Question
What do you think about the bottom watering systems where you fill the container and put he ceramic plant holder inside and let the water touch the bottom of the ceramic and thus water the violet? Mine looks healthy enough but not growing and not producing flowers. I have read your articles and realize I need to fertilize so will get some recommended. Just curious if the watering system is a good one or should I repot and place the pot with the hole in a dish of water?

Answer
Peg,
You ask a good question, because just lately I've been reconsidering my potting technique for the same reason. I have been keeping all my violets in these "double pot" watering pots for about 3-4 years now, and it seems mine do not bloom as they once did. In addition, it seems that the violets I have seem to grow more crowns, up to 3-4! Of course, when this happens one is supposed to divide the plant, but that is harder than it sounds. Violets are such delicate plants, and I've lost many plants over the years by dividing the crowns.  It COULD have something to do with the inside part of the pot collecting mineral deposits, thus interfering with proper osmosis of the water into the soil itself. Other than that, I'm stumped. I know that violets need to be rather pot-bound to bloom regularly. The reason for this is if the roots have lots of extra room to grow out they will grow out into the soil, however, if the roots are somewhat prevented from becoming longer the plant will put its energy into blooms. Does that make sense? It took me a lot of years to understand that piece of biology! So, maybe we just need to clean and scrub our water holders more often, and see if that helps. If not, then I don't know about you, Peg, but I think I may just go back to the little individual pots that I have to water every other day!!!  :)