are they double 2 ft fixtures ?
I know our Wal-mart has single 2 ft. I would like double fixture 2 ft to go under shelf in open book shelf area.

Here is an update on my AV plant shelves that I have in the greenhouse. I now have 4 shelves of violets sitting on containers. This really is the way to go for me. The water in the containers lasted about 3 weeks. Plus I just added some more violets. The top two shelves had to be watered again and it does take some time, but when you get finished, you can sit back and look at what you have done and just smile. I don't have all of them needing water at the same time which I planned that way. I thought that would get too overwhelming so I sort of staggered them out so that that don't all need water at the same time. Here is a photo of the same shelves but with more violets on containers (the last photo I showed I only had 3 shelves completed and now there are 4). The shelves that you see under the shelves with containers are babies that are still with their mommies that I am in the process of potting into their own pots. And on the right of those you can see a domed lid that has tiny clippings that were sent to me to grow little plants for my terrarium. I have since put up two 6 ft shelves beside this shelf unit to put more of the babies that I pot up on. I seem to be running out of room. But don't we all have more AVs than we have room for. But we just keep adding shelves and keep on growing. I told my DH that I needed a new greenhouse just for my AVs. I could put everything else out in it and just have this one for the AVs. I have to keep the temperature at 65 and above all the time and they seem to like it. It did drop below 55 a couple of times when we did not make it home in time to turn the heat up but they did not seem to mind it.

I'll shut up now. When I post something I seem to get carried away. But I'm very passionate about growing AVs, especially the ones that I have grown by leaf. It is one of the most enjoyable things that I do. So I will just keep doing it. :)

Jesse

It looks so neet and organized!!!! I guess since you have a greenhouse you don't have to have lights?

I thought I was gonna do something like this, I had some containers about the same size and I potted one up with a wick, put it on it's container and went to put it on the shelf and realized it's now too close to the light. So I did some measuring and I'd lose 1, possibly even 2 shelves if I set em up like that. Soooooooooooo gotta figure something else out.

Yours look great!!!! Got a pic of your greenhouse?

Debbie

I have some photos of my greenhouse but I have added some new things so I need to take some new pictures. Hopefully I will be able to get that done today and hopefully post some photos tonight.

Jesse

Jesse,Wonderful set up you have there.Looking forward to seeing more pics!

I have put up one 6 ft white shelf to the right of that AV shelf unit and I'm going to be putting up another one under it so I will have more room to put the other babies that I have to pot. I will put shelves all the way around the greenhouse if I have to to make room for all of my babies. LOL

Jesse

Hello! I am new here but have really been enjoying a place to seek more information about AVs. I see all the messages are from 2007 - but that's OK because I was interested in wick watering and would like to know if you that have tried it are still enthused about this method of watering.

Being new here and definitely not a computer whiz - I sometimes wonder about some of the initials (like DH) and what in the world is "sticky" (smile). Linda

I am glad you found this thread.I learned a lot too.How cool is this!
I grew via wicking method when I just a few and it is so convenient. I used panty hose cut into thin strips for the wick, this holds up forever and it doesn't overload the plant with water
DH = darling husband. DW= darling wife DD= darling daughter etc
Sticky = a thread that comes up all the time in African Violets and Gesneriads.or other forums. It stays/sticks there.

This message was edited Jul 18, 2010 2:46 PM

Hi, helenethequeen...you ARE a queen to find this message and answer some newby questions. Thank you for making me feel welcome.

I have just begun experimenting with wicking. I repotted a plant into a pot using a two inch ply of acrylic yarn moistening it first, and when finished dangled the end into a heavy coffee cup half full of water. A few days later as I was uncertain how this was going - but quite a bit of the water was gone so I dumped the plant out of the pot and it was just soaking wet - on the bottom inch and a half only.So I gave up. I have a collection of about 50 AVs and am bottom watering them now. But it's beginning to dawn on me that "there's got to be a better way" smiles, Linda

Hi Linda;
I wick all my plants, you must use a very lite soil mix, with lots of pearlite.I use 1 pt. soil & 2-3 pts pearite & have no problem.Been wicking for sometime now, sure does make a differernce when you have lots of plants.
mrsbonnie

Yes, yes, yes : panty hose nylon - cut into a little more than 1/4" strip for standards. Will live as long as the plant will live and doesn't sop up too much water. Try it - I don;t have panty hose here in Fl. but have the nylon socks for stepping out....

I wicked for a while, but the algae was a pain, I am a neat freak so keeping the extra containers super clean was hard. A lot of people do it.

My plants just like being watered from above and there is no build up.

It is fun to try new things though.

someone told me about adding 2 tablespoons of peroxide to a gallon of water, no algee.she never had any algee after that, so i have just tried it & it works great, as i do wick.
bonnie