About Nancy Expertise I can answer questions on the following subjects:
Pests, chemicals
Showing AVs
Sowing Seeds
Problems with plants
Basics of AV growing
Episcias
Streptocarpus
Experience I am an African violet Advanced Judge in US and Canada. I have written a book on pests of African violets called "Insects, Pests and Diseases of the African Violet Family" My articles appear in African Violet Magazine and Chatter as well as in other magazines.
Organizations AVSA
AVSC
African Violet Society of Greater Montreal
Saintpaulia Society of Montreal
Publications Book author: "Insects, Pests and Diseases of the African Violet Family"
African Violet Magazine, many issues
Chatter Magazine Many issues
Horticulture
Other Magazines
Education/Credentials University of Indiana Master's work (Music)
Awards and Honors Jr. Queen of Show (Pixie Blue) AVSC Convention Montreal
Approximately 100 blue ribbons
25 or so Best of Class
Past/Present clients I sell mostly leaves on Ebay. I sell plants at convention shows and local shows.
Question Please give me some information on repotting African violets. I have some that have not been repotted in several years. thanks
Answer Hello:
African violets should be repotted about twice a year when soil is depleted of nutrients.
You can check the size of pot by measuring across your plant and then divide by 3. This give you the number of pot the plant needs. 9 inch plant would need a 3 inch pot. A 12 inch plant would need a 4 inch pot and so on.
It is likely that the bottom row of leaves have fallen off or needed to be taken off during the past two years. This has left an ugly "goose neck", the main growing stem of the plant.
There are several ways to repot. One would be to cut off about two inches of the soilball so that the plant can be fitted down into the pot. Additional fresh soil can be added and this should allow the stem to make roots.
In order for the roots to get through, scrap off, like you were scraping a carrot, the rough edges were stems of leaves were connected. Roots should grow from these points.
When the "goose neck" is longer than three inches it is necessary to cut off all the rootball. Then scrape the neck as you would scrape a carrot removing all the old tissue and encouraging roots to form. Place this into fresh soil. Place plastic bag over the entire pot for humidity while roots are forming--about two weeks. Do not place in direct sun.
