A friend gave me a violet plant last February and it was in a brown plastic pot that stores sell them in. I put it in a deep saucer and put water in it, because I heard that you have to water them from the bottom. It was doing great except it never bloomed after the first blooms died off. About two months ago I decided I wanted to put it in pretty pot. The bottom does not have much of a saucer to water, so I tried to water from the top and being careful to not get water on the leaves, but the bottom one died and my plant looks sick. What do I need to do to get it health and bloom? Also how much sun do they need?

Is it an African Violet plant? My mother always had a lot of those, and still does. She would use Miracle Grow liquid african violet food. She always puts them in windows, but not direct sunlight or on the screen porch and they would be sooo pretty and grow so big. If this is what you are inquiring about, I will call her and get back with you for more tips.

Thanks for answering. Yes, it is a African violet. Tell your mother I would appreciate any information on keeping it alive and getting it to bloom again that she can give me. I am not good with plants. I am really surprised that it has lived this long.

Hi, Grandma!

African Violets love humidity. You might want to try putting it in a large plastic bag for a week or two in order to increase the amount of humidity that it receives. Tie the top of the bag shut. Put some holes in the bag so that it can get some air.

Try letting tap water sit for a few days in plastic milk jugs to gain room temperature and to leach out the impurities that tap water invariably has. African Violets do not like chlorinated water.

In general, African Violets need just enough water to keep the soil moist, but never soggy. Allow the roots to dry out between watering times.

Did you remember to pinch off the old, dead flowers. If not, this can inhibit re-blooming

High humidity, misting will not damage your leaves. Big water droplets on the leaves will, especially if sunlight goes through the water droplets.

Lots of indirect sunlight is best. They can get "sunburned" if left for too long in direct sunlight. Direct sunlight is best for them at the beginning or end of the day.

They will thrive in a an environment of 70° to 75° temperatures during the day and not below 60° at night.

The leaves can get water spots. This is because the water on the leaves may be too cold or because it is impure. Remember that this plant originated in Africa. There was water, it rained. I am the secretary for the Rock Island Horticulture Club. We recently had someone come and give a talk about African Violets. I asked the question about spots on the leaves and watering. She indicated that water spots on the leaves were primarily the result of our impure water if direct sunlight was not involved.

Below are a couple of links that I am sure you will find helpful. They contain a wealth of information on the African Violet.

Optimara: Caring for African Violets (http://www.optimara.com/africanvioletcare1.html)

Afican Violets - Growing and Care (http://www.plant-care.com/african-violets.html)

Maybe that is why my Mom's looked so good because we live in South Texas-lots of humidity down here-whoo hooo! Well Grandma, sound like Clough knows his stuff!

Thanks to both Clough and Missk for helping me out with this. Clough, you really do know your stuff and the links were great. As Missk said, after looking through the links that you gave me and seeing all the pretty plants does make me want more, but I better wait and see how this little one turns out. I live in Georgia and it is very humid here also but I just don't seem to have a green thumb. Thanks again to both and wish me luck.

Dear Grandma,

You are welcome!

Craig Clough

Maybe that is why my Mom's looked so good because we live in South Texas-lots of humidity down here-whoo hooo! Well Grandma, sound like Clough knows his stuff!!


Dear missk,

I hope that you DO go out and buy some African Violets! They are a wonderful houseplant. And, very easy to make other plants off the mother plant. You can grow these others and give them away as gifts! No money spent - only time.

How to propagate the african violet (http://www.gardenadvice.co.uk/howto/houseplant/african-violet/index.html)

I think I will-my mom has them all over the house. She loves them. They are very pretty and you're right they would make a good gift! :)