Watering African Violets With Science

Hi, Posting from Scotland, UK. I have kept an african violet for 4.5 years during which time it has had 10 consecutive flowerings and is >12inches in diameter. At the begining I was a complete novice and had never owned an african violet. However, my first plant has been described as "almost show standard" by the UK Saintpaulia and Houseplant Society. I believe that the key to my success is the way in which I have watered the plant.
I am a polymer technologist with a speciality in developing hydrogels for medical, biomaterials, membrane and sensor applications. I developed a plant watering system that uses hydrogel membrane technology to deliver water by osmosis or diffusion to plants. Water passes from an external reservoir through a special hydrogel membrane into a plant container. The water enetering the container dissolves nutrients and salts from the soil or growing media. This soil solution causes an osmotic potential difference to develop across the membrane separating the reservoir and the plant container. As the plant draws water through its root system, more water is drawn through the membrane from the reservoir. All I need to do is make sure that the reservoir is kept filled with water. I add commercial nutrient products every few weeks to the plant container.

Over the last 4.5 years I have recorded how often I refill my african violet's reservoir. Generally 300ml of water can last 20 - 30 days which I think is really surprising for a plant of >12 inches diameter. However, just before flowering the plant uses 300ml of water every 4 or 5 days. I can now predict when the plant is about to flower based on the increase in water uptake in the weeks before flowering. I have also notced that the plant has 2 flowerings per season and that these flowerings are relatively close together with a longer period between seasons. I re-pot about once every 18 months.

I am amazed at the success that I have had and the plant is now like a member of the family which I would sorely miss if it died. I know that enthusiasts will have kept plants for much longer and will water their plants expertly through experience and knowledge. I'm delighted with what I have achieved but also fascinated at how little water the plant seems to need once it established itself on my watering system. I know that most people will not want to record every time they water their plants but this kind of data may be useful to some. I feel my plant is performing better because it is effectively controlling its own watering and is not subject to a feast and famine regime. I now have several african violets around the house and many other common houseplants like begonias, chrysanthemums, poinsettia - all watered using my Osmogro system. Chris

Here is a picture of my first African Violet during its second flowering. It was described as "almost show standard" by the UK St Paulia Society. I think this was achieved because my membrane controlled watering method allowed the plant to establish its own happy and dynamic equilibrium. The 10th consecutive flowering has just started. If anyone is interested I can post a chart of the water useage for the 4.5 years that I have had the plant. The flowering and watering pattern and rhythm are quite clear to see. I hope to try my first leaf transplant soon. Any tips?
Chris

That's a beauty, Chris!

You've been growing that gorgeous Av for 4.5 years & haven't grown a leaf yet???? Goodness...I'd sneak a leaf if I weren't so darn far away...lol


Let me go & get you a link or two for leaf propagation...


Here's one:
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/448557/

MsC



This message was edited Jun 24, 2005 4:26 AM

Here's the simple steps copied from African Violet Society of America:

Rooting African violet leaf cuttings

1.) Choose a leaf that is fresh and fairly young but full size. Healthy vigorous leaves will root quickly rather than rotting off as older leaves are prone to do.

2.) Cut the stem at an angle, leaving a stem below the leaves that is 1 - 2 inches long.

3.) Fill a small pot (that has drainage holes) with a very light potting mix. A mix of half vermiculite and half potting mix will work well.

4.) Set the leaf into the prepared pot at an angle. Do not set it into the soil very deeply. Water and allow the excess moisture to drain away.

5.) Place the potted leaf into a clear plastic bag (zip-loc bags work well) and seal it tightly closed. You may wish to blow into the bag as it is sealed to puff it up with air.

6.) Set the leaf in a bright location out of direct sunlight. It normally takes about one month for the leaf to root and another month for the plantlets to appear. The clump of plants that develop will need to be divided when the leaves are about the size of a dime.

Good Luck!
MsC

Thanks MsC. I'll get going with the transplantation shortly.

