Violet leaves not firm

4 years ago

Hi, i live in singapore in an apartment. I had been trying to keep african violets for the past year but to no success. Initially they will be preety and healthy but after a month or so they start to decline. My last pot lasted about 6 mths but its not growing good and one day my mum put it outside of my widow while i was at work. I came home and realise it standing outside and there was a heavy rain at noon time followed by very hot sun. Needless to say this plant did not survive after that n died.
About 3 weeks ago, i decided to get 1 more to try out and this time i wanted to try n grow it in leca to see if it will grow as all others are grown in soil and does not work out. So thia new plant came with spent blooms but its leaves are shiny and firm. A week later, i transplant it to leca in a self watering pot by washing off as much soil as i can. 2 days after the transplant, the leaves start to become soft. I thought it needed time to recover so i left it alone. A week past and its leaves are still soft and started to curl under. I thought its having root rot and after thinking for very long, decided to take it out of the pot to look at the roots. The roots are still white and nice looking. So i decided to just put it in water to observe the roots in a transparent container. And see if the leaves will firm back. Another week past and there is still no improvement in the leaves. I even purchased a grow ligt for it. Its placed on a table beside my east facing window. What should i do? The stems are still firm and strong but the leaves are not as shiny as it used to be. Its still green but just soft. I can fold the leaves. Any advice will be greatly appreciate. I really like the african violets and really hope i can keep one.

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Comments (3)

AnneCecilia z5 MI
4 years ago
Hi Alecia, I have not heard of very many people using leca (clay balls) for planting African violets, on this or any of the other forums I have frequented. That's not to say that it cannot be done, but I am not sure if anyone here can instruct you on its finer points. And growing AV's only in water is not something that can be sustained long term, I would say. What comprises a nice light soil, an understanding of how much to water, and the lighting requirements for these plants are what you need to know. There are certainly many sources of good information on growing AV's available to you through the internet. Perhaps begin with the AVSA website. They have a page called Violets 101 that has info on AV care that is simple and easy for beginners. Here is the link: Violets 101 - African Violet Society of America

Most of us have killed one or two of our early attempts at growing African violets, but we keep trying and we keep learning until we understand better what these lovely plants need to thrive. I wish you much good luck!

Anne
Alicia Cheong thanked AnneCecilia z5 MI
Rosie1949
4 years ago
Hi Alicia! Don't give up,,,,,,keep trying. I have killed more plants than I can count. And I try again because I always learn why it happened!!!! You will get the hang of it sooner or later! Rosie in SE Michigan
Alicia Cheong thanked Rosie1949
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Alicia Cheong
Original Author
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Thanks for the encouragement. I certainly will keep trying. Problem is it has been difficult to get african violet over here so thats why i hope this plant will work out. It is still alive and i planted it back in leca yesterday and put the grow light closer. Hopfully it will help. I also removed a leave and hopefully to be able to propagate it in water. Previously i had plantlets removed from the main plant and they all rooted but for some reason after a few roots came in they started to die off......then there was a leave that i managed to get it to root and seems like there is going to be a small leave growing up but i went on a 1 week holiday and came back to find it dead too.... anyways i will keep trying. Yesterday i also found a youtube channel with Interesting information for successful water culture for african violets. Hopefully i can be successful by following the info given.