submitted 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) by KillerTofu@lemmy.world to c/houseplants@mander.xyz

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I was given a small pot with a single sad leaf to try and rescue. I was told it was an African violet. It was repotted and I gave it some fertilizer and it started producing this giant leggy looking leaves. Is this normal? A mutant? It doesn’t look like any violet I’ve seen.

Thanks!

Edit: thank you for all the feedback! It does indeed look like a cyclamen. I have moved it closer to the window, hopefully it will fill in nicely.

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[-] Adramis@midwest.social 17 points 6 months ago

Whatever it is, it doesn't look like it's getting enough light. I'd guess that's why it's growing so leggy.

[-] Canadian_anarchist@lemmy.ca 4 points 6 months ago

That's just how cyclamen grow- they're floppy plants. They like indirect light, so the lighting set up seems fine.

[-] akwd169@sh.itjust.works 14 points 6 months ago

Does not appear to be a violet.

Plant.net identifies it as:

Cyclamen persicum Mill.

Common name:

Florist's cyclamen

[-] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 6 points 6 months ago

Mmm..

It looks like an African violet of some kind to me.

African violets are also notorious for random mutation.

[-] KillerTofu@lemmy.world 4 points 6 months ago

By golly, I think you are right! Looking at some photos the leaves do look similar.

But now, is it not getting enough light? Is that why the leaves are so long and twisted? I’ve never had one before and the photos all show a more compact looking plant.

[-] Canadian_anarchist@lemmy.ca 2 points 6 months ago

Definitely a cyclamen

[-] Mickey@lemmy.ca 12 points 6 months ago

This plant is just severely etiolated as it’s desperately searching for more light, not mutated! You will need to give it better lighting conditions if you want the new growth to be more compact.

this post was submitted on 10 May 2024

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