Non-blooming African Violet

I bought this 3 or 4 years ago. It has never bloomed. Does variegation preclude blooming? If not, any ideas why it doesn't want to bloom? It is usually in filtered bright light several hours a day. It was purchased at a garden center where other African violets were blooming, but not this one. I LOVE the variegated leaves, but would like to have blooms too. Although I've had other violets where I now live that bloomed those were several years ago, but this is the only one I have now so I don't have any other AV's to compare it to.

Sharon

i find if i grow my violets on my windowsill, they bloom like crazy,south window,a liitle shaded.where as the violets under lights don't flower as much.do you fertlize?try a little super thrive, that might help or any bloom booster.
bonnie

here is a picture of my chicago flair on my windowsill, just going to flower
bonnie

Hi Sharon!

I'm not the greatest AV grower ever, but it sounds like it might could use a little more light. I'd move it gradually though, so it has time to acclimate and doesn't get burned. It's a gorgeous plant even without blooms! I know you'd love to have flowers to compliment that though.

I can't help but notice your username. Is that Belgian Tervurens you have a herd of? We have two Belgian Malinois. Spoiled rotten lapdogs they are! LOL A Terv is next on my list. I think they are simply gorgeous! I'd love to see pics of them!

Amy

Edited to add: I guess I should have waited for your answer about whether you have Tervs before gushing about seeing pictures of them. LOL I got excited! ;o)

This message was edited Jul 27, 2009 10:28 AM

Sharon-
all good advice!!

The only thing I think that I can add is that avs usually bloom best when pot bound. It is recommended to have the pot or container be 1/3 the size of the plant.

The garden centers sell them in pots that are usually larger than 1/3 the plant size. I have potted mine down into smaller containers, and they've responded well.

You could either wait for it to fill the pot a little more, or you could pot it into a slightly smaller container...but, definitely increase the light and try some superthrive as suggested by Bonnie & Raingazer.
-T

Thanks for all the suggestions about the AV. I am a non-recovering plantaholic. I have a 15x30 greenhouse (partially sunk in the ground to hold more heat in the winter) that has maybe 30 orchids and a couple of night blooming cereus (HUGH plants). Also have over 100 cacti & succulents. About 1/2 of those are in pots outside but will have to come in the house for the winter. What fun. Anyway, I digress.

The reason I bring that up is probably because I probably don't fertilize enough either. WAY too much to do and too little time. Light may be the problem. I'm always afraid I'll cook violets. They just look like they can't take a lot of sun. I'll try easing them into brighter light and see what happens.

Amy.....I've had Belgian Tervuren since 1986. I have only one now and when she goes to the rainbow bridge, I will have no more. Not that I don't love them, but a few years ago I got a Border Collie and she is now the love of my life. One of the issues that helps that decision is coat care. Taylor (my BC) is wash and wear. I don't have time to comb gobs of hair (my Terv is a spayed bitch). Taylor helps me with my flock of 60+ sheep on a 37 acre farm. She is a much better stock dog. Incredibly smart and a REAL quick learner. With all I have to care for (it's all up to me!) I don't even have time to do any formal training. With Taylor, I put a name to a particular task and use it a few times and she has it down pat. When I give her a command and she does something else, it's usually because she knows I'm wrong. Whatever Terv you get, get a red one. I hate the way so many are being bred that don't have that brilliant rich red color. Photo is of my first Terv. What a dog.....sigh.

Sharon

Well, hi there Taylor! Nice to meet you here! LOL! We DO get around, don't we?

Sharon

hi Sharon :0)

She named her dog after me :0)

(no, ...not really) ha-ha
-T

Does your plant have several plants inside? Looks like several crowns in there. My variegated plants bloom, I have them under lights in my shelves.

You do need to have a great soiless mix, very light. Then you have to keep them lightly moist, not wet. Good drainage is important. I keep my water ready to go. I buy spring water and put my fert. in the gallon of water. It is good to give them light fertilizer with each watering.

I used to wick water. Now I use a turkey baster when I feel each plant needs it. The individual care has worked best for me.

See if there are multiple crowns in your pot. Repotting in great "soil" and feeding with the right light should get some blooms. The variegation is so pretty. Most of my plants are variegated.

This message was edited Jul 27, 2009 10:21 AM

Bonnie and Sally, gorgeous plants....

Sharon yours is beautiful as well, I love variegated. And I love the picture of your dog. For some reason, to me, shepherds are the ultimate dog. I love their looks, they are just what a dog should be, and not too far from their wolf ancestors. They are also very smart. I will have another one someday soon.

I was going to say the same as others have said about your plant, light is very important, and check for too many crowns. Though plants will still bloom with them, they won't bloom as much.

