Question
I inherited my African Violets from my neighbor who had them for years and when she passed away her son gave them to me about 5 years ago.  they are in clay pots that feed from the bottom.  I fertilize with African Violet fertilizer.  I let the water stand at least 24 hours before I use it to water.  The fertilizer is in the water.  Help! I think that I am losing one.  It bloomed a couple of blooms and now the flower is done and drying up.  but the problem is that the leaves are drooping!  no discolor of them just drooping!  i added a little bit of dirt/worm fertilizer on the top soil and worked it in but not better.  I water every Friday. The soil seems way dry on top so I carefully watered a little bit from the top, being careful to not touch the leaves. Still drooping and looks like it is getting close to dying.  Help and thank you for any help or advice that you can give me to keep it alive.  Dixie

Answer
Dixie,
It really sounds like crown rot. There is nothing can be done about this. It comes from either over-watering or a fungal infection. Don't feel too badly. It is very arbitrary in how it affects violets. I had one that just succumbed last week to this very thing, and I did everything right. Sometimes it just happens. Be sure to discard it and wash/sterilize the pot before using it for another plant. Sorry you lost one!