AV's and Gloxinia's

Hey: I'm not new to gardening, but am one month new to the DG website and learning a lot from all of the intelligent "plant people" here! I have a few AV's and a couple of Gloxinia's. Do they both require the same care? What is a good fertilizer to use. Does anyone reccomend the granular vs liquid? I have tried the little spikes for flowering plants, but they don't seem to do real well for me. Any suggestions? Here's a photo of mine, none identified cause I never think to keep those tags! Some of them don't look too good ... I'm going to try to be a better "mommy" to them! Promise! Oh, and, I don't have any of those special grow lights (maybe some day) .... I just put mine in east facing windows all day, where they get real bright light but no direct sun!

Lin

Oh, and I need to repot some. I have been using store bought AV formula potting mix and I use old panty hose threaded thru the hole in the bottom of the pots for taking up water. I only put water in the outer pot and it gets sucked up thru the nylon. Does anyone have any suggestions for doing it differently? Any special brand of soil?

I have a couple of babies in the front left of the photo that I rooted from leaves.

Any tips anyone can give on AV's or Glox is really appreciated!

Thanks again!

Lin

Looks to me like you are doing great with your plants. If it ain't broke don't fix it as the saying goes.. Is there anything special you are having problems with?

I think your plants look good, a few are evern blooming and everyone is green and perky.

What do you all use for fertilizer? And, how often do you feed?

Lin

Wow, they look great to me too. I use optimara plant food. It comes in little packets and one packet makes a gallon (I use an old gallon milk container). It's supposed to be really good because it doesn't contain urea, which some of the other ferts do. I just started growing av's so can't give you expert advise, but this is a question I asked a while ago and heard optimara. I got it at the grocery store where they sell plants and flowers, it comes in a very small box with several packets inside.

Welcome to our forum, it's a great bunch of helpful people here. By the way, your 2 av's in the back are very beautiful. Would love to see closer pics of them if you have any.,

Maureen

I'm no expert either but I use Plant Prod Flowering Plant fert 15-30-15 with every watering. I have started doing this over the past month as I had asked this same question. Since the month has past I have noticed a big difference in all my violets. Much more robust leaves and bigger blooms!

I buy Alltreat AV soil but I add some peat moss to it, to lighten it up. Works great for me!

Welcome by the way! LOL
Dawna

Lovely plants, Dawna. Is that one strep "Blue Mars'?

Lin, for natural light I think an east facing window is the first choice for African Violets! I grew them when I was in high school, on a plant stand by my (you guessed it) east facing bedroom window.

Your plants look wonderful! I like your idea of using old panty hose strips for wicks. Do you use a fairly light soil mix? Lots of folks here (me included) have been having good results with a very light mix of at least half perlite and half regular soil-less mix (Dawna, don't fix it if it ain't broke, but I don't think peat moss lightens the mix in the same way). The lighter mix seems to be an especially good thing with wick watering or self-watering (reservoir) containers.

Welcome to Dave's Garden!!