Question
QUESTION: My African violets are in Walmart pots - a pot in a pot - and after 3 yrs., they are dying.  I don't see any bugs ON  the plants,  but there are tiny bugs  living IN  the water bowl part.  Do the aphids or flies or gnats actually live IN the water????    If not, what does and can they be controlled or do I just have to throw away the pot and plants and start again????

The plant leaves started turning yellow around the edges and then got dead spots about the size of a dime on them.  The plants are still putting up flower buds, but most of them seem to dry up and wither without opening.  The flowers that do open seem stunted and deformed.

ANSWER: Pat,
You've asked a question I've never heard before! Most definitely there is some kind of insect or parasite living in the water. With these self-watering pots they are probably passing into the plant soil by eggs, or maybe larvae. I would empty the pots of all water immediately, and sterilize them-- either in a dishwasher or with bleach solution or both. Then, examine the soil of the violets. See if there is anything "moving" in there that resembles an insect. If so, then you'll want to repot your plants into sterile AV mix. Even if you DON'T see anything it would probably be a safe idea to repot them.  Before doing that make sure to wash off the roots of the violets very thoroughly but gently. That's the best I can offer. I have never heard of insects living in the water, but I'll watch mine more carefully from now on, because I also use self-watering pots.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you SOOOOO very much for the reply.  I will certainly do that soon.  I still have a lot of the av soil left over from the last time I repotted and maybe something is in it.  Do you think I can successfully "sterilize" the soil by either freezing it or baking it,  or should I just toss it and get a new bag??  (I wish they sold smaller bags--I just hate to throw something away that is still useful.)

Again, thank you so very, very, much.  

Answer
Pat,
You are very welcome.
I would bake it in the oven in a large container lined with aluminum foil. That is how it is usually suggested to sterilize soil. I think you bake it for at least 20 minutes at 300 degrees, but don't quote me on that. I've never done it. That should be easy to fine out. Just Google "sterilize potting soil" for an answer.

I do hope I helped some, and hope your plants survive.