Hands Off!

Researchers from Oklahoma State University recently published a study that reveals touching the soft furry leaves of the African violet can actually cause damage to the plant. The scientists found that plants had more damage, fewer leaf numbers and smaller size when brushed with bare hands that had been applied with lotion than those brushed with gloved hands. Their results may encourage African violet enthusiasts to keep their hands off the attractive plants.

Links and resources:

• For African violets, "hands off" means healthier via Science Daily
• Brotton, J.C. and J.C. Cole. 2009. Brushing using a hand coated with body lotion or in a latex glove decreases African violet plant quality and size. Horticultural Technology 19: 613-616.

Thank you (once again) to Claire Thompson, UBC Work Study student, for writing this entry.

Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 12:00 PM on March 17, 2010