From what I hear, plants become more strongly variegated in lower light, and more green in higher light. That seems to be the case with the ones I am growing now. By the looks of yours, maybe it isn't getting enough light to bloom...if you move it into higher light, it would be a shame to lose all that beautiful variegation, but maybe you could find a happy medium - a little more light would be a good start, not too much all at once, increase the light gradually.

Jennifer

Jennifer, it is so interesting, how each home is different. My plants are mostly variegated and they all do great with the lighting the others get, but I do not have my lights close to the plant. Since there are two long bulbs, they just don't need the lights too close.

I need to go look at the AV'S today, and then vacuum, but my little Parrotlet is asleep near me on her playgym. I have to let her wake up first. :)

I think consistent fertilizer is the ticket to blooms.............(assuming it is getting enough light)........Everytime you water use 1/4 tsp to a gallon of 15-30-15 or thereabouts............with no urea........

Gail, you may be right, but back when I was not as concientious, I never fertilized, and all of my flowering plants, including violets, still bloomed heavily...so I wonder sometimes, if the plant is getting the nutrients it needs from the growing mix, is fertilizer really necessary? Or is it just another manufacturer's hand in our pockets? I like to use it, and one of these days I would like to try an experiment with identical plants, to see what a difference, if any, fertilizing really makes. I should try it now, as I have several Melody's Kimi plantlets growing in the same mix under the same lights, all the same size.

Sally, I am not sure about foot candles and all the technical details about light that affect variegation and blooming - but my plants came to me heavily variegated, and after a few weeks with me at around 8" from two 40 watt bulbs, the variegation almost disappeared, with none on new growth. Now, I have to keep in mind, that other environmental changes are at hand here as well - so who knows what it is or if it is a combination of all? I guess it is all about trial and error in the environment that you have to offer...and I am still too much of a beginner to know even the ins and outs of my OWN environment! Still, there are some constants, and at least we have some ideas from the experts on what to try, and what is likely to make a difference.

There could be a giant difference in the mix. I have always heard never to use a soil less mix with fertilizer in it. The reasons for using a soil less mix already prepared is that it provides the trace elements so necessary for good growing of any plant. I bought some STEM (trace elements) but have been afraid to make my own mix and use it.

I am not smart enough to know the 'why's of rules to follow...........but do know there are definite rules to follow in growing gessies. (I have all the cds and books) (just don't understand half of it)

Are trace elements different than fertilizer then? I had thought they were the same. THere is a soilless mix that I can get thru the local AV club, I really like it - very lightweight compared to mixing MG AV soil with perlite - but the lady who sold it to me told me the ingredients and said that trace elements were added.

This is where I get confused - most plants get their nutrients from the soil. One would think that if you were using a soil-less mix, that you would need to fertilize.

YOu are absolutely right, jmp. Because it is a soil less mix, it is very important to feed them.
Nitrogen Phosphorus and Potassium (K) are the main nutrients you get in a fertilizer and then come all the trace elements. Pro Mix is a good one with trace elements .........

I tried the MG AV soil with perlite and it took my plants forever to adjust.........now I am changing them back to my original mix........All the fertilizer in it burned them so badly as baby plants........

A good friend of mine gave me her Wrangler's Pink Patches...........she couldn't make it bloom but admitted she had never done anything but take it home from my house.......she had never fertilized her.

GORGEOUS W. Pink Patches!!!

JMP, yes, like Gail said fert. is important with a good AV mix. Even plants in pots outside need fertilizer. Plants even in the ground do best with it. We feed our trees and all of our plants.

So with a mix with AV's it is SO important.

Wow, I don't have any Avs but who needs flowers when the plants are this gorgeous without em? Beautiful! ChuLin

Hello ChuLin...............hang out on the av forum and we will make sure you get as addicted to these silly plants as we are!.........

Hi ChuLin and welcome!! I don't think I have seen you post before,but I have been gone a while ^_^........I agree....some AVS are so gorgeous you really don't need flowers,but they are a nice bonus LOL.

Lynn

tervherd - Hello! I agree with what everyone has said . . . pot size, soilless mix, good light, and watering are all a factor. Fertilizer is a must as well. (don't tell Gail - or anyone else - but I use a 20-20-20 fertilizer w/urea!, and my plants LOVE it!

Sorry if I missed it above somewhere . . . does your AV have a name?

Laughing at you, Nichole. I have 20-20-20 (3 kinds and they all have urea in them) but I use them mainly on streps.........one of them has extra trace elements in it from CApe Cod.

I also love to use orchid food with a 20-10-12..........just change it all the time..........