Question: When should I repot a trailing violet into a larger pot? Answer: This depends upon how you wish to display the plant. If you wish to grow the trailer as a “hanging” basket plant, you should use a smaller pot and let the “runners” trail over the pot’s edge. A standard-size (larger leaved) variety might […]
Question: I have a lovely decorative pot, and would like to pot three miniature violets, together, into it. The pot is about 10″ wide and has drainage holes. Can I do this? Answer: Yes and no. So long as the violets are otherwise properly cared for, they can be potted together into the same pot. One thing […]
Question: I started a leaf cutting at the beginning of the year, and exactly 10 weeks after sticking the leaf, the first plantlet appeard. The rosette is now about the size of a quarter. Many weeks later the cutting gave me three more plantlets, which are much smaller. The parent (rooted) leaf isn’t shading the new […]
Question: Is there any way that I can keep the water in my wicking reservoir from turning green with algae? Answer: Since the algae won’t grow in the dark, one solution is to use a dark, light-blocking, reservoir. Another is to add about 1/4 teaspoon of Physan 20 for every gallon of water. Physan 20 is a popular, easy, and relatively […]
Question: I have some violets as well as a few orchids. My problem is aphids, which I think came in on some mini roses from a local nursery. I’d like to get some more violets, but I’d like to get rid of this problem first. Answer: Aphids aren’t usually a common problem in violets, though they have […]
Question: I purchased a violet at a department store along with a “violet pot” and some potting soil. I’m now noticing a “rust-colored” crust in the center of the plant, rotting patches on the leaves, and a white crust on the soil. What am I doing wrong? Answer: In a nutshell, the soil is being kept too […]
Question: My violets have seen to suddenly stopped growing. The centers are tight and the new leaves seem to be deformed. Answer: This question is one that we recently received by phone and that we found particularly interesting. The answer was obvious, but didn’t come to mind until the conversation was nearly ended and the critical information […]
Question: I wick-water my plants and have noticed very tiny, thread-like insects hopping around on the surface of the soil and sometimes in the water. How do I get rid of these? Answer: What you most likely have are “springtails” or “soil mites”, which are long, thin, grayish-white insects perhaps 1/8″ long. They can occasionally “hop”, but […]
Question: My violet hasn’t looked very happy lately. The leaves look dull and a bit limp. There is a white substance around the base of the stem, which makes me suspicious. Could this be a pest problem that’s causing my plant to look this way, and how do I get rid of it? Answer: It sounds like […]
Question: A white crust has appeared on the soil surface of my plants, as well as “brownish crystals” on the leaves in the center. The crown of one plant has rotted. I wick-water and use a soil mix containing one-third perlite. Answer: These are some of the symptoms of a violet that is being kept too wet. […]
