[January 15, 2009] Five things to know about African violets Tweet Jan 15, 2009 (The Wenatchee World - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Looking for winter blooms with little fuss? Carole Latimer says African violets work for her. She got her first one as a gift as a little girl and was hooked on its beauty. Today, she's got 15 plants -- with blooms ranging from solid to multi colors -- sitting on windowsills throughout her Sleepy Hollow home. She says they keep her gardening spirits up throughout the long winter months. Latimer grew up in Indiana, later moving to Wisconsin, Wyoming and New York. In 1979, she moved to Wenatchee, where she later took Master Gardener training. Asked why she likes violets, she responds: "I love flowers, all of them. I don't care if it's a dandelion -- it's gorgeous." 1. Varieties abound "You can get hooked on all the varieties; there are ones with little blooms, larger blooms, flat leaves, curly leaves, solid and multi-colored flowers and red-and-white-stripes. You can even get trailing ones." African violets, which grow naturally in eastern Africa, were introduced to the world in 1892 by Baron Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire, a German officer stationed in Tanzania. The violets' botanical family is Gesneriaceae, their genus Saintpaulia, and they come in about 20 species. Plants can be purchased at local nurseries and department, hardware and grocery stores. Prices vary depending on the size of the plants and how rare or new a particular plant is, but most cost only a few dollars. 2. Water from the bottom of the pot African violets are prone to rot, so keeping water from settling on the leaves is critical to their health. Plant a violet in a pot that comes with a spout-like opening in the bottom. That's where you pour in the water. After watering, the plant will wick up whatever moisture it needs. Water about once a week. Pour in only enough water to fill that bottom reservoir or you'll be inviting rot problems. Monitor plant health regularly by checking the water level in the bottom at each watering. If the bottom is still full from last week's watering, the plant is in distress. Drain the water, and do not water that week. Recheck the next week. Also, regularly check the top soil for mold. If any spots are found, place an ear swab in hydrogen peroxide and simply touch the tip to the mold. It will disappear almost instantly. 3. Indirect light is best Place African violets in a window with indirect light for best blooms. The only time they will grow well in direct light is in the middle of winter when the sun is low. The rest of the year, the hot sun will turn the leaves brown. "I've found my violets grow best when the temperature is kept at 65 to 85 degrees." 4. Fertilize, clean regularly Once a week, give each plant a dose of fertilizer such as Miracle-Gro. Mix 1/2 teaspoon in a gallon of room-temperature water. Like all houseplants, African violets get dusty. "Once a year, in the spring they get a nice warm bath. I fill the sink with warm water with a little dish soap in it, and gently swish the plant back and forth, all the while holding the plant upside down and holding the soil and roots in the pot." 5. Divide and repot when overly crowded Violets need to feel crowded to bloom, but when a plant gets too big for its pot, divide the plant's separate-looking leaf heads. When you repot, tease the roots apart and plant in room-temperature potting soil. Once re-potted, violets make excellent gifts. It's also possible to reproduce African violets by cutting off a leaf, and placing the stem in water. First you will see roots forming and then tiny leaves. Place in potting soil after the roots and leaves become well formed. Local Wisdom appears weekly in one of The Wenat-chee World's Features sections. Know someone who might make a good source? Send an e-mail, with "Local Wisdom" in the subject line, to [email protected]. Additional resources The African Violet Society of America: www.avsa.org Disease management from Penn State University Cooperative Extension: www.ppath.cas.psu.edu/extension/plant-disease/afviotet.html To see more of The Wenatchee World or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.wenworld.com. Copyright (c) 2009, The Wenatchee World, Wash. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]