|
You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants! Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.
|
|
 |
|
That lovely African violet just jumped into your shopping cart. Now you are worried that you’ll kill it, because “everybody knows” they are fussy, delicate plants. Wrong! With a few simple tips, you'll keep your new African violet happy and blooming for years to come.
|
|
A little benign neglect can work wonders! Too much TLC in the form of frequent watering is the most common cause of violet death. Like many plants, an African violet (AV) appreciates water but just hates “wet feet.” If your new AV gets too dry, it will wilt and look droopy. If your new AV is too wet, root rot will also make it wilt and look droopy! So you’ll run for your watering can when more water is the last thing it needs. Before you water, stick your finger down into the soil to check for moisture. Water about once a week. Use African violet fertilizer when you water, but use only 1/4 as much as directed. Fertilizing increases growth and blooms, but overfeeding causes problems.
Nobody likes to think that their pretty new plant might have unwanted hitchhikers. But pests happen, and the key to healthy houseplants is isolation. If possible, keep your new African violet away from others for several months, so you can see and treat problems before they spread. Consider a preventative bath with insecticidal soap (be sure to dry the leaves carefully afterward, especially the crown) or a good spray with Neem oil. Establish good isolation practices right at the start, even if you have only one African violet. These tough, beautiful plants can be addictive, so you may have a collection to protect before you know it!
The mix that growers use works well in greenhouse conditions but generally holds far too much water to keep your new African violet happy at home. The best thing you can do for your new plant is to repot it right away into a lighter mix. Adding one part horticultural perlite to one part good quality soil-less potting mix gives you a mix that holds some moisture but still drains freely.
 Two-piece “self watering” planters work beautifully for many African violets. Because these planters tend to keep the mix on the wet side of moist, using a light potting mix is even more important. I use a ratio of 2 parts perlite to one part potting mix in self watering pots. “Less is more” when adding water to this type of pot. If the bottom half inch or less of the inner pot is wet, the reservoir (outer pot) has enough water. Letting the reservoir go dry for several days every month or two helps keep the roots healthy. If the mix in the inner pot really dries out, add a little water from the top to restart the self-watering action. Rarely, a particular plant will just sulk in one of these pots, but most standard AVs I've grown really love them.
Don’t rush to repot your new plant into a larger pot. If the roots only partly fill the pot, a smaller pot may be better. Having a lot of extra potting mix around the root ball just makes “wet feet” more likely. Most standard size plants will never need anything larger than a 4 inch pot. The rule of thumb says the diameter of the plant should be two to three times the diameter of the pot.
Give the pot a firm tap to loosen the roots, and then upend the plant into your hand. Fiddle with the roots to remove as much of the old, heavy mix as you can. If you are reusing a pot, give it a hot wash or bleach dip. Moisten the potting mix with just enough water that the mix can be squeezed into a ball that falls apart as you open your hand. Fill in the new mix gently around the roots of the plant. Your goal is to firm the plant into place, not to pack in as much mix as possible. I prefer not to “water in” a repotted AV, because over-watering happens easily. Since your mix is moist, the plant has enough water for the week.
Now you need to find a good spot to grow and enjoy your new plant. African violets like the same temperature and humidity conditions that we prefer, so that part is usually easy. You often see AVs on windowsills, but that location might be too cold and drafty in winter. If your house is really dry, raise the humidity around your plant by putting its pot on a saucer with water and gravel. The gravel raises the pot so the plant sits above the water, not in it.
Your African violet will grow and bloom best in bright indirect light. “Indirect” means it would rather grow next to a south or west facing window rather than directly in the square of sunshine coming through the window. East windows are often perfect for AVs. If your plant isn’t getting enough light, the leaves will grow upwards as if reaching for the sun. Too much light makes the leaves grow downwards or get tight in the center.
