Hi guys - I have looked back over the last few pages of threads and could not find the answer to this question, would some of you out there help me out?
What causes the leaves in the center of my African violet to form a tiny little cluster of tiny little leaves? What do I need to do?
I am pretty new at this and I have two or three doing this.
Question on leaves
I've had a couple of plants do what I think you're describing, and it seems to be just some sort of odd event, maybe due to some growing condition thing I haven't figured out... it's almost as if there's a little sucker forming right at the bottom of the leaf, rather than at the usual location where the leaf stem joins the neck of the plant. I've removed a leaf like that and potted it up as a propagation attempt, but nothing much came of it. I don't think it will harm the plant, but if you don't like the looks of it, just gently pinch it out.
There are some AVs with "bustled" leaves, but those don't look like a whole cluster of tiny leaves.
Or did you mean you see a cluster of little leaves where the leaf stem joins the crown of the plant? If that's the case, it's a sucker that's forming, and you can either simply remove it or let it grow larger before removing if you want to use it for propagating a new plant. I usually pinch suckers by hand, but you can also nudge them away from the plant with a the tip of a pencil (just apply a bit of pressure at the base of the cluster, and it should pop right off).
Go to www.rachelsreflections.com
She has an index covering every possible situtation............sounds like suckering to me???
good luck
Suspect cyclamen mites on African violets when the center of the plant where the new leaves develop doesn't seem to be growing right. The new leaves remain small and don't ever seem to grow out. Leaves and flowers may be distorted. You may suspect that your growing conditions aren't right, but nothing seems to help. There can be excess suckering like desperation growth. So hard to tell without seeing your plants. Any chance of you posting some photos?
Also, after prolonged blooming, the center leaves can become smaller but they look healthy and normal (not clustered or distorted) and will grow out fine.
LOL, I think we need a photo or even some additional description, because I think we all have a different mental picture of what you're describing!
Is it the center of the plant where you're seeing a cluster of teeny leaves at the top of the crown? Are you seeing tiny clusters of leaves forming where the stem of a larger leaf meets the neck of the plant? Or are you seeing a tiny cluster of leaves forming right on top of the leaf where it joins its stem? Or is it something else entirely?
so glad you are back with us Snowrose..........miss your advice............I need you!!!!!!!!! (LOL)
WOW! Thanks for all your responses. It is in the very center of the plant at the top of the crown. I just took some digital pictures.
Here is another one
In the second picture you can hardly see the tiny cluster starting. The cluster usually gets about the size of a dime and doesn't get any bigger. The cluster just sits there. These two are not an ideal picture. I have had two others do the same thing and I did what critterologist said and pinched them out. But they never used to do this.
daylily_lady,
I think you may have mites. Sure looks like it. You can have your plants checked with your local county extension office to be positive. If they determine your plants are positive for mites, you would then need to decide if treating them with highly toxic miticides is worth it. So, bottom line is, have your plants professionaly diagnosed if all that is something you feel you want to go through to save your violets. Unless these plants have some special significance to you, I would toss them. Treating for mites is expensive financially and hazardous to your health.
No need for guesswork. Have them checked so you know one way or the other if you want to do all it takes. There may be fees involved for inspecting your plants depending on your county's policy.
Good luck to you,
Snowrose
Yep, I thought that looked like mites, too.
Sorry daylily_lady...that's a bummer...If you want some leaves to start some babies just drop me a dmail... I've been plucking leaves and repotting so I could share a few.
MsC
Thanks Snowrose. I am glad to know what is wrong with them. I am thinking I probably will just toss them. I hate to, I had some really pretty ones, but sounds like it would be an ordeal to try to treat them. I only have a dozen. I am not the pros (obviously) like you guys on here are. However, I do enjoy them tremendously and I hate it that is what is wrong with them.
Thanks so much to all of you for your quick response and help. I will probably be back sometime in the future with more need for help.
In the meantime I check in every once in a while and just lurk and learn!! :)
Thanks to you too MsCritterKeeper!
I probably better get these all disposed of and the pots sanitized before I think about more! I will keep your offer in mind though, maybe you will have more to share later!
You're welcomed anytime... it's a shame and it can happen to any of us and does... bug do not discriminate...LOL
Let me know when you're ready.
MsC
Should I wash my pots out and then soak them in a solution of clorox, then run them through the dishwasher? Will that take care of them??
I know you must be disappointed, daylily_lady, but I feel you made the right decision. Yes, your thinking is right about sterilizing your pots. Thoroughly clean all surfaces and or toss soils or anything else you think could possibly be contaminated. Better safe than sorry.
The upside of all this is getting new beautiful plants to start fresh with. Also, like MsC said, many of us on this forum would be more than happy to help get you started again with plants or leaves.
I agree... while there are other issues (chlorinated water, growing conditions that they don't quite like) that can cause similar symptoms, sometimes disposal is the best course. That second photo in particular looks like mite symptoms to me... You can verify by looking under magnification (at least 10x) or by having them professionally checked, but sometimes mites are sneaky (they hide under leaves in the crown.
As I've mentioned before, if anybody gets into trouble with cyclamen mites and decides to treat rather than dispose of their plants, Dmail me about getting a small amount of Avid (it's pricey by the pint, but a little goes a very long way).
day lily....................I will be happy to send you leaves to start again.........sooooooooooooo sorry.........you can see why i depend on Snowrose and Ms. C to tell me what is wrong..........i am relatively new to this passion of AVs............
I know. I kept looking for bug-a-boos and didn't find any and the rest of the plant looks wonderful and healthy! So I just didn't think it was a bug. Glad I came here and ask!
I would never have been able to learn about the gesneriad family if it weren't for DG...............tell us when you get rid of the mites and we will send you new leaves........