Question
Thanks for trying...I'm at a loss.  It's not a problem with over feeding.  The plants are healthy, growing, blooming like crazy.  It's just the very tiny spot where the stem touches the pot where this happens.  It eventually gets so week in that one spot only that causes it to break through the stem.  It never happens aywhere except the tiny spot where it touches.  As long as nothing touches the pot the plant is fine.  I've never had this happen before in all the years I've had them. I started putting a tiny piece of cotton where they touch and that helps but it's hard to keep all the cotton in place. Again...thanks for trying.  If you get any ideas please let me know...thanks again...Cherri   Happy Holidays!
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I have grown africian violets for many years with no problems.  Now my leaves are dying from where the stems touch the pot.  I have clay, glass and plastic pots and it is happening on all of them.  I don't like the plastic braces that you can use to hold the stems out.  I break too many leaves trying to get them on and it's harder to change the soil with these on the plant.  It's like the pot is eating through the stems.  Help!!!
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Cherri,
The reason I took so long to get back to you was that I needed to check a few books.  I have actually never heard of African Violet leaves rotting or dying simply from touching plastic pots, or pots other than clay or terra cotta.  In fact, my sources suggest using plastic.  It also suggests that coating the rim of clay and terra cotta pots with parrafin.  I've never tried that, but it sounds workable.

One of my other books mentioned something that could be your problem.  Over-feeding violets can lead the leaf stems to rot.  Are you absolutely certain that this is not your problem, rather than the stems touching the pot rims?  This is just an idea.  This is probably why most plant experts recommend diluting fertilizer by one-half of the dose on the label.  I hope that something I have mentioned above helps you.

Answer
Cherri,
You are quite welcome.  I am at a loss, too.  Both of the texts that I checked stated what I already shared with you.  However, if I have any new ideas or come up with any other answers I will be certain to email them to you.  I occasionally send and receive emails from friends with African violets.  I will see if they have any suggestions for your dilemma.  I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season, too.  Stay safe!