Could be over-fertilization ???

I use optimara african violet fertilizer. The rest of violets are ok except these 2 plants.

I've used Optimara fertilizer also, ... it's just that I used too much of it ... and burnt the center crowns of about a half-dozen plants.

I see. What should I do if it is over fertilizes?

Thanks

Flush through the potting mix with water.

Water copiously from above the soil and let that water drain from the pot. This should help flush out excess fertilizer.

And keep them on a dry side. My take also - either mites or too wet. Probably too wet. If possible - keep them in a separate room and observe. if it is culture as we think - they will grow out of it. If it is a mite infestation - they would go worse.

I.

Upon a second look ... the issue may also be that your potting mix is too wet, as Irina says.

If you have already flushed water through the pots, ... sit them on paper towels, ... so that some of the flushed water is absorbed out to get them drier.

My first thought when looking at your photos was cyclamen mites. I truly hope it is not, but I would isolate it ASAP.

Thanks all, I will follow your methods.

Hello,

I have been keeping these 2 plants dry and isolated them about a week. It has been 17 days. The center of the plants still look like the same as the pictures. There is no new leave growing from the center yet. However, The rest of the leaves are still look healthy. Is that means they are not infested by mites? I put them with other AVs and the other AVs haven't show any symptom so far.

elsa

That your plant's centers look no worse ... is a good sign.

What you're looking for now is signs of NEW GROWTH in the centers.

Healthy new growth will indicate that you have solved your problem ...

Cyclamen mites.

Thank you. I'm glad there is no mites. :D

Elsa, those are mites. They are hard to kill. But if you can find AVID, a chemical, it works well. Look online for it. Not in stores. Isolate or throw out all affected violets, the mites spread fast. Good luck.

To know for sure - somebody needs to look at them under microscope - like people at the County Extension. Plants have limited "vocabulary" - and display the same symptoms for different reasons. Plants with mites do not grow out of it, they get worse and die. If it is a culture issue , Elsa keeps them in insulation - and they grow out of it, none of the other plants are affected.. she hopefully missed the bullet. Avid is not exactly a cheap thing.

Not every time the center dies - it is mites - and the second hopeful observation - these center leaves are not distorted. Mites inject their saliva - and it is very damaging, the center leaves grow very distorted -and these are not.

Can be - Elsa's soil mix is too black - means - not enough perlite - means - too heavy - so a combination of heavy mix, cool fall nights - and accidental under-overwatering can kill some finer roots - as a result - wet plant is actually cannot absorb enough moisture - and it affects growth of the center.

We will see how it progresses - I believe they are already in a different room.

Yes, Irina; one needs a dissecting microscope to see them. A hand-held magnifying glass won't do it.

Aha - we are dealing with 300mkm - they say X30 magnifying glass will do it - but I frankly cannot keep it still..

Thank you for all of your advice. I isolated this 2 AV again. I guess I will wait until I see the new growth. Otherwise, they will be in the compost.

OMG!. I think the plants really have mite! I'm not sure what kind of mite. I read a blog in another forum. Someone said he bought a Jewelry Loupe x60 and he could see the mite. So I bought one from ebay which was only $5. I checked the 2 plants that became sick on 10/1 but I could see anything. I guess I didn't know what I'm looking. It was so difficult to see especially the back of the leave had lighter color. On 10/19, Sky Azure showed the same symptom, then Ian Minuet also had the symptom these couple of days. :(

I checked the back of the leave for Ian Minuet tonight, I saw a "light brown thing" was moving. I can't see the leg or other detail, just a light brown oval thing moving slowly. I didn't see a group of "light brown thing". I just saw one. On the top of the leave, I saw a pink spot but it didn't move at all. So, I didn't know what it was. Sigh.........

Question 1 : All the leaves in these 4 AVs still look very health except the center leaves turn greyish white. Ian Minuet still flowering right now. The rest of 3 show new growth but it just starting, so I cannot tell whether the leaves will grow normally. Should I toss them anyway? What a heart break! The positive side is I got a chance to buy new AVs :D

Question 2: I still have 2 plants that doesn't show any symptom yet. They placed on the same shelves with Ian minuet but they don't touch each others. Also I have some plantlets which I kept in a salad box all the time on the same shelves. Should I do anything to them? eg. spray neem oil?

Question 3: Should I clean the shelve with alcohol? Lysol? Will mite only stay on the plant but not other object?

I appreciate all of your advice.