All these tips might make you think African violets are as picky as Goldilocks. Actually, an AV is much easier to please. Move it once or twice, and you'll find its favorite spot. Use a light soil mix and a light hand with water and fertilizer. Your new plant will find its new home "just right," and you'll be rewarded with weeks and years of beautiful blooms! |  | | | |
For more information, check out the FAQ and the extensive list of links in the “sticky” thread at the top of the African Violets and Gesneriads Forum (subscribers only). The “culture pages” at Rob’s Violet Barn are one of my favorite references, especially this guide to repotting a violet, with step by step photos. More information and photos are constantly being added to the African violet entries in PlantFiles. AVSA (the African Violet Society of America) is an unbeatable resource -- there’s probably an African violet club near you!
 | Better known as "Critter" on DG, Jill gardens in Frederick, MD. We've had some delightful weather lately, and I've started some spring gardening projects. My winter sowing containers are popping with green sprouts, and I'm starting to move seedlings from my light shelves to my patio to harden off. I'm overhauling and expanding a few little garden beds -- I'm going to need the space! (Images in my articles are from my own photos, unless otherwise credited.) |
|
|
Subject: Very nice article.
Posted by tortoisekeeper (from Cookeville, TN) on November 22, 2007 at 10:42 AM:I just purchased 2 AV's for my new DIL. I plan on printing this out for her. This will be her very first plants and your information will help her greatly.
Thanks
Betty
Here is a photo of my 3 new ones. Couldn't buy for her without wanting some myself. lol ... Posted by MaryMcP (from Phoenix, AZ) on November 26, 2007 at 9:38 AM: Good article Jill, you've inspired me, I'll pick up a couple of these beauties. ... Posted by PeeperKeeper (from Georgetown, TX) on November 26, 2007 at 7:35 PM: Ditto to what Mary said. You've inspired me too! Actually I've been thinking of getting an AV since we moved into a new house and I have all kinds of places I can set plants now. I had been thinking of the windowsill in my utility room, but it's North facing and you mentioned the window may be too chilly for them, so I'll think of another place.
tortoisekeeper, your screename is the first I've seen so similar to mine. I started using this name on a sugar glider board because my first glider's name is Peepers, but I use it everywhere now. I'm an optometrist, so I "keep peeple's peepers peepin'! " ... Posted by critterologist (from Frederick, MD) on November 26, 2007 at 8:46 PM: I'm glad the article has people thinking more seriously about these lovely little plants! Peeperkeeper, I don't think "too chilly" is going to be a serious consideration in your zone 8. In fact, a north window might be just right for the brighter sun in more southern areas. I think some friends in FL and GA have mentioned having to draw a blind or a sheer curtain across the window to keep their AVs happy because the light was just too intense. :-) ...
Subject: Thank you for reminding me
Posted by UniQueTreasures (from Beaumont, TX) on November 22, 2007 at 8:45 AM:Many years ago, I grew African Violets and loved them. I lost them all one year and didn't replace them. Thanks so much for reminding me how wonderful they are. Your article gives wonderful instructions for keeping them beautiful and healthy. It arms me with the know how and incentive to try them again.
Janet ... Posted by Dea (from Frederick, MD) on November 22, 2007 at 4:56 PM: Same here! Thanks for reminding me that maybe I will have a houseplant or two :)
... Posted by critterologist (from Frederick, MD) on November 22, 2007 at 9:43 PM: I sure hope you'll give them a try again! Unlike some of the plants overtaking my windows, African violets don't take up much room (well, not until/unless you have hundreds of them, LOL), and they just don't deserve their finicky reputation!
I get so enthusiastic about AVs; you have no idea how hard it was to write such a short introductory article! There will be more detailed articles to come, with additional information on propagating (such fun!), watering, repotting, etc. In the meantime, I hope people will be encouraged to pick up a new plant and head over to the AV forum! ... Posted by JanetS (from Braselton, GA) on November 23, 2007 at 12:08 AM: Very nice article Jill! Very informative! Loved it!
