Okay, here are two pics of Kid Karla:

Pretty plant ...

It looks like over-fertilization to me, but not too bad.

It should grow out of it ... just hold off of any fertilization for awhile.

It may be that your new soil mix was pre-fertilized ???

Hi!

It's strange. It was put on it's own reservoir, with very dilute fertilizer (1/4 tsp/gallon), and I mix my own potting mix (1/1/1 peat/vermiculite/perlite). And since it happened soon after repotting, I couldn't help but think it got too wet. But it doesn't look like rot to you? I really panicked!

Thanks!

Yeah ... if it was rot, you'd be preparing its eulogy.

Stem rot is fast ... by the time you see the damage, it's too late ...

Note: be careful with the fertilizer. I once burned the crowns out of a whole set of new plants ...

I side with Aegis. I use 1/8 of a teaspoon - and get brown crystals on starters every so often. Probably every variety uses fertilizer in its own rate - and variegated plant - for obvious reasons is not able to utilize as much of it as its green leaf buddies.

Leach soil with a tepid water until it runs clean - and dry on a stack of newspapers.

Your plant is slightly overpotted and it sits too deep in a pot. In my experience - it will make a positive difference if you take it out of its pot, add some coarse perlite on a bottom and plunk it back. Do it after leaching and drying because leaching will compact the soil even more.. Your wick provides plenty of moisture - but if you move a rootball even with the rim - it will improve air movement to the rots - they will breath better.

It all sounds like nit picking - but if you think like a plant...

Irina, half broccoli

Dear Irina - I am so glad for your reply! I was afraid I had offended you, It's a particularly sensitive time when I last wrote, as I received very bad news healthwise. I just want to enjoy my flowers and talk with others who love them too. Coming into an established group is often difficult, as groups tend to form "cliques." Glad to see this one is full of helpful folks whose aim is the same as mine. :)

And I am SO GLAD it's not crown rot! I know this sounds arrogant, but I've never killed an African violet and was devastated to see that brown in the crown of this cute mini. I will follow your suggestions, and repost a pic when it looks better. I removed the bottom layer of leaves to put a couple up, hoping to start more plants, and because I did this after repotting, it now looks like the pot it's in is too big. Scale is difficult in pics, but it's in the smallest pot I have (2 1/4"). I do have some condiment "shot" cups, but they're like 1 1/2 ounce - me thinks too small?

I have some more comments on what I discovered about light (I use light carts - 3 small ones). Will start another thread on that.

Thank you again! From one half broccoli to another...

My Best, DJ

This is an interesting thread. I have recently noticed some brown spotting on my leaves right after a serious repot. This has happened twice now. The first time it happened, I thought maybe it was powdery mildew damage because I'm paranoid that way. But I'm almost certain that it wasn't powdery mildew. Both of the plants this happened to are variegated. However, it doesn't look exactly like the marks on DJ's violet. And I fertilize at half strength (at best), and I don't fertilize every time I water.

Could there be something about repotting that causes brown marks?

I'll be interested in reading what others think, too. I am just relieved it's not serious enough that I'll lose the plant. Since you mention it's happened to you, too, with variegated plants, and after a repot, here's my theory: Variegated plants can't use as much fertilizer as all-green plants, add to that the stress of repotting, and it's a perfect storm. Maybe the plants can normally handle it, but add one more stressor, and it reaches a breaking point? I'm thinking the inner leaves show the affects of the fertilizer because maybe that's the plant's way of getting rid of the excess?

What do you think?

This is interesting! I don't understand the reference to 1/2 broccoli (I love broccoli!).

And I don't know where DJ was rude. But can I just say, on this particular forum we are a pretty understanding bunch. I tried to get into some of the other forums in gw and you are right about the cliques. I had to back out because it was "their way or the highway" so I took the highway at high speed!

Anyway, I am glad you are here,,,WELCOME!!!, and so glad your violet will be ok. She is very pretty! Rosie

Awww Rosie, thank you much. I did sign up for an AV group on Yahoo - for two whole days - I never even posted. Not going to name the group, but let's just say, "Not my bag, man." hahaha

I have so many pics! I tried an experiment, taking a picture of a plant (Ness' Crinkle Blue) every-other-day, to watch it bloom over time. It really turned out nice! Did the same for Watermelon Snow. When we see them every day, it's hard to notice the changes. They are amazing plants.

My Best,

DJ

I think I signed up for that same group. Not my bag either. I always come back to this group. It is just so informative and friendly!

That would be a really neat experiment! Any chance we get to see the pix??? Rosie

DJ - I didn't read anything offensive. May be you really had some offensive thoughts? But never put them on paper? It is absolutely permitted.

Rosie - it is my pet theory. Some people feel plants, some - do not. They try do it by schedule, logic etc. People who are more successful with plants - talk to them, try to figure out what plants want, how to make them comfortable... you name it. How they are able to understand plant talk - may be they have plant genes in them?

That's why - some people are half broccoli, and I know some who are total turnips. ;-))

Rosie dear - Uploading pics here is difficult, and I'm not sure why. I can't seem to do it directly - I have to first create a "wish list" or "project list" and then carry them from there to here.

Wish List · More Info

Wish List · More Info

I love your Ness' Crinkle Blue!

Thank you, Irina! It just took off like a maniac - non-stop blooming for over a two months now. Nothing seems to bother it. Amazing plant!

Well Irina, I guess that makes me 1/2 broccoli???? Sure hope so,,,would hate to be a turnip!

DJ I love both of those violets. Course you will understand I have never seen a violet that didn't make it to my "wish list!" lol Now where did I put that list????

You are a writer???? What do you write???? For a newspaper??? A novel??? Poetry???

Just for giggles, I have heard several people say they have trouble getting a photo to post here.

This is my pix of my Opt Michele. All I did was click on Photo (at the end of this post down by where it says submit ) and it let me go into my computer to upload/post one of my personal photos to this site.

If you want to post a photo from your gwf profile page then you click on Houzz Photo below and then select one of them click insert and it will put it here. Couldn't be easier.

How do you like my fancy dancy wick watering system? Not pretty,,,,but I works like a charm! This photo was from one of my Ideabooks.

My AV's & Gesneriads "Fotos"!! · More Info

Rosie

Ooooh, O. Michele is beautiful! And your wicking system - hey, whatever works! I tend to be lazy at some things, and overly-picky about others. At first I put all the plants on individual reservoirs, because I bought from all over, and was afraid of bugs and/or diseases. Once they all took off, I switched them to communal reservoirs. I bought oven racks to put over the cart trays, then filled the trays. For weeks it was a pain because of algae. My carts are right under my bedroom windows, so lots of light. I then bought sheer curtains to put around the carts, and added Physan 20 to the reservoir water and Viola! No More Algae!

Thank you DJ! Great plants! Isn't it funny how we "evolve" all for the love of violets? I save all the little condiment cups & lids when I go out to eat. And if I order something in a clear (or not) cup I save that also. Dannon Yogurt containers are great. Just wish I could figure out a way to take the print off. There has got to be a way. I just haven't run across it yet! Rosie

All my stuff is on mats and wicks. I add Physan to the water - it slows the algae growth some...