Elsa

Get miticide Forbid 4F on ebay. 1/4-1/2 oz is ENOUGH. I think the cheapest i about $12. Spray thoroughly tops and bottoms and centers- 3 times week apart. Mites will be gone. A cost of replacing all these plants is significantly higher.

While you are taking your plants to the bathroom to spray - wipe your shelving with Clorox wipes or alcohol. Never hurts. Cover your face with something and put glasses and gloves. If you have dust mask and protective glasses - fine, otherwise - sunglasses and a light scarf over nose and mouth. This is not a very poisonous pesticide - but it is still something you do not need in your system.

And do not get upset - it is not a major disaster. To get rid of soil mealy bugs is much harder. That's a really persistent pest. Mites are easy to kill - you just need a specialized miticide.

Go for it! Good Luck!

Irina

When I had to deal with mites, I placed the Forbid mix in a disposable bucket then donned a couple of layers of latex gloves, long sleeves, something over my face & proceeded to dunk every violet by holding it upside down in the mix for a couple of seconds. By the end, perlite was floating in the water & the plants were a bit messy but they could be easily cleaned when dry. One dipping and the mites were gone. With dipping you get complete coverage & don't have to worry about spray going everywhere. I adopted this method on the advice of a very successful grower who dunked around 800 violets!

Terri

Terri -

I wouldn't go THAT FAR! I tried it many years ago - it was MESSY. I have an electric rechargable sprayer - so I just drag everything to the garage - and soak them through. For me a problem is always thrips. They always come in summer.

Forbid has a translaminar property - means - it will move through tissues and even if you missed some nook - it will be there. The residual action is up to 4 weeks, so you do NOT need to spray 3 times - one is enough - but you need to soak it for good.

The dose is 1/8-1/4 teaspoon per gallon.

I.

Irina, terri,

Thanks for the advice. Now I'm less upset since these plants can be saved.

Irina,

1. did you mean if spray them until each leave is soaking wet, then the mites will be gone in 1 application?

2. Should I spray the plantlets as well even though they do not show any symptoms?

3. I keep the AVS at the window sill of my bedroom. Am I need to leave them outside of bedroom for couple days before bring them in again?

Terri, do you dip the plant upto the base only? That is the pot doesn't need to be soaked?

Thanks

Elsa

I dipped the plant to the soil line. Some of the mixture will drip into the soil when the plant is flipped upright again but the Forbid doesn't hurt the soil. I treated my plants outside on our shady deck & left them there for a few hours until dry. I did treat all the plants in that area even if they looked clean. Meanwhile, I wiped down the growing area with a bleach mixture. I had to return the plants to these growing shelves because there wasn't another place for them.

Mites are my biggest fear in the violet world. I constantly check the crowns of my plants looking for anything amiss. If I notice something unusual, the plant is pulled & I get out my scope!

Terri

Terri -

mites are devastating - but easy to kill. Soil and root mealy bugs are very persistent, thrips keep coming back. virus... will wipe your collection for good, no treatment.

I brought mites from Raleigh convention.. caught up on time, killed them off.

I do not think it is easy to find anything with x30 lupe. It is hard to keep still.

Elsa -

1. Yes - mites will be gone in one application. Forbid will stay in a tissue for 30 more days and kill what's left.

2. You spray EVERY plant in a house. Even if it is a cactus. Mites travel on hands, clothes, watering cans, dogs...

3. You spray your plants in a bathroom- dripping wet - I still think that dunking is too much hassle. The mites do not live in a soil. Let them drip off and dry before moving back. Probably in several hours. The mitricide is NOT that poisonous - except for fish. So make sure no drops in a fih tank.

I'm sure glad I'm not a fish, then.

Me too ;-))

You guys are funny. Lol

Thanks god, there is so many pro here to help. No more panic :D

Nah... not worth it... we do not recommend to burn the house to eradicate mites.

Can I ask WHY everyone is convinced that this plant has mites? (Trying to learn)

Oh I missed that post. But the greyish leaves were what you noticed first?

Yes. 2 plants showed the symptoms. And then another one in next 2 weeks. Then another one.......

The Mulicolored Asian Beetle (Harmonia Axyyridis), otherwise known as a Ladybug

will happily feed on mites.

I am sorry but I did try to tell you this a couple weeks ago and was promptly told it was not so by others here. I have 45 yrs experience in violet growing, and have a huge collection of them. Over 300 right now. Good luck Elsa.

Barb,

Its ok. Its a learning experience. My av are not exotic plants. It can be replaced. Thank you for all the pro advice here. Meanwhile, only 4 plants are affected. I hope the forbid arrive today.