Janet ... Posted by mommie (from Weslaco, TX) on November 23, 2007 at 10:53 AM: Thanks so much for the great article on African Violets. I am very interested in this plant. I would especially like to have a couple of cascading ones. I live in zone 9b & wonder if they would grow outdoors. I have several house cats & I just know they will destroy them quick as they can blink their eyes!! Please let me know what you think. Thanks!! ... Posted by critterologist (from Frederick, MD) on November 23, 2007 at 11:37 AM: I know for a fact that trailing AVs are irresistable to some cats! I also know that people grow trailing AVs in small hanging planters, which might help keep them out of reach of your pets... Just be sure the planters aren't too deep, or you'll run into trouble with root rot. (Two inches is a good depth for miniature trailers, and four inches is about the maximum depth for standard size trailers... I think Rob says he grows his mini trailers like ground covers in deep pot saucers with holes drilled for drainage.) You can wrap wire or tie cords around "regular" containers to make hanging containers out of them, so you're not limited to those standard little plastic hanging baskets.
I've also seen people put shelves across the upper half of their window for plant pots, which might work depending on how athletic your cats are. It can get a little cold and drafty for AVs right against windows in winter, but in your zone I don't think that's an issue, LOL. You're more likely to have too much light and heat right in a window, and your AVs might be a little happier if you had something like a sheer curtain or blind to filter the light a little.
Gosh, all this advice is making these plants sound awfully picky again... they really aren't, but I'm just trying to give you as many pointers as I can think of! :-) ... Posted by plantladylin (from Daytona Beach, FL) on November 23, 2007 at 7:57 PM: Jill: I'm just "catching up here in the Garden" after all the Turkey and Trimmings! What a Wonderful article! I am printing it and keeping it in my file for future re-reading!
Hmmmm .... now about those kitties - I have four in my household and hundreds of plants (not hundreds of AV's but a combination of all kinds of plants, and two of my cats love to chew AV leaves as well as other plants! I moved the AV's to a higher shelf on the plant stand and they don't bother them anymore. Now, it was a challenge between the cats and plants for the window sills and the cats won that one! I can't put plants of any kind in the window sills or it's a certainty that they get knocked out by the cats. So, I put plant stands in front of the windows ... a foot out .... kitties are happy getting to lay on the window ledge and plants are happy getting the light coming in the window too.
I love the idea of some trailing or even regular standard AV's in little hanging baskets and might just have to give that a try! My cats are too old and fat to jump so high that they could reach those!
Again, a Great article, very well written as always, and I really look forward to your future writings!
Lin ... Posted by critterologist (from Frederick, MD) on November 24, 2007 at 10:08 AM: Thanks, Lin! That's a great tip about putting the plant stand a foot out from the window to make both plants and kitties happy. :-) ... Posted by mommie (from Weslaco, TX) on November 24, 2007 at 10:50 PM: Hi Jill & Lin; Thanks for advice on the trailers & the kits. I have some old,fat cats too. I also have 3 kittens & you know how that goes. they have so much energy they are climbing the walls! There is no place they can't get to except the ceiling. LOL. I would hate to have to wait until they get old & fat to get my trailers. By the way, are there any good mailorder sites to buy AV plants? Can't seemto find any around here. Xmas has arrived in all my usual haunts & that means the plants have disappeared. It is unusally cold here this week & my patio plants are shivering. Poor things!! What is the coldest temp. an AV can take? I'm amazed that these lovlies will grow in so little soil. I think I will try the deep saucer. I may have to hang them from the ceiling. LOL. Thanks again ladies. ... Posted by critterologist (from Frederick, MD) on November 24, 2007 at 11:33 PM: You've got to head over to the AV forum... you'll find lots of chat on various threads about vendors people are happy with! There are also a bunch of vendor links in the resource "sticky" at the top of the forum, and you can look them up in the Watchdog. Although I've got some favorites, I don't really want to get into posting a short list here... that's what Garden Watchdog is for, and I'm sure admin would rather I just pointed people in that direction.
My AVs start getting unhappy if temps drop much below 60, especially if it's also damp (like on basement light shelves). They're tender -- freezing temps or frost will kill them -- but they can take cooler temps for short periods. But if you think it's chilly, so will your African violets. ... Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on December 12, 2007 at 11:57 PM: Jill, I just got a chance to read this article - catching up is a toughy! Beautifully written and presented as usual. You are so gifted! I'm sure that this will bring lots of new enthususiasts to the AV forum. Great job, as usual. You make us all look good!
Yokwe,
Shari ...
Login to post a comment.
|
