How much or how ofen do you water the violets?-------what is the best time or any help you can give me to keep them looking good--
afican violets
Chia,
you can take a look at the AV sticky, there is a section for general care to get you started.
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/565222/
Go to the second thread and scroll down to
FAQ & General Care Information
Basic Care and Info
It really depends on the potting mix you have them in.
I water mine like every one to two days but have them in a light mixture.
Rule of thumb...they like it a little moist..but overly wet...wet feet...is VERY bad!
Minatures need less water but more often. Also be careful your plants are in the proper size pots or they will get over watered and you will get root rot. I let my plants and wicks dry out in between watering.
The time of the year makes a difference. If it's cold or hot and humid. You can stick your finger into the pots an inch to check, but then again if the pots are too large you must be careful not to over water.
My soil-less mix I use is extremly light. I am now using 3 parts Perlite . My plants are really happy !
One book I have says each plant variety has its own water requirements ; and even in a given variety of African violets , individual species must be handled differently. In this respect African violets are similar to humans, each having a personality all its own. You must get to know a plant's personality if it is to thrive well in your home.
Overwatering has led to the demise of more African violets than any other single cause. It is most common plant problem known to indoor gardners. Too much water causes waterlogged soils and severely retards the root system development.If this condition is allowed to continus for an extended period of time, the plants will turn yellow and slowly die.
Let's briefly consider how waterlogged soil kills a plant. If a plant is to be happy growing in a particular soil mixture it must have a good oxygen supply present in that soil. This oxygen is taken up by the roots and used in the conversion of the plant's stored food into energy it needs for growing. Over watering forces all the oxygen out of the soil and causes a plant to fail to produce the necessary energy to sustain its healthy growth. If this condition is allowed to remain for a too long period , the plant slowly starves to death.
The amount of water you use for each watering will vary according to the African violet needs. Plants growing in two and half to three inch diameter pots should recived an average of a quarter cup of water per day. ( this is if the plant fills the pot and has roots) Be sure to test the soil to determine if any water is needed. Larger pots will require a little more water , and should allow for this. Let any excess water drain out the bottom of the pot through the drain hole. Discard water. Don't ever re-use.
You are overwatering if a lot of water comes out the bottom drain hole. This washes the nurtients from the soil and eventually will cause problems for the plant if you don't plan for it. Just a very small amount ( fivw to ten drops) of water should seep out . When this quantity of water does drip out the plant is properly watered.
Test the soil before you water. Always use the " touch test " to determine when to water African violets. A few dark-colored soil particles will cling to your finger if the soil is still sufficiently moist.
In the sticky is info about wick and bottom watering. Either way I let my plants dry out a little in-between. A minature African violet plant will not be happy if it gets dry.
It's good to set up a watering schedule and feeding..