LIGHT
Insufficient light is one of the major reasons Violets do not bloom well. Violets must have 10 to 14 (16 is max) hours of bright light per day (no direct sun). Variegated varieties usually need more light than the plants with solid green leaves because there is less chlorophyll which is used to turn light into food for the plant. The special yellow blooming violet varieties need less light than all the other violets require. You can enhance the light for certain violets by sitting them on mirror tiles as large or larger than the violet. This reflects the available light back to the violet. If adequate natural light is not available or desired, twin tube fluorescent lights are ideal. Place the tubes eight to ten inches above the foliage for mature standard plants, and six to eight inches for miniatures, leaves, and seedlings. Because violets process nutrients during the "resting phase" (i.e. darkness) they should also have 8 hours of darkness per day.
TEMPERATURE
70° - 75° Fahrenheit is usually ideal, although 60° - 85° Fahrenheit is tolerated for short periods of time.
HUMIDITY
40% - 50% relative humidity is usually ideal. The humidity near your plants can be raised by supporting the plants over water. Wick watering is ideal for this because the plant sits on top of a reservoir of water.
POTS
Use "clean" plastic or ceramic pots. Terracotta pots tend to collect salts, harmful chemicals, and pests. We advice against using them. Don't use a pot which is too large. Never move a plant to a larger pot until the roots fill the present pot. Violets tend to bloom most when they are slightly root bound.
FERTILIZER
Either lack of fertilizer or too infrequent feeding is one of the reasons for lack of blossoms. Most growers use a "soil-less" potting mix with little nutrient content; this requires using a dilute fertilizer solution each time the plant is watered.
Peters 12-36-14 is our recommendation. Mix 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of water and use this mixture each time you water. Use "Natures Miracle" sprinkled over the top of the soil every 10 weeks. This will increase the amount of blooming by 4 times. (This is NOT NOT NOT the same product sold for pet odor and stain removal!)
WATER
Never use water that has been through a softener. Using distilled water all the time is not good either because it deprives the violet of trace minerals which would ordinarily be present in the water. Chlorine in the water might cause problems for the violet. Let the water stand overnight in an open container to let the chlorine evaporate out of the water. Bottled "spring water" is a good substitute if your tap water is not good. Use water which is room temperature (neither cold or warm.) Keep the violet "just moist", not wet. Never allow the plant to become completely dry. "Wick" watering is also a good technique. Place a nylon wick on the bottom of the pot with the loose end extending out of the pot about 4 inches. Hang the loose end of the wick in a container of fertilizer/water mixture (see above). Never let the pot touch the water - only the wick should touch the water. This wick will keep the violet watered for 2-4 weeks depending on the size of the reservoir.
SOIL
Violets need a light, airy soil mix that will not pack hard and allows for easy root penetration. Be sure the soil mix has been sterilized to eliminate harmful pests and bacteria. Repot at least twice a year by removing 1/3 of the old soil and replacing with new soil. We of course sell our own custom potting mixture which we feel is the finest available anywhere. If you prefer to try mixing your own, you can try this recipe:
African Violet Potting Soil Recipe
4 quarts canadian peat moss
4 quarts coarse vermiculite
4 quarts coarse perlite
1/4 cup dehydrated cow manure
3 Tablespoons dolomite lime
2 Tablespoons Superphosphate
2 cups fine hoticulture charcoal
GROOMING
Remove up to 3 leaves per month from the bottom row. Carefully bend the leaves to the side while gently pulling. The leaf stem will break away clean leaving no stub. This keeps all the leaves new and fresh and promotes a burst of new growth from the crown. Brush leaves with a natural bristle, soft brush to remove dust and dirt. Keep old blossoms picked off and remove the old bloom stalk completely when all blooms are finished.
PESTS
If you find spilled pollen on the leaves it could mean that you have a pest infestation of "thrips". We sell a special insecticide called Conserve SC especially for this purpose.
If you find white sticky flecks on the leaves, or find that the leaves are sticky all over, treat the affected plant with Marathon granules.
If you find soil mealy bugs, lift the plant out of the pot, sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of Marathon granules on the bottom of the pot. Replace the plant. Do NOT water in, or do any extra watering. That should take care of the problem!
If you find a "white dust" appear on the plants, they might have "powdery mildew". To cure this use an appropriate fungicide spray such as Captan. Measure 1 tsp to 1 gallon of water, and spray the affected plants. Turn on fans to dry the plants quickly. You also need to provide more air movement on a regular basis, as this will help to avoid any future mildew problems.
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