African violets...for the 1st time..doing good

[beccab]

I received a beautiful basket when DM passed away last month. Amoung the plants were two AV's. Have never had good luck with them but I bought these AV planters. They are two pieces each. The top parts sits inside the other while the other is filled with water. Apparently, the violets take in just the right amount of water & voila they look great. One was almost dead with in two days of receiving it.

 

[Snowwark]

I also have some AVs from baskets I received when I was sick, but they're barely hanging on. I've never heard of AV planters, I'll have to see if I can find some! Thank you for the info beccab!

I'm sorry about your DM beccab, my condolences to you.

 

[beccab]

Thank you snowwark.

I got these planters at home depot. I have also seen them elsewhere, it may have been walmarts.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I think I learned that violets do not like to have their leaves made wet. The planters you speak of water the plant at the root. I move the leaves of my plant out of the way when I water- usually once week depending on the temperature in the room.

I have a violet in my office space at work, a gift from a co-worker a couple of springs ago. It hasn't bloomed as yet, but it is otherwise healthy.
This particular coworker started a teeny violet (like in a 1-inch pot) when she first came to our group and in no time at all that little plant grew and grew with the help of Miracle Gro and violet food. It's been divided many times and each of those has faired well too (mine did not come from it). She is fortunate to have one of the "emergency" lights in her area of the office that stays on all night long.

 

[Snowwark]

Hi iNTeNSeBLue98!

I often splash the leaves of my AVs when I water them, maybe that is the problem!!
I should pick up some Miracle Gro and violet food also.
Thank you for the information!!


Kim

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I searched Yahoo and found this information on caring for violets:

The first consideration when taking care of your African Violet is light. African Violets need at least twelve hours of light a day. They thrive best with natural sunlight, so if there is a window they can sit in where sun shines through for most of the day, they will be happiest there. However, this is a difficult thing to achieve so many people resort to artificial light.

There are self-watering pots you can buy also. These tend to be expensive and don't always work correctly. But, sometimes they can be beneficial. It is up to you to decide which type of arrangement is going to work best for you.

Learn More about African Violets through this link.

 

[Snowwark]

Thank you for the link iNTeNSBLue98!! Bookmarked it!

 

[mickey65]

I have one too, and it is doing amazing! It is in a pot that has water'drain holes on the sides. I water is about once a week...I set the pot on a plate of water and the plant takes in as much water as it needs only...it I need to I add more water to the plate. I also keep mine near the window, but not in the direct sunlight.

 

[bananiem]

I had 2 varieties I got as gifts. In our old house they were in a south facing window and bloomed all the time. I don't have a good window for them now and none that face south and they died.
My great aunt used to always have them in her apartment and it was always sweltering hot in there. Hers always bloomed too.