African Violet Water Culture - A Viable, Valuable Growing Method!

[@leonawill8700]

You've been so helpful. The top of the African violet food bottle fell off while I was feeding the plant. I ran water over the soil hoping to flush out the fertilizer. Now the plant is in wet, overly enriched soil and the leaves are wilting and turning black. I will try cleaning up the plant and put it in water. I'm so upset because it was a happy plant until the accident.

[@paultheplantparent2702]

@@leonawill8700 ugh so sorry to hear. Accidents happen. I’m always taking “leaf insurance” - leaves to propagate, in case of an accident. Hoping for the best!!! Let me know how things progress. 🙏🏼🪴

[@francesjones9644]

Another amazing video Paul. I struggle with begonias… and African violets. I am now going to grow both of these in water. Thank you 😀

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Thank you 😋

[@isd5992]

Have you been able to propagate single leaf petioles in water? If so, can u explain the procedure? Also, love the little tulip vases where do you find them?

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Yup. I used to propagate all my violets in water. Just keep the vessel full of water and in bright light (I used LED). In a few weeks you’ll have roots and little plantlets forming at the cut end. Let me know if you set some up and we can work together on it. 😃😃😃

[@isd5992]

Will do!

[@sharionhunter5810]

I really like your vedios. Please keep them coming.

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Thank you so much. Really appreciate you tuning in. 😃😃😃

[@ratsika3]

Thank you for this

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Thank YOU for watching. 😃😃😃😃😃🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

[@lorelei8301]

Hello Paul! I looooove your channel and share your "giddiness" of violets :). I just put a few in leca last night and put them in a baggie because I had a bit of a wilting issue last time. Today it's damp in there and the leaves are touching the damp sides because they are so big, even though I used a very large bag. . Is that ok? Will the light make the damp leaves burn? Also, do I even need to close the bag or can I just drape it over them? Thank you :)

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Just replied on the other videos comment. Sometimes I also cut some small holes in the bag so there’s some air exchange but not too much moisture loss.

[@juanitalasorte1873]

What fertilizers and how much do you use

[@paultheplantparent2702]

@@juanitalasorte1873 Latelybi w been using an orchid fertilizer - it’s great for my plants in water. There’s a link in the description where you can find it on Amazon. I dilute it at least by half. I’m just cautious. 😃👍🏼

[@BrunoSavoie]

Is this the final growing containers? Do you have any images with plants that have been cultivated for a long time? I have had my first violet in hydroculture kracty method for a few months. A similar approach but some specific differences

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Hello there. Most of my violets were given away. Ppl wanted an easy method, but some of my echeveria succulents have been in the same setup for a long time. I find it so much easier to keep my plants in WC, just need to keep the water clean and fed. I’m going to get more violets. They’re so cool and love growing this way. Are you planning on keeping yours in kratky?

[@isd5992]

Do you use full spectrum LED grow lights? Would you consider making a video about your grow light set-up?

[@paultheplantparent2702]

I have a couple of different lights. Believe it or not, the pink LED “grow lights” are sometimes too harsh for some of my plants. I’ve been reading also that plants benefit from all colored light, so the winner for me is LED “Daylight” bulbs you can get at any big box or hardware store. All my plants do well with those, even better than specified grow lights. (Plus they are cheaper - BONUS!!! lol)

[@isd5992]

Wow, you're the 1st person I know to recommend simple Daylight LED bulbs. That makes a lot of sense to me. I had always suspected that the cheaper led bulbs were just as good, but lots of so called experts say the exact opposite. Thanks for the money saving tip!

[@paultheplantparent2702]

@@isd5992 no problem!!! It’s what I e experienced!!! This is going on many years now. I’ve always used the daylight, but only recently got the pink “grow lights”. I prefer daylight bulbs. 😃👍🏼

[@charocflores]

Hi, love your violets. Before you fertilize the water , is it just water from tab nothing added? and after it gets the water roots can I put it back in soil?

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Hello. I use my tap water here but you can use distilled or spring water if your tap isn’t very good. You can plant your rooted cuttings in soil if you like. They may need time to adjust if you do but it’s definitely possible. 👍🌱

[@maryjorogers2652]

Paul, I have an African violet that was beautiful but she started wilting on me. I think she may have had root rot so I trimmed the stem but I left a lot of roots that looked good. And I put them all back in soil and domed her. It’s been about 3 months and she’s not looking well. I wish I could send you a picture. I’m thinking of putting her in water, how do I know if the roots are still good? What else do I need to know about transporting her? Thank you

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Hello. Violets can recover if you cut all roots off and the bottom of the stem, cutting back to green tissue on the stem. If it’s root rot you’d definitely want to remove any infected tissue or the plant will decline in water culture.

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Send a picture: [e-mail]

[@pattystime811]

Thank you, answered lots of questions. Interested to know what you do when you "flush" the plants and how often.

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Sure no problem. In the beginning I flush them out at least once a week, just to make sure they’re clean until they get going. After that I just flush every 2-4 weeks, depending if there’s algae or mineral buildup. I just pour out the old water, rinse the roots off, rinse out the container, then refill with fresh water and add nutrients if I’m using them for that plant. 😃🌱

[@vivideos7275]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6GXqHx4nsygoZI

[@tmsvlog8563]

Nice vodeo, Thanks for sharing.

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Thanks so much for watching. 😃👍🏼

[@pinkyssj4]

Can I do this with the mini african violets in water culture or only certain ones?

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Hello. The minis work in water too. But because of their size I’ve had better luck with them in acrylic yarn. 👍🏼🌱

[@seizedcarcass8440]

How long does it take to root a cutting in water? A few weeks?

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Depends on the type of plant. Some Pothos can be 1 - 2 weeks. Coleus can start rooting in 4 days. Really depends on the plant. 👍🏼🌱

[@paultheplantparent2702]

African violets can take a few weeks to root up and start growing a plantlet.

[@seizedcarcass8440]

@@paultheplantparent2702 awesome. I’m wanting to try this soon with my violet.

[@paultheplantparent2702]

@@seizedcarcass8440 cool. Let me know how it goes! 😃😃😃👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🌱🌱🌱

[@anelehanthony6092]

Do you put them in a bag or closed container in the beginning or do you keep them open from the start?

[@paultheplantparent2702]

When they’re in water I keep them open. There seems to be enough moisture so they don’t wilt. If they were in soil or moss, I’d definitely bag them to keep the moisture, but in water they do great without it. 👍🏼

[@maryjorogers2652]

Does it have to be under a grow light? I don’t have one.

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Hello. Not necessarily. If you have a bright window (not direct sunlight) you should be fine. 👍🏼

[@pamkriner5945]

How do you feed plants in water culture? Do you have a video?

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Hello. I just use hydroponic fertilizer (eg: Maxigro) but I dilute what they recommend by 1/2 or 1/4 strength. 👍🏼

[@pinkyssj4]

Can I use liquid fertilizer?

[@debbie8783]

I experienced several tropical trough in near succession. I moved the plants in but they r looking unhappy. The violets r not their usual vigorous selves

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Oh no. Hopefully they’ll heal and bounce back soon. Storms can be so dangerous the these plants. Let me know how they do.

[@maryjorogers2652]

I just wanted to add that the stem I cut has no new roots 😞

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Hopefully they eventually grew some roots for you.