| Are your African violets needing help? Can't get | | | | for at least 2 weeks, and continue to follow the |
| them to bloom? Are you confused about how to | | | | directions on the spray. |
| water them? These little flowering plants are | | | | Now that your new plant is ready to bring in with |
| wonderful, but keeping them plush and getting | | | | the others, gently repot it into the self watering |
| them to bloom can seem like a challenge. They | | | | pot using the packaged soil. You'll want the leaves |
| are really simple to care for, but you need to | | | | of the plant to be just above the edge of the |
| learn the right techniques. | | | | pot. Now fill the reservoir, the bottom of the new |
| African violets come in a huge variety of styles | | | | pot, with water. It's not a good idea to begin using |
| and colors. Their small blossoms bring joy into | | | | fertilizer at this point. The plant is going to go |
| your house as the cold and snow loom outside. | | | | through some shock and shouldn't be forced to |
| They can bloom off and on all year with a little | | | | produce flowers at this point. |
| help. First of all we tend to over care indoor | | | | The biggest problem people have with African |
| plants. Someone told me not to water indoor | | | | violets is knowing where to put them to get |
| plants "until they beg." Though this works for | | | | adequate light. If you have under the counter |
| many people, I am one of those that just loves | | | | lights in your kitchen, whether they are |
| to take care for them, touch their fuzzy leaves, | | | | fluorescent or the new xenon lights, your new |
| and can't wait to see the next bud appear. It's a | | | | plant will love it. These lights operate on pennies a |
| good thing they enjoy my attention. | | | | day, so leave them on. If you are putting your |
| Start with a healthy plant. Purchase African violet | | | | new plant in natural sunlight, the east window |
| potting soil, fertilizer and a self watering pot. This | | | | seems to work best. Keep in mind that the |
| pot comes in two parts, the small pot holds the | | | | leaves can burn from the sun or freeze in cold |
| plant and the reservoir is where you will add the | | | | temperatures, so consider putting them on a table |
| water. Commonly the plants come in a little plastic | | | | as opposed to the window sill. |
| container and are readily available to buy at any | | | | Your plant will stay watered in this pot, so just |
| grocery or hardware store. Like all plants, this one | | | | check it from time to time and fill the reservoir |
| probably has some little bugs on it or in the soil. | | | | when needed. After a month or so, add the |
| While you're at the store, get an indoor plant | | | | fertilizer to the water using the instructions on the |
| spray for bugs and when you get home, lightly | | | | bottle. |
| spray the violet, making certain that you spray | | | | You will be amazed at how well your African |
| the soil as well as under the leaves. Keep your | | | | violets will do using this simple process, and they |
| new plant away from existing plants in your home | | | | will bring you years of happiness. |