I agree! I also have some leaves down that turned a funky yellow-green, but they have very healthy yellow-green mouse ears.....so I'm not sure what's going on, but as they all look happy anyway, I'm just going to wait and see!

Nope. I use plain water on vermiculite until they root (I just pull them out and check for roots every 5 days; doesn't cause an issue). This is rarely past 3 weeks. After that I move them into regular soil (50% MG potting mix, 50% perlite, 1/4 cup worm castings to a gallon), and put them into regular daylight. I start fertilizing when there are babies, once every two weeks or so. I usually don't need to do anything with them.

I dunno what causes the yellow tone, but I'm curious. My guess is too little nutrients or light. Other than the yellowness, yours look fine to me. :o)

I am thinking the same as Aegis - too much light at the very beginning. I am thinking that even if they look butt ugly, it shouldn't prevent them from putting out babies. And they die in the dark - so keeping them under the windowsill is probably counterproductive.

When you put the leaves down - they are not absorbing the nutrients - they utilize the stuff that is stored in the tissue to grow roots. If the soil is not preloaded - at some point - probably when the mouse ears show up - you can give them a weak fertilizer - 1/8 of a teaspoon per gallon because at that point the plantlets are growing fast and they already have roots.

Thank you all for you comments and reassurance -- all so helpful! I have moved the leaves to another location, though no place is perfect in my home. The late afternoon sun in west window probably was too much for them. I don't expect them to green up at this point but now I'm optimistic they are not dying and will still sprout.

Glad to know about the fertilizer as there'll always be more leaves to put down. Though these are my first set of named leaves so I do really want them to make it!

dviolet, I have some of my violets in a west window and they definitely get crankypants about it if I'm not careful. I think the heat that accompanies the light that makes mine upset, even with the blinds pulled.

dviolet I agree with everything said above. I also use MG/perlite mix for the leaves. And I am very lax on additional fertilizer. As long as the leaf looks good assume it has rooted and will produce babies! Who knows why violet leaves do what they do sometimes? Just go with what is happening and hope for the best! Keep us updated,,,,but I think all will turn out well.

Marina, I used to root in plain barely damp vermiculite back in the day. Maybe I should try again. Gave me good and fast results. hmmm,,,thinking. Rosie

I basically just treat the leaves like the adult violets, watering as I feel necessary (no schedule), and almost every one produces babies. I do not provide any additional humidification or anything that I don't provide to the adult violets. Sometimes as quickly as a month I get pups, sometimes as long as two or three. It's not magic, really :)

Generally any that fail, do so within that first month.

We had a program at the Rocky Mountain AV Council last Saturday- and Darryl Hoover was presenting.

https://www.facebook.com/HooversHybrids/

Some helpful tidbits.

He starts his leaves in a mix of 2 parts vermiculite and 1 part perlite. It is a sterile mix - so he doesn't lose leaves to rot. More of it - he uses a vermiculite as a top dressing when he separates his babies - reduces the loss of the vulnerable plantlets.

Generally his opinion - we overfertilize. 1/8 of a teaspoon is as much as he uses.

He uses Foxfarm Ocean Forest soil as an amendment - it is preloaded with organic fertilizers. So - he mixes 3 part of his soil with 1 part of Foxfarm Ocean Forest - and doesn't fertilize his transplants until the goods are used up - probably between 1-2 months.

He uses Foxfarm Grow Big liquid fertilizer to feed his plants when they run out of preloaded fertilizer.

His plants are fantastic, very floriferous.

I have a few leaves to set down and I think I will try the verm/per mix! Does he dampen it slightly? Thanks Irina! Rosie

I never fertilize a leaf until it's obviously taken root (at least 2-3 weeks out). What's the point until it has roots to take up?

When I plant leaves, I use dry media, then just water it down till running out, which has the side effect of settling air pockets out. Then allow to drain for a few hours.

I generally get about 90% success rates with no fuss and no bother.

Mel Grice from Ohio uses dry mix as well - - then he puts his solo cups for good a soak from the bottom - and then drains them for 30 min on newspapers. He has it down to a minute - how long to soak, how long to drain - then he seals his leaves in a plastic container and puts them between 2 light shelf units - so they get the side light. 99% success.

My only comment about DBarron's method - I wouldn't water from the top. Air pockets are your friends, you do no need to eliminate them. AVs do not need to touch the soil everywhere - they will practically start growing roots even in the air if in 100% humidity. Otherwise - excellent technique.

My mix is light enough that it doesn't compact, enough oxygen remains in the soil. (just a note...not an argument)

Whatever works - you know your soil... like I know my soil - it always lives under my nails...

You got that right...ever time I go on a potting frenzy I carry potting soil with me for a day or two.

It is a very good description - potting frenzy!

Recently I had started on a -- wicking frenzy! Kind of like a potting frenzy as I get to carry dirt around with me too. Did so much wicking for a while, I'm feeling a little wicked out.

My soil in every pot seems too wet all the time. Switched out wicks for baby yarn, 2 strands for 4" pots and 1 strand for 2". Going to see how that works out for a while.

Dviolet, a wicking frenzy is merely a deviant subactivity within the potting frenzy family. Welcome brother! :)

Probably should state for the record dbarron, this brother is a sister! LOL! Just the same thanks for welcoming me to the party. :-D

Ah gods, another woman...aren't there any other men gardening ? :) Welcome then sister!

I'm a brother ...

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha holding my sides!!! Rosie

Funny stuff

And Aegis reply sounded to me like that commercial...well maybe I'm a brother too, ever think of that, huh...

I doubt we will go to the motorcycle club and start recruiting new AV club members to increase the amount of brothers.... we need to treasure the ones we have like rare gems they are.

I second the motion. Will all our rare brothers please say aye

--or hi

--or howdy do?

I dunno, I bet there's at least one african violet lover in a motorcycle club somewhere. :)

hmmm speaking of brothers, anybody heard from Leon Ash lately? Rosie

No, I hadn't thought of Leon for several months...but I don't remember any posts lately :(

Not posted since...umm...~June 27. Wild guess.

Hope all is well.

Me also. I just pm'd him. I would talk to him once in a great while. Will let you know if he answers. He is a nice guy! Rosie

Did everyone read Leon's thread? He is ok!!!! YAY! Rosie

Very considerate of you looking in on your friends.

Thank you dviolet1. Rosie