Question
QUESTION: I was given an African Violet pot that has no hole in the bottom, but absorbs water from the outer pot that surrounds it. The pot that contains the violet has an unpainted bottom to it which is clay like the red pots that you can buy with a hole in the bottom.  Is this bottom container o.k. to leave water in it all of the time in order to water the top pot?  And does the top pot get enough water for the plant (I notice that the plant has limp leaves but it did bloom)?

ANSWER: Yes, these decorative pots are quite popular with violet growers.

Since the plant is getting constant watering, do watch it carefully so it doesn't get overwatered.  

You can put your fertilizer water right in the bottom pot and the plant will take up as much as it needs.

Nancy

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QUESTION: Is it alright to have limp leaves totally all over this plant?  It did bloom, though.
ANSWER: Limp leaves can be a symptom of one of two things.  Either it desperately needs water or, and I hope this is not the case, it has soil mealy bugs.

If the soil is damp, even, wet, this sounds like soil mealy bugs.

Take the plant out of the pot.  Do you see a powdery substance in the pot or on the root ball?  Is this very white?  

Soil mealy bug is curable ONLY with a strong chemical.  The chemicals that could cure the plant will cost much more than replacing the plant with another.  A quantity cost about $100.00 so you can see why it would be better to replace the plant.

Now it has to be your decision as to whether these wimply leaves are caused by extreme dryness or by soil mealy bug.

If you decide it is soil mealy bug, take up three or four leaves THAT DO NOT TOUCH THE SOIL which can spread the insects, and plant them.  You should get new plants in a few months.

In the meantime, IF this is soil mealy bug, destroy the plant after taking several leaves and buy yourself another plant to brighten your home while the leaves produce babies.

I hope the plant was only too dry.  But I can't diagnose it without seeing a picture.

Good luck!

Nancy



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QUESTION: Nancy, here I am again.  I needed to add that there is a hole in one leaf that looks like a bug might have chewed on it (nearly a perfect, round hole). Is that possibly mealy bug?  Thanks again and again!!

Answer
No, soil mealy bugs do not eat the foliage.  They stay in the soil for the most part and damage the roots so the plant can't take up water and nutrients.

Destroy the plant only if you see the white powdery substance on the rootball.  With a 30 X loupe you would be able to see these insects.

Nancy