I've been busy growing and testing lots of different plants on my system (see cyclamen pic) especially kitchen herbs (some from seed) as I enjoy cooking with fresh herbs and with two kids under 5 there's less time for transplanting - not really much of an excuse though ;-)

Chris

This message was edited Jun 24, 2005 12:45 PM

Hi Chris, I read your post about your invention on a different forum - maybe house plants?- and I think it sounds so interesting! I can't wait to be able to purchase it. Your av looks great too, very healthy and happy. Welcome to daves!!
Susanne

See below the chart of my african violet's water usage since I put it on my membrane osmosis watering system at the beginning of February 2001.

The plant was originally about 4 inches in diameter. Its peak size was about 16 inches between the second and third flowerings. As it begins its 10th consecutive flowering, the diameter is about 12 inches. The average leaf size is now smaller and more regular than during the earlier flowerings - there are 4 (maybe 5) concentric leaf rings compared to 2 - 3 rings at the beginning.

I think it is interesting to see how the overall rate of water use has decreased as the plant has grown in size. I guess this is due to the larger plant being able to hold and retain more water in its structure. I think that I am also seeing a pattern of 2 flowerings per season. From beginning to end, flowerings last on average 10 weeks.

I have not used any specialist fertilizers, just regular houseplant Miracle Gro Pour & Feed (capful every 2 - 4 weeks directly into the compost). The plant has been re-potted once.

Chris

See below an exploded version of my african violet's watering chart with clearer detail of the increase in water use prior to flowering.
Chris

Chris,
That's a nice chart.
I did not see if you said what type of soil the plant was potted in. Did you start the plant out in the soil it was grown in when you bought it or did you mix a special soil?
I know everyone who grows AV's has their own personal soil mix. Most of the plants purchased here are grown in almost straight peat moss and a very small amount of perlite. Most people who grow them here transfer them into a mix of various types depending on the type of watering system they use, like wick water which is similar to your method or mat watering. Some water from the top and some water from the bottom.

Have you done any studies to see how the AV would be affect in different types of soil mixes and different PH levels of both sil & water? Also, how did you determine to add more water or fertilizer to your system?

Thanks,
MsC

MsC,

Thank you for the questions and interest.

I started and continued the plant in the compost that it was originally grown in but had to add a small amount of compost when transferring it to my flat-based pot. I used a common non-specialist houseplant or pot plant compost. When potting on I have used the same common everyday pot plant type composts. The reason I do this is that I think most houseplant owners will use the most well-known branded products and not the specialist products or recipes that enthusiasts or experts might use.

My idea was originally aimed at providing a simple and effective watering solution for the non-expert, novice or "ordinary" owner-buyer of houseplants. Such people tend to use the most popular branded products so this is what I try do with my invention. I think that the results achieved with my membrane system and the resulting feedback demonstrate the appeal to everyone whether novice, enthusiast or expert.

You raise the valid and fascinating issue that different types of growing media will affect the growth and performance of plants and the performance of the watering system. Different gowing media have different abilities to hold and transport water and nutrients. Identifying the best 'mix' for use with the membrane system and for different plants is an optimisation - research & development project. Something well worth investigating for the enthusiast, expert or even commercial grower and the results will ultimately benfit the ordinary houspelant carer. I am in the early stages of doing this. For example, a nutrient loaded perlitevermiculite hydroponic mix works well with my system because such a mix readily holds and transports water and creates a strong osmotic potential driving force across the membrane. Similar for other hydroculture systems. However, the vast majority of plants are in soil peatorganic compost mixes usually with other additives e.g. porous minerals, coir, water holding gel granules, nutrients, slow release nutrient compounds etc, etc. Water quality, pH etc further complicate the mix of variables to consider. You can understand why most people just use whatever compost is available without asking questions! Also, most people don't use any kind of watering aid and subject plants to an irregular feast and famine watering regime, whether from above or below, and it is this lottery that causes most of the watering problems for plants.

