| My experiment in starting african violets. | ||
this page last updated 13/07/2009I considered the fact roots have to fill the container before there is any top growth, along with the rooting hormone conclusion I came to in another experiment and decided to try rooting leaves in creamer cups filled with vermiculite thus giving them a smaller space to fill with roots and using a rooting hormone to aid them in their growth . Here is the result. Leaves I started on June 26 are in the delivery room! Previously I was reserving judgment on the "time factor" but now there are enough different varieties coming up that I am most certain this method gives faster results. Here are two pictures |
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 Da
Vinci set June 26 |
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 Emerald
Love set June 28 |
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| The two leaves I mentioned previously were of a variety
that was said to be fast to propagate. There are enough different leaves
up now that I know for a fact this is a much faster way to propagate
leaves. Since I have to stick to the carefree method of propagation I
won't be using this method very often as you do have to make sure the
water level stays the same.
Rachel in Thunder Bay |
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| October 16th 2000 | ||
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These little violets are from leaves set on June 27/2000 using a rooting hormone. I cut the mother leaf right off when the first babies were very small and put them on a regular | |
| feeding program. Today there are two babies in the left creamer cup. One in the 2 1/4" pot and one in the right creamer. Granted I am getting only 1 or 2 babies this way but when you lift them out of the creamers they come out cleanly with a solid root ball. | ||
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This of course would not be good for the commercial growers but I am quite happy with the results. I don't have to toss any babies and they are much stronger starts than I have ever had before! The root system is fantastic on these little ones. LOL now I am thinking "hmmm" a half an egg shell has possibilities too doesn't it? | |
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