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 GROWING TIPS
The Basics in Violet Care
SOIL:
Use a soilless mix that is light and airy. There are lots of varities to choose from.
Examples: Pro-mix, B.M.6, Sunshine 4.
If you want to grow large plants, you will need to use a light soil.
PROPAGATION:
Cultural--use COARSE vermiculite or a mixture consisting of one part horticultural charcoal, one part horticultural vermiculite and two parts perlite.
NOTE--variegated leaves--green and white variegation will have white plantlets.
Pot up these little plants when they are green, have a crown and their leaves are the size of a dime.
FERTILIZER:
A balanced fertilizer is recommended--eg.,20-20-20 0r 7-7-7.
Use the fertilizer that has been formulated for the soil you are using.
Use 1/4 tsp. of fertilizer per gallon of water at every watering (1/8 tsp. per 2 litres.)
WATER:
Ordinary tap water will do but make sure it is at room temperature. Violets do not like cold water.
Check the P.H. of the water you are using as the seasons change or if environmental conditions change.
Violets like it slightly acid, so aim for 6 to 6.5 on the scale or below 7.
To get the water slightly acid add a tsp. or less of regular vinegar to 5 gallons of water.
HOW OFTEN DO I WATER:
Violets like to be kept moist not wet, so water every 3 or 4 days.
How often you water will depend on the warmth of your plant room.
Bottom watering is recommended as:
You are less likely to get water on the leaves
You can see how much water you are giving the plant
Any water not taken up in 10 minutes needs to be discarded.
TEMPERATURE:
As a rule, if you are comfortable so will be your plants.
Aim for a variation of 65 to 75 degrees Farenheit.
Violets do like to cool off at night.
Violets are not tollerant of high temperatures.
HUMIDITY:
Aim for at least 40% humidity.
If your room is too cool with high humidity you may have a problem with powdery mildew.
LIGHT STAND GROWING:
The florescent tubes do not need to be Growlux. A combination of one warm white and one cool white will do the job nicely.
The plants need to be positioned about 10 inches away for standard plants and about 8 inches for smaller plants.
Any window will do the job:
A south exposure will be good in the winter but too hot in the summer.You may risk burning the leaves. The solution is to move the plant away from the window or place them behind sheer curtains. A north or east window will be good most of the time.
Remember to turn your plants a 1/4 turn per day, otherwise they will grow toward the light and not become symmetrical.
BLOOM:
FACT: A violet can be forced into bloom by increasing the quantity of light hours it receives.
To bring the violet into bloom, increase the number of light hours it receives per day by following a preset schedule.
To increase the size and quantity of a bloom, most growers will have disbudded their plants for at least 6 months prior to a show.
Suggestion--When you go on summer holidays, take off all the buds and blooms. This will force the plants to direct its energy into growing rather than flowering.
POTTING UP:
When the new plant has grown to be 1 inch in diameter larger than the pot it is in, then pot it up to the next size pot.
Or if the plant has been in the current sized pot for 8 weeks, then it can be potted up to the next larger size.
GROOMING:
FACT: An african violet does not need more than three rounds of leaves, so keep the extra leaves to a minimum. This will result in larger plant leaves.
With small plants, remove small and immature leaves. This will redirect the energy to stimulate growth.
Brush the leaves with a natural haired (e.g.-pastry brush) brush every few months. This will remove dirt and dust and allow the plant to breathe properly.
Plants leaves may be washed with a light sponge using warm water and a mild soap. Make sure the plant is completely dry before returning it back into light.
Pot down necks as they occur--It's easier that way.
Every few months, plants need either fresh soil or drench the existing soil to remove fertilizer and salt build up.
PESTS AND DISEASES:
POWDERY MILDEW:
Powdery mildew can occur on both the leaves and the soil.
On leaves it will appear like a dusting of flour and the leaves will die if not treated. Spray the leaves and the area around the plant with Neem Oil or milk. Make sure you have good air circulation.
On soil it will look like mould. Scrape off the mildew and replace with fresh soil.
THRIP:
Thrips can be brought in by humans, pets, cut flowers, open windows, or other plants.
Do not have cut flowers in the same room as your violets.
One of the first signs of thrips, a common pest for violets, will be finding pollen streaks on the blossoms.
Thrips lodge themselves in the buds of plants, so remove all flowers and buds and spray with Neem Oil every five days ( for a total of three applications).
MEALYBUG- FOLIAR or SOIL:
If you find something that looks like a small white mass on the leaves, then you have foliar mealybug.
Solution- Spray with a Neem Oil solution every five days (for a total of three applications), or dab the white masses with a cotton swab soaked in isopropyl alcohol. Rinse off the leaves a few minutes after the application, otherwise the alcohol will burn the leaves.
If you find something in the saucer that looks like crushed perlite after you have watered, then you likely have soil mealybug.
Solution- Drench the soil with a Neem Oil solution every five days (for a total of three applications).
CONCLUSION:
If a plant looks sick, then it likely is. It would therefore be a good policy to simply discard it. If the plant is an important one for you, then remove some of the leaves and restart it before discarding the original plant.
If you have the inclination, try buying leave only and propogate your own plants rather than purchasing mature plants.
If you purchase leaves, bath them in a (1:10) one part bleach to 10 part water solution for about 10 seconds. This will help reduce the contamination of your collection.
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