While watching Tipical Mary Ellen on HGTV today she had a flower expert talking about fertilizing flowering house plants. She said in order to get the plant to put on flowers you need to starve it. If you fertilize the plant it will go to all leaves. But if you limit the fertilizer you will have more flowers blooming.
Now does this apply to AV's as well, or from any of your experiences does this hold true to any blooming flower?
Fertilizing AV's
There are certainly some plants that like to be starved to kick into bloom mode. There are also plants that will flower when they think they are dying as a last ditch effort for survival (seeds). Plants that bloom seasonally in their native habitat after a cool dry spell often respond to less water and no fertilizer too.
I don't think AVs respond to that kind of treatment. You should use a bloom booster type fertilizer - that's one with a high middle number like 6-14-8. Too much nitrogen (the first number) will promote more foliage growth. Another tip that some growers give out is to knock on the pot (to jolt the roots) once in a while - sound like magic and maybe it is. LOL.
How often do AV's require fertilizer? Our AV's have developed a white/greyish edge around the leaves and center veins of the leaves--I am wondering if this is from over fertilization...I fertilize once a month with Miracle Grow Bloom fertilizer...maybe it was too strong...or maybe it's something else entirely?
Thanks. t.
I guess you can tell I am new at AV's. These are only a couple of months old so I haven't fertilized them all that much...
This message was edited Jan 25, 2005 8:40 AM
Here's a few suggestions in answer to your questions:
The standard fertilizing program recommended by the AVSA is 1/4 strength everytime you water. The hard part is that everyone waters at different times because of soil conditions, etc...I seem to have better luck with a steady low diet of fertilizer, but some AV will grow and bloom on your schedule and if it is working for you then stick with it. You may find when you repot your AV's that you will have to beef up your feeding program because many of the commercially grown plants have long term fertilizer granules in the soil already.
The white/grey areas on your AV leaves can be caused by a couple of things....
*the first is watering with cold water.AV hate cold water and sulk buy turning grey and dropping leaves.Mine do it routinely..lol Tempid water is best.
* the next thing that comes to mind could be sooty mold..it can be caused from a damp growing area with lack of air movement. Try to improve the air circulation around them by using a fan gently blowing air around the room.
Congrats on your Av's and welcome to the forum.There are a lot of folks here that will be glad to help you if you need anything at all.
Check the old post and there maybe answers to other questions you have that may help you out too.
Happy growing
MsC
Hi, MsCritterkeeper--Thanks for your post--I looked thru the old AV threads as you suggested and found a link to this FAQ page which other newbies to AV's might like to look at
http://robsviolet.com/faq.htm
lots of good 'introductory' info here.
I think my AV's are suffering from TML--too much love--overwatering (with cold water) and overfertilizing. Maybe too much light, too. Mmmm....
Thanks again. t.
You are welcomed...mine seem to suffer from the very same things..lol
You can alwasy check the African Violet Society of America sight too.
They have a wonderful photo section with a gazillion pics of named varieties and there is a section for FAQ that was very helpful to me.
The Faq link :
http://avsa.org/Faq.asp
Thanks, MsCritterkeeper--I checked out the African Violet Society Link and it is full of great info for the beginner...
also found out their National Convention is April 20-24 2005 right here in a Cincinnati suburb the SAME weekend as our Ohio Valley DG RU right here in Cincinnati AND the big Cincinnati Flower Show. There will be tons to do here that week! I sent an email to Kooger to ask her to post the AVSA Convention on the Events Forum (along with the other two).
I wonder if any AV fanciers from DG are coming into town for the Convention...they can come to the RU, too. They are not far apart... thanks again. t.
p.s. Here's a link to the AVSA Convention http://www.avsa.org/NationalConvention.html
T.
That's so cool... wish I could go.But there is probable way too much snow up there for my old bones and I'm allergic to snow.:)
Try an take some pics to share with all of us "less fortunate souls." That is a wonderful opportunity for a beginner AV person or anyone for that matter.You should come back with lots of great plants and tips for us.
I can't wait for you to tell us all about it!
MsC
M. Well, we don't have SNOW in late April here! Cincinnati is practically the South! Wish you could come...
I will take some pics. Wish I could get somebody who knows something about AV's to go! t.