Question
Dear Darlene,
I have just started taking care of an African violet as a little hobby, I bought an AV from Home Depot it looked healthy and blooming so I bought one May/2012. My bedroom first started facing SW on the window. While I was waiting for  "The Perfect African Violet Pot" a 4" pot which is a part is unglazed ceramic bottom and,  bought an "Intelligent Plant Light" for a light source.
I transplanted it from a plastic container to the new one. The grow light stands about 12" above the plant, 13hrs of light and 12hrs of dark . A mixture of "smart water" with AV liquid fertilizer from Home Depot. The plant "Gertrude" has not bloomed yet,soil is always just moist, new soil is only for AV'S, I am seeing only 1 leaf that has a yellow rim around the rim of that single leaf, I did see one before and I cut it off. "Gertrude" has a rich green colour, velvet hairs, veins of the leaf"s very burgundy  seems healthy to me.
What could that mean? How long do I have to wait to see a bloom, do you think the plant is "Happy"?

Answer
Conrad,

The yellow leaves indicate the soil may be a little too moist. The top of the soil should feel nearly dry. Lower in the pot the soil will still be moist. I do not not like self watering pots for most plants, they tend to keep most plants too wet for too long. I suggest that you pour the water out of the reservoir for 2 days to allow the soil to dry a bit on Friday night then put it back on Sunday night. Do this each week and your plant will be even healthier. Also give the plant 1 teaspoon of Epsom salts. Epsom salts is magnesium sulfate and that helps trigger blooming plants to bloom better. Mix 1 teaspoon Epsom salts with 1/2 cup of water and give the plant a teaspoon of the mix at a time on top of the soil lifting the leaves gently. Don't give Gertrude more than 2 teaspoons of the mix a week. She should be covered with flowers within 6-8 weeks and be very happy. Good luck!

Darlene