MEL'S AV TIPS

Permission is given to reprinted these tips in any publication on plants in the Gesneriaceae family. Referencing www.africanvioletbooks.com as the source is required.

  

Mel's Tip #1

        I have listened to many African violet enthusiasts talk about the vitamins and proteins they give their plants, and how they feed their plants over twenty different plant nutrients which are absolutely essential to the health of their plants. There are mixtures on the market which claim to contain all these “special” ingredients a plant needs, and they probably do. However, your plants will only use 16 specific nutrients (elements)-vitamins and proteins are not on the list. The sixteen are: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, boron, molybdenum, and chlorine. Other elements may be found in the plants but are not being used for any of the growth processes.
Mel's Tip #2

            The role of nitrogen is very important to your African violet. Depending on the age of the plant, there are different requirements for the amount needed. Young plants, seedlings, and plantlets just removed from a leaf cutting should receive a high amount of nitrogen. Nitrogen is responsible for causing rapid plant growth so the plants will reach maturity quicker and begin producing beautiful blossoms for your enjoyment.
            When a plant reaches maturity and is ready to begin flowering it is time to reduce the amount of nitrogen they are receiving. High nitrogen applications will stimulate plant growth, while depressing flower production.
            Summary: High nitrogen for young plants and low nitrogen for flowering plants.
           
Note: If you are into growing roses the use of nitrogen is the opposite of the advice given for African violets. Roses love high nitrogen and are profuse bloomers when they are feed 4 times a year with a high nitrogen fertilizer. About a cup of fertilizer per bush is generally recommended. The exact amount will depend on how high the percent of nitrogen is in the fertilizer.
Mel's Tip #3

            pH is a topic not easily understood by college students taking their first chemistry or horticulture course. There is no reason to worry about understanding the science behind this concept. Without getting into a technical discussion, let’s just go with the following: the ideal pH for a potting mixture for African violets (and most other plants) is in the range of 6.4 to 7.4, with 6.8 to 6.9 being perfect. These pHs are also ideal for promoting the growth of bacteria in the potting mixture. Bacteria assist in breaking down the plant nutrients into forms the plants can more readily absorb.
            Usually most potting mixtures will be in pH range needed for healthy plant growth. Fertilizers have a major influence on the pH of the potting mixture, but that is the topic for a future tip.
            If you mix up huge amounts of potting mixture and wonder what the pH is, send a sample to your state agriculture university’s soil testing laboratory.
Mel's Tip #4

            If you are relatively confident your plant has been infected with a virus, there is only one solution-toss it in the garbage immediately! Do not take a leaf cutting from the plant, as it will already be infected. Order a new plant from your favorite grower.
Mel's Tip #5

            When growing African violets under fluorescent lights there are three importance criteria to be considered: distance the plants are from the source of the light, location of plants beneath the light, and  length of time the plants are exposed to the light. All three have a strong influence on how many blossoms your African violets will produce and how healthy the leaves and plants are.
            In this tip I have provided a table from page 162 of African Violets: Queens of the Indoor Gardening Kingdom. Proper placement of your African violets under the lights plays a key role in their developing beautiful foliage and hundreds of blossoms for your pleasure.

Directly Under The Lights-Place the plants with:
-dark green foliage
-blue and purple blossoms
-double petaled blossoms
-boy-type foliage
-young seedlings
Around The Outer Edges Of The Light-Place the plants with:
-light green foliage
-pink and white blossoms
-single petaled blossoms
-variegated leaf varieties
-girl-type foliage

Note: When mature, the seedling plants should be moved to the proper location under the lights.

TIPS #6-10 CLICK HERE