I was complaining today about one of mine not doing well. I took a picture and the copper color was clear as day! Because I had just watched this, I knew to give her a good flush. Thank You
Thank you for the video. I would add for those who are just starting to grow violets. If you are using store bought soil, get the soil designed just for African violets, don't buy potting soil - it is too heavy for the violets. Another tip - if you wick water and are trying to fertilize - delute your fertilizer 1:10 ratio and not 1:2. Otherwise you will burn your plants and damage the roots. Good luck ❤
Thanks for sharing! Dilution ratio varies based on the fertilizer N-P-K concentration - higher concentrated ones need to be diluted more, and vice versa, for example to accomplish 1-1-1 N-P-K ratio, the 20-20-20 NPK needs to be diluted 1:20, etc.
Thank you. Your collection has beautiful specimens. Your visual examples and explanations of over fertilization were the best resources, so scientific and clearly presented. I could really see the points you made.
This is such great information! I'm working to figure out and correct fertilization and pH mistakes I've made since last fall when I started growing African violets. It's definitely getting better since I switched to making my own mix and started testing the pH of the mix and water. You are my inspiration and I always look forward to your videos! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences and knowledge. Have a great week!
I found this information as well as the previous one very informative and I needed it. A couple of weeks ago I groomed my 5 violets and took off suckers. I am amazed to see that one of my babies already has a bloom stalk on it. Just one, with 3 buds so far, but I am ecstatic! You continue to be very helpful to me in starting my journey with African Violets and Ii am grateful! :)
Oh my goodness! Thank you so much! This is what I have done and didn't even realize it. Both my peat moss and perlite had added fertilizer and I didn't stop to read it. I never imagined they would add fertilizer to these two items.
So incredibly helpful as always. Another favorite video and proof of what an amazing teach you are! Thank you, my friend. Hope you and family are staying warm and happy in OR. Love from CA
This was an interesting and informative video, thanks for sharing. I never knew over fertilising is a thing! I hope your lovely AV which was over fertilised gets beautiful again after you separated the sulking. Thanks for sharing and happy growing.
Thanks so very much! Very informative. I've been wicking for about 6 months now. When and how do I flush out fertilizer build-up in a wicked plant? 🤔 Before wicking I flushed my soil with clear tepid RO water once a month. Thank you.
@@sharonholmes4444 Yes, every 3 months for wick-watered plants, the same way as top watered plants. I am curious to test the Dyna-Gro Flush product for flushing, it claims to act as a metabolite to clear out excess mineral compounds stored within the plant's root zone. Will make sure to post a video about it if I get to use it!
@@grayturtleviolets Ok, thank you. I really love the wick watering. So easy. I was ready to give up until I started wicking. I have lots of orchids including Vanda's and caring for violets as well became a chore.
Thanks for your informative and interesting videos. They are straightforward and easy to follow. In addition to Peters Classic 20-20-20 fertilizer, they have African Violet fertilizer with a 12-36-14 NPK, if you're interested.
Thank you, I appreciate it. The amount of Phosphorus in that one, at 36%, is what concerns me, I spoke about it in Fertlizers-Part I. Most of my plants being wick-watered, I am not sure they can process so much Phosphorus on continuous feed. Did you try it for wick watering?
@@grayturtleviolets I have used Peters 12-36-14 for African Violets that have been in potting mix, but not in a wicking situation. Even in potting soil, I use half the recommended amount of fertilizer. I believe you are smart to be careful in how much you are using in wick watering. Thanks again very much.
I use the MSU orchid fertilizer for both my orchids and African Violets. They bloom beautifully. I get “full hat” flowers on my AV plants and my orchids bloom at least twice a year.
@@grayturtleviolets those industrial type of AV doesn’t do well after the first bloom!! I have the same problem, doesn’t want to grow and bloom later !!
Love the detail you provide. I was wondering if it makes a difference in the type of water. I have been using distilled water. What do you recommend and why; tap water, drinking bottled, distilled, filtered pitcher or osmosis?
Thank you! Yes, water is definitely important. So far I had good experience using drinking bottled and rain water, and mixed results using tap water. Got to be careful using rain water though, if living in urban areas, with greater air pollution levels than in rural areas, I wouldn't use rain water if I lived in the city. Also, because Ca and Mg levels are very low in rain water, important to add CalMag supplement when using rain water. Will try making a video about water later this year, stay tuned!