I have exclusively used tap water for my own trials but this area of Scotland (Glasgow-Dumbarton)) has (plenty!) of good quality, 'fresh' tap-water. I add more water to my system when the level of water in the reservoir goes down to the top surface of the gel membrane - that's the easy part! No worries about how much or how little or when, I just refill the reservoir to a set level. The plant determines how often this happens.

I am separately investigating fertilizer delivery more specifically, but I generally use readily available popular branded products as directed e.g. Miracle Gro Pour and Feed, one capful every 2 or 4 weeks.

Best wishes
Chris

Here's a pic of my pet AV's 10th conscutive flowering. Unfortunately my camera is beginning to fail so the pic is not so good. Can you believe I took a whole spool of pics like this before going off on holiday :-( Time to go digital I think. The plant is definitely not as vibrant as it was a few weeks ago and I think it may be time to refresh the compost and repot. Saying that it looks much better in the flesh than in my poor pic. I took the pic outside to get some natural light - maybe should have stayed indoors. All said, I'm pleased with achieving 10 consecutive flowerings in 4.5 years.
Best wishes from Scotland
Chris

Here's an older pic of the same plant - just to cheer me up! (Taken indoors with halogen bulb lighting and a camera flash)
Chris

Well, that certainly does demonstrate how much difference there can be between photos of the same plant! Which one shows the actual color of the bloom better? I have the darndest time trying to get true blues & purples, even after trying to tweak them in my photo imaging software.

Well, there is also a gap of about 3 years and 8 flowering cycles. The camera is an old canon sureshot that I got my wife fror her 21st birthday "a few" years ago. The pics were developed in a local shop and haven't been altered in any way.

I've also got a pic of the plant just as it was put on my system 4.5 years ago.

My next plan after repotting is to propagate some leaves. I'd like to compare a commercial compost with a special perlitevermiculite hydroponics mix that is available here in Scotland.

Chris

Here on the left is a pic of my original AV after just 1 week on my watering system. The plant is about 4 weeks old (i.e. bought from the shop) at this time. Alongside I have a pic of an identical plant that was given to one of my wife's friends at the same time we were given our AV. The plant on the right is the typical result of a plant subjected to incorrect watering. It is partly because my AV has grown with the development of my invention that I hold it in such affection.
Chris

Just returned from visiting grandchildren and read the thread. very interesting technique and it certainly produced a beautiful av.

Sounds like the technique is a double wicking process. I don't quite understand it but it sounds facinating.

I have an av that has been drowned, starved, and totally neglected for an entire winter. It survived and is now 12 inches in diameter and in its second blooming in 4 months. The blooms average 5 to 6 blossoms per stock and has 6 flowering stocks with 2 new ones getting ready to bloom. Which leads me to wonder if a plant itself has something to do with its hardyness.

If you decide to try some leaf cuttings and would like to swap, I would enjoy that very much.

Not double wicking but membrane diffusionosmosis.

I think some plants will be hardier than others. What really upsets plants is feast and famine regimes. Plants will perform better if allowed to establish a happy equilibrium in terms of watering and feeding - my membrane system effectively puts the plant in control of its own water uptake.

Not sure its possible to swap cuttings from Scotland to US.

Chris

Hi Chris,

Any idea on how long it'll be before this is available? Also, what about the use with plants that want/need wetter conditions such as Carnivorous plants?

Eric

Eric,

Hopefully available in North America sometime next year - looking for distributorsagents.

Coincidentally I have just started testing the system with two types of sarracenia or pitcher plants. Only 7 - 10 days on the system but so far so good. I'll let you know how I get along. This came about through a conversation with a UK grower of carnivorous plants who said that many of his customers struggled to water them correctly. It's always exciting to try new and interesting plants.

Best wishes
Chris

Good Luck

Nanna

Greetings. I am brand new to DG (today) and the proud mom to a healthy thriving non-flowering AV. My first. Brought it home blooming and the blooms got limp and gooey and died immediately. SE light in a sunroom. Water when needed. 1-2 weekly. Use a very diluted Miracle Grow mixture. Plant is lovely with new leaves. NO blooms. 4 months and waiting. Am I too impatient? Thanks for helping