lurker breaking silence!

Thanks again, for your advice, everyone, and for the welcome, Vio!

I had to delay my answers, because of lots of chores around the house that run me over for a couple of days, plus the new batch of AV leaves arrived...

So here's some updates and clarifications:
I went to my little plant (shown in above pic) prepared for some serious surgery, scalpel, alcohol, you name it..., but the momma-leaf gave away at the slightest tug. Now the poor little baby is on it's own! I moved the tray into a different room, where is a good air circulation, and I'm watering now with a mix of water and H2O2.

About the 2-3 leaves thing: I received, in my first order, 2-3 individual leaves of each cultivar (momma-leaves-to-be), not small plants. I placed them to root, the 2-3 leaves of each cultivar together in the same little pots.

Each cup had many wholes in the bottom, that I made. The mix was made from seed-starting mix (soilless, is written on the bag) with more perlite added. Being transparent (the cups), it was easier for me to monitor the water needs, and also I could jump with joy if I see roots. In the whole first batch, there were only to mini varieties. Those were the only ones I covered. One mini cultivar went over the rainbow in less than a month, the other I still have one leaf left, though it didn't do anything, no new ears; this little one was continuously covered.

My initial concern was, as Gail said, the dryness in my area. I live in the desert, and I have to deal with it. I won't tell you how many losses I suffered in one year since my move... That is why I placed my leaves in one of our bathrooms, that we use for plants (watering orchids, here's where I rooted my Hoya cuttings, etc). We never used it for other purpose than plants... Now I realize that this lovely plant room has one defect: the air doesn't move properly, even though the humidity might keep higher than in the "small bedroom/office/plant room" where all my other houseplants reside.

I would probably have better chances with starter-plants, but right now we're living on one salary so my plant budget is limited, even though my hubby spoils me rotten. And I always loved to start things: seeds, leaves, cuttings. Here, in El Paso, is not that easy, it's a continuous battle. I doubt of my green-thumb genes ever since I arrived.
Most of my new plant acquisitions are now chosen by their water needs... though sometimes I "wrong" and get plants I really, really love and that drive me nuts in my attempts to keep them happy here, because they are water-lovers or humidity-dependent. In a way, I was expecting some difficulties with the AVs, but not of such magnitude.

I've never had vermiculite in my house, now don't laugh, but I thought that perlite and vermiculite are the same thing, but different companies packing them... oh well... goofy.

Hugs,
Alexandra

Aw, you are not goofy. We have all had to learned everything. Learning new things is the fun part.

Good luck with your babies!

Growing from av leaves produce the best plants and I think I have to dome mine until they are ready to be separated and then I dome the new babies for a month anyway........

Aww, Sally! Believe me, I am goofy...

Gail, I will keep the new ones domed as well. The older batch, however, I'm concerned of doming right now. What if the bad stuff expands under covers?

I can't tell you about that, but here is a picture of some african violet leaves that were stuck and the dome has been on them the entire time. I will take some of the babies which are ready to be separated tonight.........but I will put the dome back on those that are not big enough yet to plant up. Then I will take the new babies in their solo pots and dome for another month until they can handle the outside air with grace.

Wow, such beautiful babies!

Just keep them domed from the day you stick them in 1/2 perlite and 1/2 vermiculite..........

And try not to peek in at them every other day like I do!

I have so much going I forget to even check on them (LOL).............I let Blue Whisper babies get too big..........because I didn't check.........I planted them up anyway. GL says they will eventually lose their lower leaves anyway............

Alexandra,
My climate is VERY different from yours.Maybe a small fan would help with air circulation.As far as humidity,you could group your plants above a pebble filled tray or try matting them.
I think your green thumb is just fine ^_^. I also think your little baby will be just fine.Just watch it carefully.Many times a mama leaf will rot,especially if it's domed,but I have never had a baby die because of that.
Don't get discouraged!! We all go through trials and travails,or whatever that word is LOL.

Lynn

I forgot to say I always put mine on matting..............just synthetic felt like fabric from Walmart.............

Lynn is right..........don't get discouraged. I still do things I can't believe I did like burning all my streps with seaweed kelp (an overdose) (LOL)

This is where I get confused. Some people say to cover the leaves, and leave them alone, leave them covered. Then I read or hear that they need air, and will rot if left covered all the time. What is the truth?? Mine are currently uncovered because I am getting paranoid about rot. I used a soilless mix for rooting, peat, perlite, vermic etc
and then for another batch I used Miracle gro potting soil 50% mixed with 50% perlite.

