Find Your Ask the Expert: Drooping Chocolate Soldier
I have a chocolate soldier that about a month ago got way too much water. Since then I have transplanted the plant into a pot that drains well. However, my plant is still really really droopy and I am worried that it may not make it. The blooms on it are still coming but they do not open. Any help would be appreciated but please hurry. Norma
Plant Expert Reply:
Give the plant time to recover. Try to keep the conditions consistent. Chocolate solider needs to have a visual dryness between watering. Use tepid water when you do water them and try not to get the leaves wet. Keep them in partial sun or shade (an east, west, or northern exposure). A little direct sunlight is beneficial; try to avoid hot noonday sun. They need warm temperatures above 65 degrees. Follow these care instructions and the plant should make a full recovery. Good Luck and keep me posted.
What if my chocolate soldier got too cold. Now is very droopy. Will it recover. I had it outside & it got too cold one nite- not frost but cold. Brought it right in. My other african violets were okay. Have I killed it?
Only Time will tell.
My plant was doing really good a month ago, it bloomed twice, the I gave it asmall amount of miracle gro that you mix with water, i only treated it once it started to bloom. I is now turning the leaves brown and it’s fullness is getting thinner. My Mom always had good luck with all her violets including the Chocolat soldier Her soldier got over two feet wide and bushed out so far with its blooms, that it filled a large picture window, it was so pretty, people use to stop and come ask her what is was ans she would always give them a shoot if they wanted to start their own. I bought mine from a company on line two years ago and have struggled to get it to grow. This summer it took off and now I am back to struggling. What am I doing wrong?
Linda,
There are several things that could be affecting your plant. Make sure it isn’t in direct sunlight, and that the soil is visibly dry between waterings. It almost sounds like it has been over fertilized since you weren’t having trouble until you used the miracle gro. You might try to use a fertilizer that is specifically for African Violets next time. I would watch it and give it some time to recoup.
my chocolate soldier is losing its leaves.what
am I doing wrong?