Question
I just got an african violet. How big do they get generally? & How often should I repot. I`ve seen specialty food/ soil for african violets. Is that neccesary?
Thank you
   Judeanne  

Answer
Hello Judeanne:  Generally, African violets should be repotted at least every six months. If left longer than that, the soil can "break down" and the plant might not get the nutrients it needs.  Since I grow for show competition, I repot at least every four months. Growing for show is a bit different than growing for fun...although many of the same things apply to both ways. Depending on the type of violet, there are different sizes. Miniatures, Semi-Miniatures and Standards.  Standards are the largest. I have one of my Standard plants that I am getting ready to take to a show and it is 26 inches across.  The soil that is marked for African Violets is usually too heavy and could result in root rot from holding too much water. If I were going to use some of the commercially prepared mixes--like you see at Wal-Mart--I would add at least 50% more perlite...you can get this at Wal-Mart too. African Violets like to be pot bound...in other words, the pot should only be 1/3 the size of the plant. If you have an African Violet that has a leaf span of 12 inches, then the pot should only be a four inch pot. If the pot is too big, the roots will drown from too much water volume in the pot. Regarding fertilizer:  I use the constant feed method--by that I mean I mix 1/4 tsp. of fertilizer into a gallon of water...I use this weak fertilizer solution every time I water...the plant gets "fed" on a regular basis but not too much to burn the roots. Try this formula on all your houseplants...they will love it. Another plus to constant feed is that you don't have to try to remember the last time you fed your plants. Peters African Violet Special fertilizer is available at Wal-Mart and is great for constant feeding of violets and other houseplants. If you have not visited the African Violet Society of America web site, you owe it to yourself to do so.  http://www.avsa.org   It is loaded with lots of good growing tips and you will really like the color photos. I do know they are in the process of making some changes so if it is not accessible you can wait a few days and try again. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact me. Best wishes and happy growing, Mary Hill, Tulsa, Okla.