Re: African Violets ~~ Anyone Else Love Them?

chumlee_ · ‎04-08-2010

I love them but don't have much luck growing them. What is the secret? TIA. chum

muttmom · ‎11-28-2012

Both my grandmothers always had collections of African violets. As kids we bought them for my mother. She killed them. So do I.

Rainbows and Roses · ‎06-04-2011

I love them but mine always die. SO I have stopped trying. I don't have good lighting in my home so that probably makes a big difference and I always over water some things. So happy for those that can raise them.

JustJazzmom · ‎03-09-2010

Most houseplants get killed by overwatering. African violets dislike wet leaves so water at the soil level. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Then water until the water runs out of the bottom of the pot (it should have a drainage hole at the bottom with a saucer below it. When water runs out, dump the excess into the sink. Do not let it sit there, plants dislike saturated roots. Be sure to turn the pot a quarter turn every day so the plant gets even light and doesn't 'bend' towards it.

☼The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there. GBShaw☼

game-on · ‎03-22-2010

Magenta.... such a nice topic.... you brought back memories of my mother-in-law.... she had quite a few of them and a wonderful knack for growing them well.... she had some windows that had the right lighting and knew when to water and feed them..... I loved seeing her tend to her plants..... she raised 11 children, had an acre garden, and kept her home and her plants.... plus she played the piano... she taught herself.... she was a special woman.

I am editing this to add her name.... it was Violet.

Magenta · ‎03-11-2010

Hi ladies,

so nice to read memories of some of us here. Grandmothers with green thumbs, and others too with Moms who knew how to take care of them, how wonderful. To me they sometimes look like sugar. We have no sun today, but then I still get a lot of light today, so overall they'll still can grow or be nicely.

Thanks so much for your lovely thoughts! And may you in the near future have other plants that do well!

Hugs,

Magenta

sunshine45 · ‎03-09-2010

i had african violets as part of my table centerpieces for my wedding reception. i really wanted to have something for guests to take home and LAST rather than having a lot of cut flowers. the florists did an excellent job making them look elegant!

********************************************
"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." - Albert Einstein

chumlee_ · ‎04-08-2010

On 3/6/2014 sunshine45 said:
i had african violets as part of my table centerpieces for my wedding reception. i really wanted to have something for guests to take home and LAST rather than having a lot of cut flowers. the florists did an excellent job making them look elegant!

What a great idea! I'm going to share it with my niece for her September wedding. cheers! chum