Question
My mom has been an avid african violet grower for many years.  Over the past year, all her violets all seem to die at their heart.  When we bring them home from the nursery they're blooming and healthy but after some time, the same thing happens.  She's changed the soil, changed their location, started new plants from leaves, but lately it just keeps happening.  Any idea what might be wrong or what we can do to prevent it?  My mom is 82 years old and is getting depressed because she's never had a problem with her violets.  Please help make my mom happy.  Thank you very much!

Answer
If your mother has successfully raised violets for years, it makes me suspicious of WHERE she is buying them.  Is she purchasing them from the same place?  From a supermarket?  I'm sure she knows the basics of violet care:  They need light, moisture and humidity basically.  They also like to be root-bound in order to bloom.  IF they are not root-bound their energy will be used to produce foliage and leaves, not blossoms.
Feel free to email me back and I can attempt to answer you further.  It may be that where she has bought her violets is just not a good place.  This happens nowadays.