Katy -

a friend of mine keeps the temperature like this in winter. She takes them off the reservoirs and bottom waters them sparingly all winter - and then puts them back on wick watering in spring. Abundant water and cold - will be a cause of rot. So postpone your wicking till spring - or just pull AVs off reservoirs and put them on saucers.

One tough couple...62F in the house? Brrrr!

I don't know. The reason I wicked in the first place was I no sooner got done watering then I had to start again (winter time primarily). If you wick, make sure your mix (1/2 soil & 1/2 perlite) is free draining and you don't have to keep wicks full at all times. In the winter I let them go dry for a few days then I refill reservoirs. Not bone dry. Just enough to where they don't stay wet. If you don't keep them constantly wet, you should not have a problem. Even with cooler temps. Just the way it works for me. And yes we keep our house cool! Rosie

You guys have warm hearts... and polar underwear!

My buddy lives at 8500 ft elevation and her plant room is not insulated well enough. The temperature drops probably much lower at the cold nights. The house was built by somebody as a second home in the mountains, not a primary home - so not enough insulation, not enough closets and so on and so forth = but you get out of the house - incredible peace, open view, clean air, chipmunks chirping... it heals the soul...

Thanks for the advice. I have transplanted most of my babies using the 50/50 ratio of AV soil and perlite. I wicked 5 of them along with one set of already rooted mother leaves. Here is a picture of one of my plant stands. It is in an east window.

Hi Katy. I posted the post prior to yours. Maybe we should start a competition as to who can have the most solo cups full of babies in their collection. It would legitimize our addiction or at least give us an excuse for having so many! Your collection looks beautiful. It will be fun for us to watch it grow!

Ahhhh Irina,,,,food for the soul. Yep. That is how I feel about my 5 acres. No one around, no traffic, peace and quiet. Sometimes I come home from where ever, pull up in the driveway, roll down the windows and just listen to the silence before I go into the house. And the birds settling down for the night. And the crickets, bullfrogs, and tree frogs talking to each other saying goodnight. Ahhhh,,,,,,,,.

Katy, looks like you are doing a great job! And that is a great 1/2 and 1/2 mix for a lot of things. I start my leaves in it also.

Ken, I don't know if I want to have a contest,,,,,but I do love to look at everyones pix! It is always fascinating to see what people recycle and use! Myself, I use a Kcup per leaf with the 1/2 and 1/2 mix. Then I put it in a baggie. I don't water it. Zip it almost all the way up and gently blow air into it and then zip real quick! AND I get babies! I check them once a week to make sure everyone is ok. Sometimes I unzip and take the little Kcup out and inspect, don't know why I do that, but it keeps me connected to them!

Anyway,,,,,we all have our methods, some work some don't, but we all persevere! And we have fun! That is the point. The minute it isn't fun I will move on and find another hobby!!!!! (Lord knows I have enough things I like to do!!!!) Rosie

I have had lots of hobbies over the years too Rosie. Gardening has always been a constant. I recall having av's when I was 10 so getting back into them now brings back fond memories. Back then vintage violets weren't vintage and we grew them in strange looking plastic Art Deco pots. Anyway, I'm whittling down a lot of the other hobbies and this one has progressed so much over the last 40-50 years. It's like starting all over!

Yes, gardening and sewing have been my constants. As far as whittling down other hobbies,,,,,um,,,,well,,,,,,geeze do I HAVE to???? lol Rosie

I'm trying to become a minimalist. Hard to with violets though.

Come up with the number - and get the rarest, the most beautiful plants of your choice - it can be vintage - or trailers - or certain hybridizers - and grow them the way they will knock the socks off anybody who comes to your house. If you only can have one stand - what will they be?

And do not shop on a sales rack at the HomeDepot. Please do not.

If you go to a nice restaurant - will you order filet mignon - or 3 days old liver and onions because nobody wants to eat it - and you feel sorry for poor liver going to waste?

Good advice Irina. All my babies will keep me busy through the winter and away from the big box stores. I do have one little noid from the past that I've had for a while that is coming into bloom. Will share that for help with identification. I think I already know what it is but without the name u never know for sure. So I will keep my three noids for sentimental reasons until they get squeezed out eventually.

Oh, and I like liver and onions. But I would probably order the filet.

omg,,,please no. It's a wonder no one has named a violet Liver & Onions! yuk! That one will NEVER go on my list. Well, I would have to see it first! Rosie

I think we have gone off topic. Nice trying to tie it in with avs though.

Yeah this happens every now and then. But Ken you do realize that there is no "minimalist" in african violets? They are kinda like potato chips,,,you know that commercial "bet you can't eat just one!" Omg,,,,another food reference. I am sooooo outta here!

Oops! Almost forgot...Speaking of wicking if I don't tend my violet reservoirs today I may be begging starts again!!! lol Rosie

Nothing wrong with liver & onions. I'm a dedicated carnivore, so I'll eat them, and also steaks, meatloaf, beef stew, etc etc etc.

Right with ya Leon! Except for liver/onions and meatloaf !!!!! And NO,,,meatloaf is not just a hamburger in a different format! Rosie

I draw the line on stale liver. Only fresh.

And NO we are not going to name a new AV "Chopped Liver'.

Whew! That's a relief! But I draw a line on liver no matter what. Yuk! Rosie

Even Liver Pate? Yum!

Nope! The only liver I like is chicken liver/gizzards in my homemade chicken soup! That is it for liver of any kind! Can you imagine a violet named Gizzards? hahahahahaha Rosie

I bet it would be delicious.

hmmm, what,,,,,,a violet named Gizzards? or my chicken soup???? lol Rosie

Irina- I made liver pate the other day! It was amazing! Ken

No comment. Rosie