Question
Hello, I have in the past over watered my AV and have lost them. Now I am letting them dry out completly and using a meter to be sure that they need to be watered. I have been told by a oouple of people that grow AF that the new center leaves need to be removed so that the plant can keep blosseming, these leaves look so healthy I'm afraid to remove them. Please advise me. Also can you recommend a good AV book for me to buy on the care of these lovely plants? Thank you so much.
Beverly

Answer
Oh do not remove those leaves.  The plant will not look right and you could actually kill it by doing that.  If it looks good keep doing what you are doing.

A good rule of thumb is the pot size should be 1/3 the size of the plant.  Unlike many other houseplants these like to be rootbound and do best when they are.  Not to the point that the roots are coming out the bottom though.

Here are a few sites that will help you.  I am always so happy to find a beginner.  Enjoy these plants they are fantastic!

http://p069.ezboard.com/bplantfanatics
http://www.avsa.org/
http://www.aggs.org/
http://www.avsa.org/AvsaLinks.asp

Happy Growing
Kristina