Hello, I have African Violets and have had no issues for many years, some are 20 years old, but this year I noticed that all the tops of the plants turned brown, almost woody like in appearance. Before all this happened, since most of the trunks were very long and curled, I read that I could cut off part of the trunk, scrape off the outer layer and re-pot. The removal of the outer layer was to promote rooting. Anyway, most of the plants I removed the leaves and am getting new growth, but a couple have turned brown again. Not sure why??? Also, I have noticed white/greyish mold on the soil surface. Is this to much water or the cause of the plants browning?? My usual water habit was to let the plant go dry and when I saw the leaves getting droopy, I water, not from the top, but in the bowl. Just in case, I have started making new plants with the leaves, but don't really want to give up on the issue plants. Ron
Ron I'm not sure I understand exactly what you did. Did you cut off the tops & re-root them; just removed some (all?) leaves on the extisting plants? On the mold, could it be white efflorescence instead of mold? Happens a lot to african violets & bottom-watered pots. Moisture is constantly evaporating from the surface of the dirt, but it only evaporates pure H20, leaves behind all the minerals in the water right on the soil surface, looks like mold. Solution is to occasionally (approx once a month) thoroughly flush water down through the pot from the top, letting it freely run out the bottom; or repot if the soil is very old and perhaps depleted. Also don't let them continually sit in a tray of water.
