Anyone know anything about taking care of African Violets? (I know, an absolutely titillating thread...)

I bought a small potted African Violet in Key Food a few weeks ago for $2.50. I know they are difficult to take care of, so I didn't expect much, but much to my joy, they are THRIVING!!

Does anyone know how to re-pot these precious flowers? I bought a self watering African Violet pot from a seller on E-bay, but I have NO idea how to use it.

Someone--help!!

TIA.

Re: Anyone know anything about taking care of African Violets? (I know, an absolutely titillating thread...)

I typically do petunias myself....but here is a site I found on repotting the African Violets.

Repotting African Violets

Re: Anyone know anything about taking care of African Violets? (I know, an absolutely titillating thread...)

I'm pretty sure there are potting mixes (maybe even ones with that gel additive that absorbs/releases water) made especially for violets.

There are also little slow-release fertilizer sticks for them.....

I don't know anything about that special pot you purchased though...

I should add that this thread may not be titillating, but it's much better than a certain other contentious thread

mmmm, planting is indeed rather calming

Message edited 4/13/2008 2:17:49 PM.

Re: Anyone know anything about taking care of African Violets? (I know, an absolutely titillating thread...)

Thank you both!

Re: Anyone know anything about taking care of African Violets? (I know, an absolutely titillating thread...)

Posted by wannabemom



I should add that this thread may not be titillating, but it's much better than a certain other contentious thread

Re: Anyone know anything about taking care of African Violets? (I know, an absolutely titillating thread...)

Posted by wannabemom

mmmm, planting is indeed rather calming

Re: Anyone know anything about taking care of African Violets? (I know, an absolutely titillating thread...)

this thread reminds me....

I forgot to water all of my little green friends

There is no calm when the leaves are brown!

ok, add that to today's list!

Re: Anyone know anything about taking care of African Violets? (I know, an absolutely titillating thread...)

My mom's never been good at taking care of african violets so I've never had the experience. I think there is special potting soil for them.

Re: Anyone know anything about taking care of African Violets? (I know, an absolutely titillating thread...)

My mom had one once that flourished for years. She bought the special pot and special african violet food. It never did good until she got that pot so hopefully it works for you. But you do need the african violet food.

Re: Anyone know anything about taking care of African Violets? (I know, an absolutely titillating thread...)

I had a small one years ago that was almost dead that my daughter gave me. I went & got an african violet pot (waters from the bottom) and african violet potting soil and the plant is HUGE now.

Good Luck

Re: Anyone know anything about taking care of African Violets? (I know, an absolutely titillating thread...)

My Grandma had tons of them. She always watered them from the bottom and said to never touch the leaves or get them wet. You should also pinch the dead flowers off. Good luck!

Also- Indirect sunlight is key

Message edited 4/14/2008 1:37:11 PM.

Re: Anyone know anything about taking care of African Violets? (I know, an absolutely titillating thread...)

I manage to kill mine all the time but I do remember you are not supposed to water the leaves and they do not like direct sunlight. I also tried buying the plant food and special soil. Hope they grow for you!

Re: Anyone know anything about taking care of African Violets? (I know, an absolutely titillating thread...)

I've grown them and propogated them in the past but they got too big and I gave them away.

I fertilized sparingly and then stopped altogether but the flowers kept coming. I'm beginning to realize that fertilizer is overrated.

AV's like to be rootbound. They flower best when they are crowded beyond reason in the pot they're in.

Never, ever water from the top. The AV root system is made up of one big root about a nickel's width around. Smaller satellite roots come off the main root. If you get water, or even a pebble, in the "crown" (center of the plant), it will not be happy.

When watering from the bottom, keep adding water for as long as five minutes, as long as the plant keeps drawing it up. Once it stops drawing up water, or after five minutes, stop.

Pull spent flowers off as close to the crown as possible.

Any leaf that is not growing straight out from the crown is called a sucker. You want to get those off before they become another plant altogether and ruin the main plant. I used a sharpened pencil to stab them as close to the crown as I could get and take them off.

It's generally nice to have three circles of leaves (when looking straight down from the top). As the ones closest to the bottom get old, you can snap them off (again as close to the crown as possible) and stick them in as tiny a pot you can find and it will grow a whole new plant. To help, cut the leaf in half once it's situated in the pot.

I've grown them in my office with 24/7 fluorescent light and no natural sunlight, and I've grown them on a southern exposure windowsill.

Wow, I said a lot. Hope this helps!!