Hi!
My daughter begged for 2 african violet plants about 3 months ago...and although I've 'tried' them in the past without success, I agreed to let her get them. Miraculously, they are still alive & even thriving! *woohoo* We got a 3rd one 2 weeks ago & it seems happy so far as well. So...we're in the 'staying alive' zone over here...but I have some questions (& I know I should get a book, but I love the forums here & real people advice)
Q-1) What is the ideal location for them (sunlight exposure, air exposure, etc)? **Right now, they are in our garage which is actually very bright during the day because of a series of windows, and they are in their original pots (4"), and I just keep adding water to the tray I have them in....just enough water to cover the bottom of the tray....and the table they are on is where I start seedlings, so it's next to the garage door, which creates warmth for them & we also have a/c in there with a fan circulating the air as well. However...we'd like to be able to see them, lol, so I'd rather move them into the real house......
Q-2) How often should we feed? I haven't fed them since we brought them home & the leaves look great, but no blooms anymore...so I'm sure they'd like food....but which kind & how much?
Q-3) Do most of you set yours up on a tray with pebbles?
Q-4) When do you transplant? I'm trying to remember if they like being tight in the pot or need lots of space?
I'm sure more questions will pop up, but that'll do for now. Thanks in advance!
~Kim (& Hallie)
New to AV growing...a few questions
I have a lot of the same questions so I will be watching this thread also..
Welcome GothicGarden and vswilliams!!! Yes, you have come to the right place :) Soon the experts will be here to answer all your questions in detail...I've been growing less than a year. (Also I'm on my first cup of coffee and can't formulate a complex thought yet~lol)
Just wanted to say hello and you are both in for a treat!!
Welcome!!!
Please check out the "sticky" thread at the top of the forum. There's a FAQ at the top and a lot of great culture information in the links there! Folks here are happy to answer questions, but you'll probably find answers in those links to questions you didn't even know you had, LOL.
hi there!
You being in Arizona probably makes things a little drier. And the light might be more intense too. If MsC sees your post, maybe she'll comment on her experience (although I have no idea if you two live on opposite sides of the state....).
The sticky has very good links to growing tips. I've found the ones at robsviolet very helpful, and I know there are others out there too. Just note where in the country they are and adjust accordingly.
African violets are from humid places, but they are quite tolerant of normal household conditions. That said, some are not too happy during the very dry (from heating systems) winters in the north, so that might be something for you to think about.
As for light, AVs generally grow their leaves pretty flat. (Not all are so well-behaved though.) If the leaves start reaching up to the light, then they're getting too little light. If the new leaves in the centers are scrunched up, then chances are good that they're getting too much light. (There could be other causes for either of these growth habits, but light is one likely reason.)
It is generally said that they like bright indirect light. That translates to different kinds of light depending on where you are and what kind of obstruction you have outside the window. (Obstruction can be buildings across the way or on either side - blocking out sun during certain times of day, a roof overhang, trees etc.) In the DC area, a east window without obstruction is pretty good, and the light from an unobstructed west window can be a bit too much.
Fertilizer - weak is good. As with anything else, a bloom fertilizer will promote more blooms, but you also want to give the plants time to recouperate after a round of blooms. If you repot, do not fertilize for a couple of weeks at least. Also, some potting soil already has fertilizer in it, so read the package first.
Pot size - they do like to be root bound, but they also like to be repotted. Once young plants have grown into their adult pots, you trim the rootball and put it back in the same pot. Now, people have different opinions on this pot size matter (just like with almost everything else)....
A light porous potting mix is essential - at least, I can't grow them any other way. I cut commercial AV mixes with extra perlite.
Pebble trays have very little effect in terms of humidity unless the growing area is small and sealed off, and it stays warm. Another thing to watch out for is that humidity trays on cold window sills can lead to cold wet feet, which will rot the rootzone. I have a pebble tray in my office to catch water, but it stays dry most of the time because if I keep water in it, it stays wet forever and is cold - and the cold is carried up through the pots. If you think low humidity might be a problem, look at other ways to increase the humidity - that's a whole discussion unto itself....
hi there!
You being in Arizona probably makes things a little drier. And the light might be more intense too. If MsC sees your post, maybe she'll comment on her experience (although I have no idea if you two live on opposite sides of the state....).
The sticky has very good links to growing tips. I've found the ones at robsviolet very helpful, and I know there are others out there too. Just note where in the country they are and adjust accordingly.
African violets are from humid places, but they are quite tolerant of normal household conditions. That said, some are not too happy during the very dry (from heating systems) winters in the north, so that might be something for you to think about.
As for light, AVs generally grow their leaves pretty flat. (Not all are so well-behaved though.) If the leaves start reaching up to the light, then they're getting too little light. If the new leaves in the centers are scrunched up, then chances are good that they're getting too much light. (There could be other causes for either of these growth habits, but light is one likely reason.)
It is generally said that they like bright indirect light. That translates to different kinds of light depending on where you are and what kind of obstruction you have outside the window. (Obstruction can be buildings across the way or on either side - blocking out sun during certain times of day, a roof overhang, trees etc.) In the DC area, a east window without obstruction is pretty good, and the light from an unobstructed west window can be a bit too much.
Fertilizer - weak is good. As with anything else, a bloom fertilizer will promote more blooms, but you also want to give the plants time to recouperate after a round of blooms. If you repot, do not fertilize for a couple of weeks at least. Also, some potting soil already has fertilizer in it, so read the package first.
Pot size - they do like to be root bound, but they also like to be repotted. Once young plants have grown into their adult pots, you trim the rootball and put it back in the same pot. Now, people have different opinions on this pot size matter (just like with almost everything else)....
A light porous potting mix is essential - at least, I can't grow them any other way. I cut commercial AV mixes with extra perlite.
Pebble trays have very little effect in terms of humidity unless the growing area is small and sealed off, and it stays warm. Another thing to watch out for is that humidity trays on cold window sills can lead to cold wet feet, which will rot the rootzone. I have a pebble tray in my office to catch water, but it stays dry most of the time because if I keep water in it, it stays wet forever and is cold - and the cold is carried up through the pots. If you think low humidity might be a problem, look at other ways to increase the humidity - that's a whole discussion unto itself....