My 2020 African Violet Collection - New Arrivals from Selective Gardener - Unboxing & Potting Up

[@nunya2036]

Love this video, you got lots of plants out of this little order.

[@grayturtleviolets]

Thank you!

[@michalsheffer5061]

Hi, I'm from Israel and watching your interesting videos, you are a very patient and plant loving woman, thanks for the reasoned explanations🙏👍

[@grayturtleviolets]

Appreciate your feedback, glad it’s helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@JY-zq5jk]

I'm so glad you showed how to repot suckers and leaves. I'm learning a lot from you. Thank you.

[@grayturtleviolets]

Appreciate your feedback! Happy to share!

[@nunya2036]

I’m also learning heaps as well, so nice to share your knowledge.

[@SS11660]

Your camera work is very professional. Easy to see all the details.

[@grayturtleviolets]

Thank you very much!

[@michalsheffer5061]

Amazing 🤗you are an interesting woman thank you for the explanation

[@grayturtleviolets]

Appreciate your feedback, glad it’s helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@juneking5025]

Very informative. I learn much I did not know. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@grayturtleviolets]

Glad it was helpful! Happy to share!

[@samsal420]

I just ordered a violet from them because of you!! Thank you!

[@grayturtleviolets]

You are very welcome! Happy growing!!!

[@scottwinemiller7352]

Curious about the soaking of leaves from a shipment. I've never soaked them, have you had any issues from that? (Becoming too wet, rotting, etc.)

[@grayturtleviolets]

As long as the leaves were originally healthy, they normally rehydrate well, some staying in water from a couple of hours to 8 hours overnight. I had good results when receiving leaves that were limp because of hot shipping weather, shipping delays, etc. - presoaking those was the only option to revive them. I did lose a few though - those that didn't make it eventually started rotting in the propagation containers, guessing the damage already had set in those by the time they arrived, usually caused by heat in shipping conditions, or a disease on the original plant. All leaves received in this particular shipment were excellent quality, and did well, having produced healthy offspring. Great question!

[@daisyp7539]

Wonderful videos.

[@grayturtleviolets]

Thank you! Appreciate your feedback!

[@bestlifeeverjw5876]

I ordered some from optimara an I love it they sale beautiful plants

[@grayturtleviolets]

I love Optimara violets, too!

[@mike44nh]

Love your tutorials! Where do you order your AVs from?

[@grayturtleviolets]

Thank you! I had good experience ordering from Woodland Blooms, Fancy Bloomers, Lyndon Lyon, and some great eBay sellers.

[@mike44nh]

@@grayturtleviolets Thank you!

[@michellegrovak]

Very helpful!

[@grayturtleviolets]

Thank you! Appreciate your feedback!

[@SS11660]

Very interested in your systemic insecticide. Could you give directions please. !!!

[@grayturtleviolets]

Check out my potting mix video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pn2vlI2Fm66iY6c, there I show the systemic insecticide that I add to my potting mix for prevention.

[@Richard-zm6pt]

I notice you plant your leaves directly into potting mix instead of perlite or a perlite/vermiculite mix. I was wondering how long it takes you to see the new plantlets with that method. Thank you.

[@grayturtleviolets]

It usually takes 5-8 weeks, depending on the variety and the condition of the leaf cutting. I remember trying rooting leaves in 100% perlite when I just started growing my collection last year, and it used to dry up fast, so I switched to my regular potting mix. Here is the mix I am using: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pn2vlI2Fm66iY6c

[@Richard-zm6pt]

@@grayturtleviolets Thank you so much. I've been using a perlite/vermiculite mix over a layer of potting mix, and it is taking eight weeks for the first new leaves to poke through, then additional days or weeks for others to follow. Thank you also for your potting mix recipe.

[@grayturtleviolets]

@@Richard-zm6pt You are very welcome! I also started adding worm castings and garden lime to the recipe, will talk about my potting mix revisions in the 2020-2021 year in review video...

[@grayturtleviolets]

@@Richard-zm6pt You are very welcome! Happy growing!

[@nancynoascono747]

Is it absolutely necessary to remove the suckers from the mother plant?

[@grayturtleviolets]

Not always, it depends on the variety - check out this video for more info: kzbin.info/www/bejne/raCrknaDn7eod5o

[@lunapansy8260]

African violat potting mix can you tell what in mix thank you

[@grayturtleviolets]

Check out my potting mix video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pn2vlI2Fm66iY6c

[@baldwind19]

Thank you so much for sharing your passion and experience. I appreciate how well you provide information in simple step by step by video. I have just started watching your video, and I have learned so much. I would never would thought about getting leaves. I received a plant from a grower and as I was cleaning it for repotting the same thing happen to me, it had three sockets. I really botched the plant because I had never received a plant from a grower like that and did not know how to properly remove. Thank you.

[@grayturtleviolets]

Thank you for your feedback! So glad you find it helpful! I will be making a follow up video soon, to show the progress of leaf propagation and the Optimara Romance and Optimara Little Sonata plants.

[@cello977]

plz help, i tried to growing african violet like half a year ago, and so far they only produce 6 leaf (that visible from top) is it normal? temperature in my country max is 90f/32c edit: its clearly not normal, but they also produce flower very slowly like it took one month from tiny bud frist appear to flower, i read african violet can tolerate 90F or maybe i need to fertilize it more often?

[@grayturtleviolets]

African Violets normally reach blooming age at about 9 months to a year, based on my experience, so it's ok if it takes some time for them to grow and bloom. I have found that my violets struggle at 90F temperature, so I control the temperature to range between 65F - 79F max. Check out my potting mix, wick-watering, and humidity videos, to see how I grow mine. I fertilize most of the year adding 1/4 teaspoon of 7-9-5 Dyna-Gro Grow Liquid Plant Food per gallon of water, giving them a couple of breaks to rest, one in January, and another one in July-August, when I just use plain water for wick-watering.