| Caring for African Violets |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-301 |
|
|
|
advertisement
|
Q: How do I transplant and care for an African violet? A: (from Jessie Mack Burns, Ask DIY Gardening expert) Well, taking care of an African violet isn't difficult, although many people seem to think it is! Just follow these simple guidelines to keep your African violet healthy and beautiful!
African violets are actually different from the wild violets (also known as Johnny jump-ups) often found growing randomly in yards and gardens. The nursery-grown varieties have large, well-defined leaves and aren't always "violet" -- these beauties come in a variety of vibrant colors, from pure white and pale shades of lavender to bright fuschia and royal purple (figure A).
Once you've purchased your plant, you'll want to find a two-part container whose inner pot has an unglazed bottom (figure B). By filling the outer pot with water and replacing the inner container, you allow moisture to be absorbed through the porous areas as the violet needs it.
Next, prepare the perfect potting mix: a combination of three parts peat moss, two parts vermiculite and one part perlite (figure C).
If you want to be sure your potting mix is sterile, you can pasteurize it by placing a 4" layer in an oven-safe baking pan (figure D), covering it with aluminum foil and heating it in the oven for about 30 minutes at 180-200 degrees.
Then you're ready to add some soil to the bottom of the container and insert the violet. After removing the plant from its plastic nursery pot, gently loosen the roots along the bottom and sides of the root mass before placing it in the half-glazed container (figure E).
An important note: African violets like a snug fit! If the roots are too far from the bottom of their pot, they won't be able to absorb sufficient moisture to thrive.
Now all that's left is to add water to the outer container (figure F), replace the inner pot and set it in a sunny window.
For a different planting approach -- ideal if you want to group several colors together -- you can leave the plants in their nursery pots and set them on a small tray of stones. (This is often referred to as a humidity tray or humidity bath.)
To ensure that your plants will be able to absorb sufficient moisture, there must be a wick (figure G) extending from the drainage hole on the underside of the pot.
As you position the pots on the surface of the stones, insert the wicks among them so they reach the bottom of the tray (or close to it). Add water to the tray (figure H) and check the wicks occasionally to make sure they're staying immersed in the bath.
By following these simple guidelines, you'll ensure that your violets stay healthy, happy and beautiful!
RESOURCES :
ITT Technical Institute
Special thanks to the ITT Technical Institute for providing the personnel for the Ask DIY Web site video.
ITT Technical Institute
Website: www.itt-tech.edu/
African Violets: The Complete Guide
Model: 1861261500
Author: Joan Hill and Gwen Goodship
| 
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
