Paul Sorano, owner of Lyndon Lyon Greenhouses (and grandson of founder Lyndon Lyon) appeared in a segment of the Martha Stewart Show on February 7, 2012, discussing African violets.
Ever since watching this video, I started propagating a few leaves from my two original AV and let's just say I got alittle carried away and now I have 20 plants lol, it's addictive but I can't wait til they all rebloom!!💚🌸🌸🌸🥰
KS Johannes, It looks like straight vermiculite. You can also use a 50:50 mix of perlite and peatmoss (coir fiber in place of peat moss is better, doesn't dry rock hard if it dries out). The vermiculite is probably better, but moisten before handling it; do not breathe its dust (It's a relative of asbestos).
I agree with Rebekah Samuels...Martha like to hear the sound of her voice WAY too much...and how rude too...the guy was talking and she just straight up interupts to ask the audience a question...he just has this look if frustration...let your guests do what they came to do...
anthony lewis, Too wet. They need constant moisture, but not sitting in it or soggy wet soil. They like to be bottom watered, so set the entire pot in a sink of *slightly* warm water, for about an hour or two. Then allow the pot to drain overnight, and return to saucer next morning. I watched my African Violet grow healthy leaves but not flower for literally a couple years, then I fertilized it and it hasn't stopped blooming since!
I have a ton of babies. I propagate in moist soil. Not too wet but not dry. I dome mine in Tupperware with a clear lid (you want warm humid atmosphere and to make sure the soil does not get dry). Or like small storage bins and I check on them often but don't mess with them much. I use light soil with no fertilizer (it makes them rot.) Takes months but eventually you'll get roots then about a month to two months later you'll notice babies. You can tell when the leaves have rooted with a gentle tug of the mother leaf. If there is any resistance, you know there's roots. Once the babies get a little bigger i light fertilize. When you water propogate, atleast in my experiences, ive had a lot of rotting. For my cups I just take little plastic disposable cups and cut small slits on the bottom ring to allow air into the roots and drainage. It takes a lot of patience but you can do it.
It's Martha's job to keep things going at a good pace, hit all points, avoid jargon, etc. It's damned hard to do with some guests, especially those who are inexperienced and/or low-key. Martha's a gentle summer breeze compared to, say, morning show hosts steamrolling at a painful pace, the poor dears
Yeah even with her gabbing I learned a lot, could you imagine if she cut 40% of that how much more he could've talked about and showed the varieties he brought, told us what that sawdust looking stuff was they put leaf cuttings in...
She seems pretty cool actually. Apparently she gets involved in tax evasion and I think shop lifting. The mom everyone wished they had. "Were did you get that from mom? Show me the recipe!"
