African Violets...

[Cowgirl]

...hot shot. I read no mention of pH. Violets like a lower soil pH, 6.0 being a good target. Tap water is probably pushing 7 and light feeding doesn't buffer that. House plants run from 6.8 on up to the low 7's typically.

I'd suggest looking at liquid AF food and see if the label doesn't mention that it is lower, acidified.

If not, you can do it at home by adding vinegar, maybe a teaspoon to a watering, about 12-16 oz. I've got a rate at the office I'll post tomorrow. Can't remember if it's 1 0z per 1 or 10 gallons water, so, hold on. Too much is bad.

That is too much work for a little plant that won't bloom!!!

 

[jazz lady]

That is too much work for a little plant that won't bloom!!!

Good. Don't listen to him. He don't know nothing 'bout raising no flowers.

 

[jazz lady]

...hot shot. I read no mention of pH. Violets like a lower soil pH, 6.0 being a good target. Tap water is probably pushing 7 and light feeding doesn't buffer that. House plants run from 6.8 on up to the low 7's typically.

I'd suggest looking at liquid AF food and see if the label doesn't mention that it is lower, acidified.

If not, you can do it at home by adding vinegar, maybe a teaspoon to a watering, about 12-16 oz. I've got a rate at the office I'll post tomorrow. Can't remember if it's 1 0z per 1 or 10 gallons water, so, hold on. Too much is bad.

I use tap water with a weak solution of AFV food with every watering. I also use a soil mix specifically blended for AFVs. I believe both are put out by Peter's.

 

[Larry Gude]

Where is the...

I use tap water with a weak solution of AFV food with every watering. I also use a soil mix specifically blended for AFVs. I believe both are put out by Peter's.

...love!? The 'bite me' emoticon represents, to me, anger and I did not mean to provoke anger or belittlement when I referred to you as 'hot shot'. On the contrary, it was meant as a term of endearment because I think of you as someone who damn near knows everything because of rather varied and wide interests and it's fun to know something that someone you think highly of doesn't know.

So, anyway, if I offended thee I apologize.


Back to the topic at hand; lower pH is not part of your AV regime?

Hmmm....curious.

 

[Larry Gude]

That's what...

That is too much work for a little plant that won't bloom!!!

...I say. The only rational solution is to buy new ones! All the time! People ask me all the time how to get their poinsettia back in shape; E-Z. Buy a new one!

 

[jazz lady]

...love!? The 'bite me' emoticon represents, to me, anger and I did not mean to provoke anger or belittlement when I referred to you as 'hot shot'. On the contrary, it was meant as a term of endearment because I think of you as someone who damn near knows everything because of rather varied and wide interests and it's fun to know something that someone you think highly of doesn't know.

So, anyway, if I offended thee I apologize.

Easy, stud. It was just a joke.

Back to the topic at hand; lower pH is not part of your AV regime?

Hmmm....curious.

Nope. They grow like gangbusters even with all my "neglect."

 

[jazz lady]

...I say. The only rational solution is to buy new ones! All the time! People ask me all the time how to get their poinsettia back in shape; E-Z. Buy a new one!

Plant pimp.

 

[Larry Gude]

Brilliant!

Plant pimp.

...a new reality show!


PIMP MY YARD

 

[Dougstermd]

I think I am quite the expert and a recovering African Violet addict. At one time, I had about two dozen. I'm down to around 5 now.

Mine bloom almost continuously but they do tend to go dormant over the winter. There are several keys for blooms: the right light, the right soil, the right pot, not overwatering, and fertilizing correctly.

AVs like bright, diffused light so an east or west facing window is best. They will get cooked in a south-facing window. I use the self-watering pots and only water once every two weeks. AVs like to be rootbound so only buy a pot as big as the rootball. It's best to use a weak fertilizer solution made specifically for AVs. I like the liquid from Miracle Gro that you add as a few drops to your watering water. I also use a soil mixture specifically formulated for AVs that I think is put out by Scott's.

Also, it's very important to remove spent blooms as soon as they start to die back. This forces the plant to make more blooms.

well while you are giving out lessons:shrug:

the impatients are doing great in the flower boxes now but the new guinea impatients look sickly WTF