Respected Master Gardener: Although it keeps growing taller and leaning to one side, my African violet is blossoming. Dare I repot it?
Reply: Yes! Because they require less maintenance and light than many other plants, African violets (Saintpaulia ionantha) have long been a favored indoor plant. Violets are available in a wide variety of hues, as well as various leaf and foliage colors and sizes, from tiny to enormous. They will need to be repotted, nevertheless, if they have a bright place, are well-fed, and receive careful watering. African violets should not simply be moved into a larger container because they prefer to be root-bound and frequently won’t flower until they are. It’s time to perform some surgery if your plant is beginning to resemble a fuzzy version of a palm tree with a barren stalk and all the leaves at the top. Any baby plants you find should be carefully clipped off and rooted in little pots. It takes a few weeks, but it’s always good to have extras to enjoy or trade. Save a few healthy bottom leaves to root in water or moist vermiculite. Cut the stem of the main plant just below the first set of desired leaves. With a gentle scrape of your knife, you can initiate the root-producing process on the stem. A sprinkle of rooting hormone would also be beneficial. After that, plant the entire thing in brand-new African violet potting soil and give it a good watering, making sure to allow any extra water drain. Keep the soil damp but not drenched. It is advised to use plastic or ceramic pots with good drainage. Salts build up along the top rim of clay pots because they dry out too soon. When your plant starts producing new leaves once more, start fertilizing with a very small amount of fertilizer every time you water. Remove faded flowers, keep water off the leaves, and occasionally brush them with a soft brush to remove dust. In order to prevent root rot, water carefully from the top or the bottom, making sure there is no stagnant water. Every time you water, turn the pot a little to prevent the plant from leaning toward the light.
Answer: Only seasoned gardeners are aware of this code! Zone 3 is actually a guide to assist gardeners in determining what should endure our winter temperatures. Known as the USDA Hardiness Zone Map in full (
), using the typical winter low, zones are displayed in 5-degree increments, corresponding to 3a and 3b. The average of the lowest temperature, not the low temps on average. Since Brainerd reached 33 below zero this week, let’s hope that’s the lowest we go this winter before averaging that number with previous winters. That serves as our data point for the winter of 2021–2022, even if the remainder of the season is kind to us. The good news is that we have a lot more protection against exposed plants freezing thanks to our deep covering of snow. Just keep in mind that the hardiness zone numbers are only guidelines and not strict laws. As we demonstrated last week, we are probably only safe buying Zone 3b plants because Minnesota no longer shows any Zone 2 (40 to 50 degrees below zero), southern parts of the state have become Zone 5a (15 to 20 degrees below zero), and Brainerd is almost considered Zone 4a (25 to 30 degrees below zero) (30 to 35 degrees below zero). Remember that your yard can include covered places where the temperatures aren’t quite as low, or you might be a gambler and want to take a chance on planting that Zone 4 or 5 plant. With a little extra care, my Zone 5 roses have endured for many years. Until the ground freezes, keep the roots moist. You can also add more mulch. Pay close attention while purchasing perennials from seed catalogs. The country as a whole refers to perennials, but we frequently have to plant them up here as annuals.
Respected Master Gardener: Some companies including the hospital use a lot of salt to thaw their pavements. We should reduce our use because the lake and river discharge is poor.
Excellent inquiry, answered. Because there is currently no simple way to remove it, the high amounts of chloride in our rivers are essentially permanent. Five litres of water are permanently contaminated by one teaspoon of salt. The majority of us have observed what occurs in our yards when the snow plow grinds up salt on the margins along the road or when the grass doesn’t grow well next to our sidewalks in the spring. Fish and other aquatic species are badly impacted. On slippery walkways, use sand, clay kitty litter, or chicken grit to add some traction. Use just enough salta coffee mug for ten patches of the sidewalk! Keep salt from running into the gutter or the grass by sweeping it up off of dry pavement. When sidewalks are shoveled, the wind and sun will usually keep them clear without the need for salt.
Respected Master Gardener: Can I try any odd flowering houseplants than the normal ones?
Answer: The following are three unusual flowering houseplants, albeit availability may be a problem. One of the most exotic and simple to grow potted plants is the bird of paradise, a relative of the banana. In addition to its beautiful fans of blue-green leaves, which are attractive year-round, mature plants also send up stalks topped with interesting bird-like flowers in the warm seasons. These flowers have the colors peacock blue and golden orange. A lily family member called clivia is more unique than an amaryllis and easier to grow than an orchid. It has thick clusters of orange flowers that emerge against a backdrop of leathery, black, evergreen foliage. There are several yellow cultivars, but they are rather pricey and hard to find. Another choice is a zebra plant. When not in bloom, it is not only a lovely houseplant thanks to its dark leaves with eye-catching, light-colored veins, but it also produces spikes of long-lasting waxy bright yellow flowers. Due to their need for high humidity and consistent watering, zebra plants do have a reputation for being fairly challenging to grow.
When should you repotted an African violet?
Because of their lengthy lives, repotting these flowers is crucial. Ryan McEnaney, public relations and communications specialist for Bailey Nurseries, advises consumers to keep in mind that African violets can live for up to 50 years. To avoid becoming overly root-bound, plants can be repotted into larger pots as they mature. It’s probably time to relocate your African violet when it has doubled or quadrupled the size of your container and the leaves are beginning to wilt, according to McEnaney.
However, you don’t have to repot your plants right away. If your African violet appears to have outgrown its container, don’t rush to relocate it, advises Brian Parker, senior merchant for Live Goods at Home Depot. “African violets are best when their roots are in a little bound condition,” he adds. “They will produce and perform for years and years with just a simple routine of the right light and food,” the speaker said.
Do African violets require root binding in order to bloom?
For optimal blooming, African violets prefer to be root-bound. Repotting indoor plants on a regular basis is a good idea because the soil needs to be changed out occasionally. After thoroughly cleaning the plant, you can frequently repot it into the same container with new potting soil.
Do African violets require deep containers?
age of development The violet is growing in a pot that has a diameter that is one-third that of
violets. Rarely does an adult African Violet require a pot bigger than 4 or maybe even
The neck or primary stem of the plant is revealed after the older outer leaves wither and fall off.
This indicates that the plant needs to be repotted. Crash off almost all of the
callous. To allow the stem to eventually develop new roots, you must remove the callous.
plant in a plastic bag big enough to hold it, then zip the bag shut.
If you just allow one rosette of leaves to develop on one root system, it will grow more densely.
Keep the roots of plants with a root system attached. According to
Are larger pots preferred by African violets?
The best soil for growing African violets is well-drained and somewhat acidic. Specially formulated Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix offers indoor plants like African violets the ideal growing conditions. African violet pots, which are tiny (4 to 5 inch) ceramic or plastic self-watering containers, are the finest option for growing African violets. These pots will give plants the right quantity of constant hydration they need to grow.
Are African violets watered from the bottom?
Use only water that is room temperature because African violets are sensitive to temperature. Avoid soaking the plant’s fuzzy leaves or stem since water might get trapped there and lead to rot or fungus.
Watering an African violet plant is most effective when done from the bottom up. For 30 minutes, submerge your plant in a small tray of water and let the soil absorb the moisture through the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. To prevent the roots from being soaked in water, let the pot drain in your kitchen sink or bathtub once the allotted time has passed. This will prevent root rot.
When 25% of the soil volume has dried out, Pangborn advises watering to maintain the soil continuously moist.