Sunday, August 30, 2015

MY AFRICAN VIOLETS

I took my African Violet outside to take pictures of the beautiful flowers.  They lived.  They really lived.  Every African Violet I got died.  I even drove down to Naples, NY and bought some from the Violet Barn (had a post on them a year or so ago) and still they died.

So when I got these I expected them to die.  This African Violet came with  beautiful flowers and, as usual, the flowers died.  I replanted them in a bigger container and gave them some plant food.  Only watered them when they were dry.  Put them in my kitchen window where I get the most sun.

I am so excited that the flowers came, that I want to show them off.  My other African Violet is not doing as well as this one right now, but I think it will come through - I hope anyway.

Do any of you raise African Violets?  Do you have any advice?

13 comments:

Tom said...

Perhaps you overwatered them. Sometimes you can kill them with kindness. Tom The Backroads Traveller

Vanssmomc said...

Good Marilyn, I currently have 5 African Violets and I seem to have the most luck putting them in a north window. I am most definitely not an expert on African Violets, I often forget to water and somehow I have not killed them. I do love the flowers they produce and love it when they blossom even in the winter. Cathy in Webster

Vanssmomc said...

Sorry Marilyn, I meant "Good Morning"!! Cathy in Webster

New York State Of Mind said...

Good Morning Tom,
You could be right. I talked with Violet Barn in Naples, and did exactly what she told me, this time. Only water them when they feel dry. Then don't drown them.

Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Good Morning Cathy,
You have 5, oh that's wonderful. Right now, I have two, but would like another one sometime. Mine are where the sun shines in the in the morning. I do the love flowers, too. Can't wait to see them blossom in the winter.

Marilyn

Anonymous said...

Marilyn.....Good morning! I have violets for many years and was given excellent advice by a very elderly woman who sold violets commercially in our area. She said that a northern exposure is good, but the violets are also happy under a regular light. I have a side table that has a light on it and that light is on from about 5:30 in the afternoon until bedtime and my violets are super happy there. Those same violets get indirect light from a window about 5 feet away during a small portion of the day. Another thing she said was to always water them (when it was time) with room temperature water. I pour the water in the plant saucer and let it soak up as much as it needs for two hours....If there is any remaining after that, I pour it away and let the plant dry out prior to the next watering, which is usually about a week. I love the flowers on the violets since they are so vivid and bloom in the winter time too when we all need a bit of color in our day! Your violet looks wonderfully healthy and I hope that is gives you joy for many years to come. Have fun! Chris

Vickie said...

I have had one for 9 years. I rarely water it. It is in our front room without a lot of sun. Dark red flowers on it. :)

New York State Of Mind said...

Good Morning Chris,
I like the idea of moving them, when I get a small stand to my sliding glass door where the sun really comes in. Right next to it I have the lamp that I always turn on in the evening. Oh, I didn't know that about the water at room temperature. I have been giving it to them right out of the water faucet. Also, I just put water where they sit until they are damp. I haven't had them receive it for two hours. You have given great information. Thank you so much. The African Violets are my favorite flower. Really look forward to having them bloom in the winter. Hope I am keep them alive for many years.
Thank you so much,
Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Good Morning Vickie,

I have another African Violet that is red. It's just not blooming right now. Your African violet is nine years old - that's great. You must have the touch.

Hugs to Mable and Henry,
Marilyn and Pierre

Anonymous said...

Hi Marilyn, I have been told in the past not to allow water to touch the leaves, as well as not to touch the leaves in general. When I've had indoor plants in the past, I would usually water them from the bottom also. Sure makes it more difficult to drown them! LOL🌹🌻🌺 Blessings, Carol

New York State Of Mind said...

Hi Carol,

Thank you. I do water them from the bottom, but I do sometimes touch the leaves, but I will try not to do that anymore. It does make it more difficult to drown them.

Blessings to you and yours,
Marilyn

Dynna said...

Your African violet is lovely and my favorite color. I did have African violets for a lot of years. They always lived by north windows and did really well. I did feed them with liquid feed specifically for them. Otherwise I did nothing special with them.

New York State Of Mind said...

Hi dynnamae n,

I am glad that you had African Violets. So happy it is your favorite color. Mine is in the north window - well as north as I can get. I do have African Violet liquid, but I have't used it yet.

Marilyn