@@grayturtleviolets Love it - Definitely will be watching for that one! Just recently started reading up on the difference between my waters alkalinity and pH. My municipal supply alkalinity (ie buffering capacity) runs in the 20s, while the pH is about 7.0. That lead me into reading about low ion measurement issues. Now reading about targeting the type of nitrogen (Nitrate Nitrogen vs Ammoniacal Nitrogen) suited to ones alkalinity. Where will the rabbit hole end???? 🤣
Hi there. My question is unrelated to your video, it appears. I have some inherited plants that need to be repotted and on a few I see what appears to be a white powdery substance at the base of the lower leaves. It is not powdery mildew, of which I am familiar. I thought maybe it was a fertilizer issue but after watching your video, that does not appear to be the problem. The plants look otherwise healthy. I scrape the white substance off, then wash off the stalk and roots and repot. Have you ever encountered this before?
There are two potential causes I can think of: (1) in cold growing season, when difference between nighttime and daytime growing temps is significant, some of my plants release sap around the leaf edges, and on the surface of the main stem, drying up into what looks like thin white film or white droplets. In this case, I wash the dried up white sap off with warm water. (2) the white powdery substance at the base of the main stem, and on the leaves, can be also sign of mealybug infestation. If caught early on, it can be treated using the method shown in this video: ruclips.net/video/FR3srOXimVY/видео.html. I would also drench the soil with Bayer/BioAdvanced systemic insecticide solution before repotting. If it is at the advanced stage, I would take the healthiest leaves, wash them in soapy water, rinse, dry, then spray with insecticidal soap, and once dry pot them up for propagation with Bonide systemic/or Marathon 1% in potting soil. I would toss the main plants, and the pots they grow in, to prevent further spreading to other plants. Growing surfaces and repotting tools need to be treated with 1/10 bleach solution. When working with insecticide, it is encouraged to wear gloves for protection. Good luck!
@@grayturtleviolets Thank you so much for that information. It surely is a puzzle for me. I tend to think it's not an infestation as the only plants that are affected are ones that have been in the pots too long without being repotted. Also, I did not note previously that they are all small plants -- starters that were about a year old. And the roots do not appear to be affected; they seem healthy. The white powder is just on the stalk of the plant where the leaf attaches. No other plants are affected, just those few that have been waiting too long to be repotted, hence my thinking it might be a fertilizer buildup issue or maybe a pH issue. My brother passed away recently and he gave me all his violets. I'm sure there are in excess of 500. He had been teaching me about the care of African violets for the last year and a half and introduced me to your channel. Very thankful for you. You are so lovely to share your knowledge with us all.
Thank you for letting me know about the info cards not working! I've seen it too, it depends on the device graphic cards and device types from which the videos are being viewed. I added the video links in the Description box. Yes, still using the Promix recipe, minus the Diatomaceous Earth, I skip it now. When I run out of Promix, I substitute with sphagnum peat moss and add more perlite. Appreciate your feedback!
@@_Pelagikos14 Yes, adding lime definitely helps, especially when I use sphagnum peat moss. I got a pH meter, need to figure out how to work it, will test the pH with and without lime, and make a video about it, if it works!
I was complaining today about one of mine not doing well. I took a picture and the copper color was clear as day! Because I had just watched this, I knew to give her a good flush. Thank You
@@AngelaGStark Glad it’s been helpful! Appreciate your feedback!
Thank you so much for sharing of your experience. I never thought it’s so important to grow AV. Now I’m sure I over fertilized my babies.
Glad it’s been helpful. Appreciate your feedback!
Thank you for the video.
I would add for those who are just starting to grow violets. If you are using store bought soil, get the soil designed just for African violets, don't buy potting soil - it is too heavy for the violets.
Another tip - if you wick water and are trying to fertilize - delute your fertilizer 1:10 ratio and not 1:2. Otherwise you will burn your plants and damage the roots.
Good luck ❤
Thanks for sharing! Dilution ratio varies based on the fertilizer N-P-K concentration - higher concentrated ones need to be diluted more, and vice versa, for example to accomplish 1-1-1 N-P-K ratio, the 20-20-20 NPK needs to be diluted 1:20, etc.
I think she does an excellent explaining the science behind growing these plants
Thank you!
Thank you. Your collection has beautiful specimens. Your visual examples and explanations of over fertilization were the best resources, so scientific and clearly presented. I could really see the points you made.
