Rejuvenating African Violets |
|
By Jere Trigg Spanish Fort, Alabama
First published in the African Violet Society of America magazine When new African violet hobbyists ask for advice on what they can do to restore vigor in their violets, I tell them that repotting with fresh potting mix works. It is probably the most neglected yet most effective way to reinvigorate plants. That means typically repotting standards every 9 to 12 months, and minis every 4 to 6 months. Sometimes, the plants set your timeline: Violets in need of repotting display several common symptoms, including reduced frequency and quantity of blooms, slower growth of new leaves at the crown, and a paler appearance of the lower of leaves with possible spotting.
|
|
Replacing the old mix with a fresh light mix corrects this problem and can solve a multitude of issues with unhealthy looking leaves.
Why Repot? Most African violet potting mix contains organic matter from Canadian sphagnum moss or composted tree bark. Over time, the soil bacteria in the pot decompose this material, creating an increasingly acidic environment that eventually prevents the violet from taking in vital nutrients. In addition, the mix becomes more compacted over time, squeezing out air pockets that are essential for violet roots to breathe. Replacing the old mix with a fresh light mix corrects this problem and can solve a multitude of issues with unhealthy looking leaves. Repotting is also an opportune time for removing the lower rows of old and damaged leaves, scraping and covering the neck with mix to promote new root growth, and disbudding blooms to divert the plant's full energy into new foliar growth and recovery. All these actions can trigger new growth and keep the violet in prime condition. While these concepts have become second nature to experienced African violet growers, they might not be as obvious to those new to the hobby. The benefits of repotting become clearly visible with renewed crown growth after a couple of months as the root system expands and is better able to absorb available nutrients. The improvements growers see above the surface are preceded by the development of a healthier and more robust root system below the surface within weeks after repotting. My Repotting Routine Because an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, I try to repot my violets before they begin to display symptoms. I transfer all my standard leaf babies into 3-inch Solo cups (with drainage holes burned in). They might look way overpotted but at that young age, the roots of standards will rapidly penetrate the entire pot over the next several months. I prefer plastic over clay pots because they are less expensive, easier to clean, lighter weight, have multiple drainage holes, and are nonporous and therefore require less frequent watering. I move young standard violets to 4.5-inch pots at about a 7-inch plant diameter and then to a 6.5-inch azalea (squatty) pot at a plant diameter of about 12 inches. Large standards will reach 18 to 20 inches under ideal growing conditions. My experience has been that for young, rapidly growing violets, the danger of root rot from overpotting is far less than the danger of stunting caused by leaving a violet in a pot that is too small for its rapidly expanding root system. During the first 9 months, I don't disturb the root ball during repotting; I just use the old pot as a form to make the exact size hole in the mix placed in the larger pot and put the root ball in it. After 9 months the potting mix is getting old, so I crumble most of it from the roots and replace it with fresh mix when repotting. The benefits of repotting with fresh mix are many and probably widely undervalued. Your violet can experience a renaissance of health and beauty from this simple act. As you can see from the photos of violets immediately after repotting and then 3 months later, the results are well worth the effort! |
|
During the first 9 months, I don't disturb the root ball during repotting; I just use the old pot as a form to make the exact size hole in the mix placed in the larger pot and put the root ball in it. After 9 months the potting mix is getting old, so I crumble most of it from the roots and replace it with fresh mix when repotting.
The potted plants thriving 3 months later
|
My plant stand filled with violets immediately after repotting
The benefits of repotting with fresh mix are many and probably widely undervalued. Your violet can experience a renaissance of health and beauty from this simple act. As you can see from the photos of violets immediately after repotting and then approximately 3 months later, the results are well worth the effort!
|
