Is this ROOT ROT??!

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

I recently took my new AVs out of their plastic bags but their leaves started to curl, go soft, and wilt. I watered them two days ago and they got even worse. The water didn't seem to have drained properly so I just took them out of their pots to dry the roots. Apparently if the roots are brown I need to cut them because they're rotting but ALL of the roots are brown. What do I do? :(

Featured Answer

irina_co

10 years ago

Your issues -

you are saying - my NEW violets. Your new violets are three years old looking at the length of the buried stem. Wherewere you got your new violets - they were senior citizens, not cheerleaders.

For some reason you kept adult plants in the baggies with a very high humidity - then you moved them to room air - and you should do this procedure gradually - open a baggie a bit more every day. In a week an AV will be sitting in an open baggie - and is ready to get out, no stress.

Then you moved them in some pots that do not drain - so double trauma - sudden decrease of humidity from 100% to 30% - plus the roots are now in a swamp. The roots and then the leaves started dying - at that point you got them out - and posted a question.

That's my understanding on what happened.

Now - what can be done.

Seems that the buried stems are mostly healthy, You caught your root rot on time - the small roots desintegrated - but there plenty of healthy plant left to restart. I would cut the stem at the level of the pink arrows. On the left plant there is a rot spot under this arrow - so we need to cut the root above it. If there is a dead tissue on the cut - cut higher until there is no rot.

I would plant the stubby tops in a barely moist loose soil in solo cups or K-cups with drainage holes made. get them covered with dome, angel cake top etc. Keep them in the area of non-direct light - and in a couple weeks they should be rooted. Tug them a bit to make sure they are rooted - and gradually expose them to outside air.

Do not repot them to the bigger pot until they are established and growing well.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

Leon Ash
10 years ago
Some of the leaves also look healthy, so why not root a couple ?
Related Professionals
Harrisonburg Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Williamsport Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Redding Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Brunswick Landscape Contractors · Columbia Landscape Contractors · Enfield Landscape Contractors · Marquette Landscape Contractors · Lebanon Landscape Contractors · Middletown Landscape Contractors · San Francisco Landscape Contractors · Bend Landscape Contractors · Lake City Architects & Building Designers · Hilton Head Island Architects & Building Designers · Chattanooga Architects & Building Designers · Virginia Beach Architects & Building Designers
irina_co
10 years ago
Hear, hear! Kudos to Leon! All leaves look healthy - they are small - so they eventually give may be 1 baby - but why not?

I.
Jocelyn Black
Original Author
10 years ago
Does that look okay?
irina_co
10 years ago
The one from the top -, two bottom leaves removed - and you can plant it.

One from the bottom pic is still rotten. Try to cut more.
Jocelyn Black thanked irina_co
Jocelyn Black
Original Author
10 years ago
If I cut anymore, there won't be any root left.
irina_co
10 years ago
Take a couple leaves off and slice some more. If there is a dark brown rot left - it is a goner anyway. You need to have green or reddish tissue, not rotten. We are talking - ICU, not raising from dead. It may survive or not. Needs a bold surgical procedure. If you will have 1/3 of an inch of good stem left - it will survive.

Good Luck, Mz Surgeon!
Jocelyn Black thanked irina_co
bears1mama
10 years ago
I was pretty sure this was rot too so I cut it out until it look like I had a healthy stem. I planted that as is and eventually (4-6 weeks) it died. I hope you have better luck!
Harawlins
10 years ago
A lot probably depends on what it's planted in. I had zero luck with re-rooting crowns until I started making my own mix. There are plenty of different recipes out there, but one very popular recipe is equal parts peat moss, vermiculite, and perlite. Lots of growers have great success with this. If you buy Miracle Grow peat moss, be aware that it already contains a small amount of fertilizer! Best of luck!

Heather
Rosie1949
10 years ago
Bears1mama, I have dealt with the same type of thing. What I would have done different is,,,,,take off enough leaves to have just a small rosette left. You have no roots after trimming the stem to sustain growth so you have to "prune" the top also. Then I would have rooted it in my usual,,,1/2 perlite & 1/2 MiracleGro. But I would not have "watered" the mix. I would have just made the mix a barely damp and almost dry. And put it in a baggie and watch it. Once it starts growing gradually open the bag to acclimate it, as it continues to thrive it will eventually be ok without a baggie. Just my method. Rosie

PS. If the trimmed leaves are in good shape, I root them just in case "bad" happens!