Glad it’s been helpful! Appreciate your feedback!
Thanks!
Appreciate your support!
This is such great information! I'm working to figure out and correct fertilization and pH mistakes I've made since last fall when I started growing African violets. It's definitely getting better since I switched to making my own mix and started testing the pH of the mix and water. You are my inspiration and I always look forward to your videos! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences and knowledge. Have a great week!
Thank you for your kind words! Always so much to learn about them! Happy growing!
I found this information as well as the previous one very informative and I needed it. A couple of weeks ago I groomed my 5 violets and took off suckers. I am amazed to see that one of my babies already has a bloom stalk on it. Just one, with 3 buds so far, but I am ecstatic! You continue to be very helpful to me in starting my journey with African Violets and Ii am grateful! :)
Thank you for sharing, glad it’s been helpful! Happy growing!
Oh my goodness! Thank you so much! This is what I have done and didn't even realize it. Both my peat moss and perlite had added fertilizer and I didn't stop to read it. I never imagined they would add fertilizer to these two items.
Glad it was helpful! Appreciate your feedback!
So incredibly helpful as always. Another favorite video and proof of what an amazing teach you are! Thank you, my friend. Hope you and family are staying warm and happy in OR. Love from CA
Thank you, much appreciated! Warm greetings from snowy OR!
Thank You for this. Very helpful!
Thank you for so much valuable information. Excellent.
Appreciate your feedback!🌸
I always enjoy your videos. You always do your best to respond and give quality videos.
Thank you! Appreciate your support!
Excellent information. Looking forward to watching more of your videos!!
Thank you, glad it was helpful! More videos coming soon!
This was an interesting and informative video, thanks for sharing. I never knew over fertilising is a thing! I hope your lovely AV which was over fertilised gets beautiful again after you separated the sulking. Thanks for sharing and happy growing.
Thank you! Appreciate your feedback!
Thanks so very much! Very informative. I've been wicking for about 6 months now. When and how do I flush out fertilizer build-up in a wicked plant? 🤔 Before wicking I flushed my soil with clear tepid RO water once a month. Thank you.
I believe she mentioned every 3 months.
@@_Pelagikos14 Thank you. Guess I missed that part. Lots of info here.
@@sharonholmes4444 Yes, every 3 months for wick-watered plants, the same way as top watered plants. I am curious to test the Dyna-Gro Flush product for flushing, it claims to act as a metabolite to clear out excess mineral compounds stored within the plant's root zone. Will make sure to post a video about it if I get to use it!
@@grayturtleviolets Ok, thank you. I really love the wick watering. So easy. I was ready to give up until I started wicking. I have lots of orchids including Vanda's and caring for violets as well became a chore.
Thanks for your informative and interesting videos. They are straightforward and easy to follow. In addition to Peters Classic 20-20-20 fertilizer, they have African Violet fertilizer with a 12-36-14 NPK, if you're interested.
Thank you, I appreciate it. The amount of Phosphorus in that one, at 36%, is what concerns me, I spoke about it in Fertlizers-Part I. Most of my plants being wick-watered, I am not sure they can process so much Phosphorus on continuous feed. Did you try it for wick watering?
@@grayturtleviolets I have used Peters 12-36-14 for African Violets that have been in potting mix, but not in a wicking situation. Even in potting soil, I use half the recommended amount of fertilizer. I believe you are smart to be careful in how much you are using in wick watering. Thanks again very much.
Great information! Thank you 🙏
Thank you for watching, appreciate your feedback!
Very informative , thank you.
Thank you for watching, appreciate your feedback!
I use the MSU orchid fertilizer for both my orchids and African Violets. They bloom beautifully. I get “full hat” flowers on my AV plants and my orchids bloom at least twice a year.
Same dose?
@@SS11660 Exact same.
@@ellietobe thanks
Thanks very informative!!
Thank you for watching, appreciate your feedback!
@@grayturtleviolets those industrial type of AV doesn’t do well after the first bloom!! I have the same problem, doesn’t want to grow and bloom later !!
Love the detail you provide. I was wondering if it makes a difference in the type of water. I have been using distilled water. What do you recommend and why; tap water, drinking bottled, distilled, filtered pitcher or osmosis?
