Question
Violets
Hello Mrs. Kittle, I have read many of your informative questions/answers about African violets, so I am hoping you can help get my violets back into shape.
I received the violets last April and quickly repotted the plant since the pot did not have drainage holes. A nursery employee recommended that I water the violets with Miracle-Gro Quick Start as it is supposed to prevent transplant shock (I later found out that this stuff is probably meant for outdoor vegetable and flowering plants). The product analysis includes 1.8% Ammoniacal Nitrogen,2.2% Urea Nitrogen, 12% Available Phosphate, and 4% Soluble Potash. I used the product per its instructions. In total, I probably applied it to the violets four times. I believe this might be the cause for my violets growing vertically.
I do not believe insufficient light created the problem. The violets are located on a southeastern window ledge. There is a sheer curtain between the violets and the window. There are no trees or other items blocking the light from entering the window. My other violets are in this same location and they are growing normally (I did not apply the Miracle Gro Quick Start product to those violets).
I attempted to solve the problem by repotting them in fresh African violet potting soil. That was 6 months ago and the plant has not improved. Although the plant is still growing well and the foliage looks nice, the plant has not bloomed and the younger leaves are being trapped beneath the older leaves.
These violets are potted in a 4 inch clay pot with Miracle Gro's African Violet Potting Soil. I usually water the plant every 4-7 days. I leech the soil every month or so. The white stuff around the rim of the pot is candle wax. I have attached one picture of the violets and sent more to your email address.
Do you have any advice for getting my violets back into shape? Do you know what specific type of African violets these are?
AnswerJillian,
Violets need strong, bright light but not direct sun. Lack of light curtails blooming and causes leaves to grow upright. Too much light results in leaves that are brittle, scorched, and yellow. Under natural light, an east window is often the best in winter. Northern exposures are better during hot, summer months. I have no idea how much light your shear blocks but for those plants it may be blocking too much light. Some violets seem to need more light than others. I would try moving those plants to a diferent window without shears, maybe an east window. As for getting violets to bloomm that have not bloomed in some time it will help to put a teaspoon of magnesium sulfate on top of the soil then water it in by watering under the leaves. Magnesium sulfate triggeers blooming in lots of plants but especially violets. Magnesium sulfate is better known as Epsom salts, 1 teaspoon per plant is enough. Try that and more light and i think you will see a difference within 6 weeks. Good luck.
Darlene
