African Violets and Gesneriads: Photos and Chat #4, 1 by gessiegail

gessiegail wrote:
Lou and Kim,
I want to learn what he is talking about , but as far as African violets and all their cousins and my houseplants, I am sticking to what I know for right now: 1 part Av soil-less mix, 1 part perlite and 1/2 part vermiculite (plus I am still putting perlite in the bottom of each pot). I am continuing to wick (I have to on most plants although I did decide not to wick the streps just to see if they would do better and not get overwatered like I have always done)

I did do some research and the man is right about the fertilizer. That man with the African Violet nursery can say he uses that one I sent you all with every watering but I am convinced it is forcing the plants to bloom. That, then, stresses the plant out, so I have a new regime on fertilizing:
I emptied out and scrubbed all my permanest and other reservoirs. Then I decided to let the water sit over night from the faucet that I use. (good decision even the watering gallons take up all my counter space *lol*) Now, whenever I add water and fertilizer to the reservoirs as they need it, I use two or three fertilizers like Eleanor's VII, Schultz 10-15-10, any African violet food I have which usually have numbers like 9-5-7 taking turns each time with a different fertilizer. I even have one which is full of nitrogen 20-5-10 and only use it maybe every 6 weeks. then , the one I sent you which is 12-36-14 I still use once a month at least.
I wouldn't wig out about this.......we can't possibly change everything at once and I want to know more about Al's 'perfect' conditions of soil and fertilizer.

Now I have you totally confused.....just remember to use a regular African Violet food at least half the time and use the one I sent you the other half of the time. Ideally, I am guessing I probably stress my plants out when I used to use the one I sent you but gee, it is nice to have blooms.

Remember, you all know as much as I do. I am just sharing what I am doing now and I do think the plants look better in just a week or 10 days, plus I started leaving the lights on 12 hours a day instead of 11.

Here are a few good blooms (*lol* due to that fertilizer I sent you all).............this is chirita tamiana finally opening one small bloom