A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 Starting african violets from leaves 101

Do overs are ok Vanessa. About how long does it take you to get a baby Sarah?

Okay...now that we've started our leaves...here is what we have to look forward to in 4 to 10 weeks!

The "mouse ears":


A little bit older baby:


And a tray full of babies:

Oh that is great and not too long of a turn around either. Do you take out the mama leaf after the babies start?

I'll have to go into that in a separate post...it's rather intricate to describe, and I don't want to get it and leaf-starting mixed up.

My brain can't keep up!

Ok, We have lots of time for that one

At least 4 to 10 weeks!

Once again, excellent instructions and pictures Sarah!

Do you sell your babies? What do you do with all those wonderful plants? No wonder you bought leaves yesterday - you have the knack!!!

I hope I can get out to Home Depot today and get a plant - schools are closed since we had a really nasty mix of ice and snow overnight. Not much in accumulation, but a big mess. It's snowing currently also.

Well got my applesauce contianer out of the trash @ 1am dogs looked at me like ok we do that you get mad how come you can do it. Can't waite to get started.
Jimmy

What a wonderful tutorial, Sarah! Now I will just have to get some african violets to get me started this week-end. I think my neighbor has a couple...

Dianna

Everytime I have ever tried to grow an African Violet I killed it...<<pout>> I have no clue what I did wrong. If you have any hints for me I would greatly appreciate it. If I could only get one to live then I could grow them from leaves. <smile>

Bought these today @ Wal-Mart $1.94@.



Jimmy

These Rubber mMaid 2" containers with lids 8 for $1.88
The Rubber Made "cake"pan w/lid 8"x12" inside was $1.88 also easier to handle with arthritis and not so easy to puncture. I took Ice Pick and put holes in the cups.
Here is after they are potted and in the "cake"pan. this first one has PEARLITE soil mix.

This last one has Peat moss and Soil just to test and see what happens. Peat is what angleblossmm traded me yesterday. Hope I did Good on these. Barley this is my first time ever with Av's so if I get addicted it is your fault If I have to go to AV anonymous
Jimmy

WOW Jimmy - you done good!

Pretty AVs and great containers!

Whatcha gonna do with all the babies you end up with?

Thanks Lynne being Rubber maid I can use them over several times. And just keep bouncing off things.
Well if I do good will share with GH family as well send my sister and her girls that want one some. Sounds like next years Christmas and B'Day's what do you think? Cheap skate keeps coming out on me.
Jimmy

Sounds good to me, JV!!!
Spreading the green around - this kind, is worth it's weight in gold!

Forgot to say those three leaves in Peat and Soil I borrowed them for this test they did not come off the plants I bought. You think I want damaged plants no way. The ones in Pearlite and Soil came off the plants I bought. Barley just started an addiction. She knew I had to go to work at midnight now because of her I have been playing in dirt all day instead of resting. Was a lot more fun too. All day on my porch in T-shirt and moccasins January 3rd 85 degrees. Think it must be summer calender has to be wrong.
Jimmy

Shotz JV!

How 'bout you send about 20 of those degrees up my way?

Would gladly send you about 40 degrees in trade for ANY kind of moisture. Six inchs snow would work real good. Or about 2 weeks of good steady rain. Tired of having to have AC on in January
Jimmy

You got it, Jimmy!

We've had rain and snow - not as bad as out west of course, but enough to share!

Go Jimmy! It looks like you found some great plants there. Good job.

Thanks Sarah I tried to remember what yours looked like and told Carolyn she helped me pick them out. She always makes sure I get the best there of what ever I am getting. She usually will give me a cutting of something there.
Jimmy

Jimmy, That is GREAT. I am goping to go with the rubbermaid as well. And I am going to grow them for my MIL and SIL's for next Christmas. I am going to give each a basket of them. What an awesome idea!

How wet are the AV's supposed to be the ones I got are soaking wet even a day after I took them out of that plastic paper and the solid cup they were in. Have them in pots they were bought in placed in a liner without water as I thought they were too wet. Triss the one I went to had a lot of AV's on the shelves in fact were just putting them out. But not much of any other plant but tons of plastic bins.
Jimmy

Jimmy, aim for about as wet as a well wrung out sponge...so just moist, never soaking wet.

Ok thanks these were so wet I placed then I a plate and water soon drained out filling the plate. Think I have it about right now thank you for the addiction.
Jimmy