Potting Soil

QuestionHi... In a place where we do not get vermiculite and perlite what do you think is the best soil that we can use. I tried mixing sand and vermicompost but it looks like the soil has become very hard around th

leaves turning black

QuestionHi.. The leaves look strong initially but gradually they turn black and the stem of the leaf has no strength and falls on the rim of the pot and is almost cut off from the main stem. I assumed that the plant

Avs flowers wilt before blooming

QuestionWhy my avss flowers buds wilt before blooming ? AnswerFlower buds that wilt before blooming is usually caused because of dry air. The plant needs more humidity. African violets love humidity so

white spots on my AV flowers

QuestionI have one AV here at work. It is in a north-facing window and has been thriving until recently. The leaves are still a beautiful green and it blooms almost constantly. I the last month,it

persian violets

Questioni think i already e-mailed you a question, but put my wrong address. im asking about how long persian violets live. are they seasonable? i buy one every year and they last a while and die.

droopy leaves

QuestionHi, I have a wonderful purple/blue violet that blooms its little heart out about this time every year. I noticed it was starting its blooming cycle, gave it some violet fertilizer in the water, and it

Repotting African Violets

QuestionIs it okay to repot my African Violet when it is in full bloom? AnswerYes, you can repot even though the violet is blooming. We prefer to take off blooms after repotting so the strength goes to making

black specks on african violet

QuestionI have tiny black specks on my violet, what could this be? AnswerThis is somewhat hard to answer without seeing the plant. 1. Are the black specks movable? It could be excreetment of mice or some ins

Violet Fertilizers

QuestionI have used Peters A.V. Food for years, and my Violets LOVED it!! I ran out awhile back and I could not find it any more. So I resorted to Miracle Grow for A.V. They are not doing as well o

NEW to AVs - pinch off dead blooms?

QuestionI received a beautiful trio of AVs as a gift and Ive never cared for them before. Is it proper to pinch off dead and dried blooms? Is there a specific blooming season or should they bloom year ro

African Violet care when away

QuestionQUESTION: I am going to be away for 3 weeks. I want to put dry cleaner plastic bags around my plants. Should I punch holes in the plastic? Any special instructions? ANSWER: Make a tent so the plastic doesnt

blooms are drying & dying

QuestionI recently took over my Mother in laws African Violet. It had not been watered hardly at all & the soil was very dry & crumbly to the touch. It was doing very well tho. I watered it from the bottom with wate

Gloxinia

QuestionI have had a gloxinia for several years. Every year before it flowers the stem seems to weaken and cannot support the upper part of the plant or the flowers. Since the plant goes dormant every ye

two colors on one plant

QuestionQUESTION: I am new to AV. I bought some tiny starter about quarter size and one is now blooming. the plant has two different blooms. one is a double purple with ruffle white edge. The other is pink with dark

white cottony material on violets

QuestionI have three little violet plants that have been doing quite well. I just noticed today that there is a white cottony material mainly where the leaves are attached to the stem. If it is mealy bug

African violet propagation

QuestionHi... Im going to start propagating African violets... I have access to a greenhouse... I wanted to know how long does it take for a regular leaf-plantlet to reach flowering size (in normal/good conditions).

Too Wet

QuestionI have the self watering pots but some of my violets are getting too wet and are dying. Should I let them dry out and will the limp leaves get firmer or have I lost the plant. Do you know what th

Leaves are growing twisted

QuestionQUESTION: I have had them for about 10 years under the same conditions, but the last six months the new leaves are glowing smaller and buched up and twisted. ANSWER: Mercedes, Are the centers pale, brittle

thin a.v.s

Questionhello. i have 2 violets that has been with me for almost 3 years now. i was able to let 1 plant bloom. lately i have noticed that the petiole stem of my avs are very thin. the leaves are smaller compared to

brown spots on white flower

QuestionI have a white flowered Av that when the flower buds open, the buds dont appear to have any marking whilst theyre developing, get brown spots on the flower. No other part of the plant has brown s