I can tell you that regardless of where you live and the conditions, what you use to root makes all the difference in how much air is needed. Using Miracle gro potting mix with 50% perlite is still a very heavy mix for sticking av leaves.........I don't even know how I could do that even though I keep two fans in every room. I don't grow anything in the house with miracle gro potting mix....

http://www.robsviolet.com/violets_by_leaf.htm

good luck but Rob has some awesome advice.........

oh, that is so depressing to hear, Gail. I would hate to lose any of these leaves...is it better then that I keep them uncovered? Does anyone here grow in this type of bagged mix?

Seems about half of them are rooted, and they are firm and healthy looking. I have airconditioning here, but it isn't too high and nothing is blowing directly on them. They are also directly under flourescent lights.

I know, all this info can be so confusing. I have found the only way to make sense of it was to experiment, find out what works best for YOU. I know my indoor humidity is is always 50+ % (I have a device to measure), so I don't cover my leaves. Miracle gro w/perlite is fine--just check if it has fertilizer in it so you don;t over fertilize. When they started adding fertilizer to miracle gro soil, I did not notice, fertilized all my plants as usual, and ended up ruining some by over fertilizing. You have already started experimenting by trying the 2 different soil mixes! The truth is what works well for you! It's like anything else in life....take what works, leave the rest. ^_^

All we can do is try..........if it works, don't fix it..............I have lost so many leaves and plants learning.....just part of the wonderful experience of growing. Who am I to say..........just trying to give her a website with good information.................

Most people use pre mixed.........like African violet with perlite added.........or Pro mix...........or the mix by Schutlz...........many mixes out there. Who knows? There may be lots of people using Miracle Gro potting mix...........and it is working fine.

A leaf is just a leaf and I don't get upset if I lose one.........we can't have all successes in life about anything............

We may be mixing apples with oranges here. There is a giant difference in using Miracle Gro African Violet mix and the regular Miracle Gro potting mix for outside plants.........I am getting ready to divide streps and have nothing for soil less mix except African Violet mix by Miracle Gro and I will add perlite to it........

I'm just saying to each his own...Do what ever works for you. That's all. No one method or product works for everyone.

I used Miracle Gro AV mix, and I am mixing it with perlite from "Country Cottage". I have actually used MG AV mix for a long time for all of my tropicals, I mix it with extra perlite and orchid bark - no orchid bark for the AV's though. It does have fertilizer, they all do, which annoys me, but what can you do? So, I will be very careful not to give them any extra fertilizer for a while.

Thanks for all the advice, everyone! You are right, they are just leaves, some are bound to not make it anyway, and I have mostly doubles, sometimes more, of everything...so I will look at it like you say, Gail, as a learning experience. And as Phoebe says, as a chance to see what works in my environment, the leaves can always be replaced.

MG AV mix I have been using all day long repotting streps..........with perlite added. I thought you all were talking about using the regular Miracle Gro Potting soil for outside.......not the soil less AV kind...............

I am really just learning about streps.(always a learning process with any plant) I had grown a leaf of Dear Charlotte and decided to divide her , repot and see why she only put on one bloom. Guess what? I got 8 new baby plants out of her. She was only in a 3" squatty pot.........no wonder the poor baby couldn't bloom. I must have been tired when I potted up the babies and just squashed 'em all in the 3" squatty pot (LOL)

Sorry Gail, I just looked at my original post about this and I did say Miracle Gro potting soil instead of Miracle Gro AV ...my mistake! I guess now is where I say "Nevermind!"

But I am very relieved that my leaves are not sentenced to a hard life after all! Still, the MG mix with perlite is heavier than the nice light mix I bought at the AV show. It will be interesting to see how the leaves rooted in one compare to the leaves rooted in the other. Next batch I may try with vermic/perlite only mixed together. I never would have done that on my own, because I have rooted problem hoya cuttings in perlite and some sort of green mold grew in it every single time.

well, some nut in my neighborhood is testing his 4th of July fireworks a few weeks early and the dogs are going nuts, need to calm them down, especially cause one had a seizure earlier this evening, he gets them when he is overexcited. Everyone have a great night and a Happy Father's Day!

Gail , if you are like me you can pot up with your eyes closed ................so maybe that time you did :)

Connie :)

I think I must have been watching tennis, football, basketball or something on TV which I often do as I pot up...................