Help save heirloom violet

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

Hi! I'm new to the board and caring for african violets. I've inherited my two of my grandmother's african violets that she's had for decades. Unfortunately, as her health declined so did her care of the plants and I've been trying to rejuvenate them.

I decapitated the unhealthy one and tried to replant but the plant didn't make it. The only one left is now in a sorry state after getting an infestation over the summer. I tried to treat the plant with neem oil but ended up ruining its health. I would love to be able to save it! Its lost a lot of leaves and I'm not sure how to proceed from here. I'm hesitant to cut the crown off after botching the first time. I've planted the violet in African Violet organic mix. It's watered when it feels dry an inch in, from the bottom, with a drop of Shultz AF fertilizer. Any help would be greatly appreciated - thank you!

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Comments (3)

judyj
10 years ago
Hi Kristy,

At this point, I'd take whatever leaves might still be a little turgid and plant them. You may also be able to save the crown by rooting it, but someone who's done that more often will have better info than me. There's an article here:

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/fix-broken-african-violet-93134.html

best of luck-

Judy
fortyseven_gw
10 years ago
Judy, Great article! thanks! Joanne
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Rosie1949
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Hi Kristy, I would (as Judy said) pull off any turgid leaves and try to root them. This will leave you with just a few leaves for a crown. THEN I would cut off the rest of the plant at soil level. Gently scrape, I use my thumbnail, the neck. Now pot (up to the little crown of leaves) in a container of 1/2 soil and 1/2 perlite. Do not use a large pot. I would use a yogurt cup (with holes in the bottom) and let the bottom of the leaves "rest" on the cup there by "dangling the trunk into the container. I would not water it at this point. I would put a loose cover or dome over it. Watch it carefully and I would remove the cover if you notice ANY condensation at all. You don't want it to rot. If it is going to live and re root, you will see improvement. As long as it doesn't die, that is good news. In about a month, there should be roots. I would leave it grow that way until it regains health. When it seems it is actively growing, then you can use a very weak fertilizer on it. But not until then. Give it a try. Good luck. Rosie

PS Good Article!