Thank you! Yes, water is definitely important. So far I had good experience using drinking bottled and rain water, and mixed results using tap water. Got to be careful using rain water though, if living in urban areas, with greater air pollution levels than in rural areas, I wouldn't use rain water if I lived in the city. Also, because Ca and Mg levels are very low in rain water, important to add CalMag supplement when using rain water. Will try making a video about water later this year, stay tuned!
@@grayturtleviolets Looking forward to your water video! Thank you.
@@grayturtleviolets Love it - Definitely will be watching for that one! Just recently started reading up on the difference between my waters alkalinity and pH. My municipal supply alkalinity (ie buffering capacity) runs in the 20s, while the pH is about 7.0. That lead me into reading about low ion measurement issues. Now reading about targeting the type of nitrogen (Nitrate Nitrogen vs Ammoniacal Nitrogen) suited to ones alkalinity. Where will the rabbit hole end???? 🤣
@@sandrablair78 for whatever it's worth. I have had luck with using tap water that I run through my Brita filter bottle first.
Your Violets are my dream🤤🥰
Appreciate your feedback!
I watched this just in time. I was about to fertilize a new violet that had small flowers opening up. I guess I'll flush it next time I water instead.
Hope it’s helpful! Happy growing!
Is miracle grow for african violet ok to use? It had so much big wood chunks. I had to take many of them out.
It worked ok for top-watering. It has slow-release fertilizer built in, so no need to fertilize with that one.
Hi there. My question is unrelated to your video, it appears. I have some inherited plants that need to be repotted and on a few I see what appears to be a white powdery substance at the base of the lower leaves. It is not powdery mildew, of which I am familiar. I thought maybe it was a fertilizer issue but after watching your video, that does not appear to be the problem. The plants look otherwise healthy. I scrape the white substance off, then wash off the stalk and roots and repot. Have you ever encountered this before?
There are two potential causes I can think of: (1) in cold growing season, when difference between nighttime and daytime growing temps is significant, some of my plants release sap around the leaf edges, and on the surface of the main stem, drying up into what looks like thin white film or white droplets. In this case, I wash the dried up white sap off with warm water. (2) the white powdery substance at the base of the main stem, and on the leaves, can be also sign of mealybug infestation. If caught early on, it can be treated using the method shown in this video: ruclips.net/video/FR3srOXimVY/видео.html. I would also drench the soil with Bayer/BioAdvanced systemic insecticide solution before repotting. If it is at the advanced stage, I would take the healthiest leaves, wash them in soapy water, rinse, dry, then spray with insecticidal soap, and once dry pot them up for propagation with Bonide systemic/or Marathon 1% in potting soil. I would toss the main plants, and the pots they grow in, to prevent further spreading to other plants. Growing surfaces and repotting tools need to be treated with 1/10 bleach solution. When working with insecticide, it is encouraged to wear gloves for protection. Good luck!
@@grayturtleviolets Thank you so much for that information. It surely is a puzzle for me. I tend to think it's not an infestation as the only plants that are affected are ones that have been in the pots too long without being repotted. Also, I did not note previously that they are all small plants -- starters that were about a year old. And the roots do not appear to be affected; they seem healthy. The white powder is just on the stalk of the plant where the leaf attaches. No other plants are affected, just those few that have been waiting too long to be repotted, hence my thinking it might be a fertilizer buildup issue or maybe a pH issue. My brother passed away recently and he gave me all his violets. I'm sure there are in excess of 500. He had been teaching me about the care of African violets for the last year and a half and introduced me to your channel. Very thankful for you. You are so lovely to share your knowledge with us all.
Hi! Are you still using your Promix recipe from 3 yrs ago? You mentioned your mix in this video but I didn't see the link. 🙂
Thank you for letting me know about the info cards not working! I've seen it too, it depends on the device graphic cards and device types from which the videos are being viewed. I added the video links in the Description box. Yes, still using the Promix recipe, minus the Diatomaceous Earth, I skip it now. When I run out of Promix, I substitute with sphagnum peat moss and add more perlite. Appreciate your feedback!
@@grayturtleviolets Thank you for your quick reply! Also, are you still finding it necessary to add lime for pH?
@@_Pelagikos14 Yes, adding lime definitely helps, especially when I use sphagnum peat moss. I got a pH meter, need to figure out how to work it, will test the pH with and without lime, and make a video about it, if it works!
@@grayturtleviolets Looking forward to seeing your results! Thank you for all of your helpful information. Your videos are invaluable! 😊👏
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