Plant Care

The Violet Barn

Plant care

Learn more about how to care for your plants -- click on the highlighted words:

Lessons. A pictorial, step by step, "how to" for propagating, potting, grooming, and growing
Frequently Asked Questions. An easy to use index lets you search for the answers you need to your questions. Just 'click' on the subject you are interested in, and be taken directly to the answer.
Library of articles. We've written and published many articles over the years. Most have been reprinted on this site.
Links to other sites. This is not the only site that has useful information (though it may be the best). A few others that may be of help are listed here.

SUGGESTED READING

The African Violet Magazine

Published bimonthy by the African Violet Society of America, the magazine contains the latest, most complete coverage of all aspects of African violet (and gesneriad) culture and the hobby. It's 66 pages packed with useful information and color photos of the latest varieties.

We've been AVSA members since 1976, are regular contributors to the magazine, and are one of its columnists. We highly recommend it to those who are interested in learning more about growing violets well.

Place an order and we'll send you the current issue for just $5.00 more! Or, add a year's membership (6 issues) for $30, and we'll include a free plant (our choice)!

Growing to Show

If you want a reference book for all of your African violet growing needs, this is it! Written by Pauline Bartholomew in 1985, it has been the reference for violet growers for the past 20 years. It has just been extensively updated and reissued.

A great source of information for both the novice and accomplished exhibitor, it has 119 pages of extensive, detailed, information on every aspect of African violet care and culture. Illustrated "how to" steps make everything easy to understand. Though exhibitors will find this book useful, this book should be required reading for novices and growers of all backgrounds. Very highly recommended!

Price is $16 when sent with your order. If sent by itself, add $2 for postage and handling.

How to Know and Grow Gesneriads

A great introduction the large family of plants that includes African violets. There are approximately 3,300 know species of gesneriads. Though there are far too many genera in this family to adequately discuss, this 55 page booklet covers most of those likely to be grown by hobbyists. Words and photos describe most of the cultivated genera, and useful growing information is provided for each.

Highly recommended for the library of every dedicated grower and a must as an introductory reference book for those beginning their gesneriad collection.

Price is $10 when sent with your order. If sent by itself, add $2 for postage and handling.

BASIC CARE INSTRUCTIONS FOR OUR PLANTS.

LIGHT. Adequate light is most important for abundant bloom. Any window that has strong, bright, light is good. Most gesneriads prefer bright light, but not direct sun. Which window provides this will depend upon climate, season, and your particular home. Grown under florescent lights, plants will nearly always be in bloom. You can use shoplights found at your local department store, and place bulbs about 18" above standard African violets and streptocarpus, and 10-12" above miniature violets. Keep lights on 12-13 hours a day.

WATERING. Use room temperature water, when the soil surface feels "dry to the touch". Plants may be watered from the top, from the bottom, or by wicks.

FEEDING. Regular fertilizing is needed for maximum growth and blooming. Follow "constant feeding" directions on the container, usually about 1/4 tsp. of dry fertilizer per gallon of water (follow instructions on the package for feeding every time you water). A balanced fertilizer, such as a 15-15-15 or 20-20-20, for example, is best. Feed each watering.

ATMOSPHERE. African violets and most other gesneriads thrive in the same conditions in which people are comfortable--not too hot nor too cold, with 40-50% humidity.

SOIL. Use a light, "soil-less" mix, consisting of at least 30-50% vermiculite or perlite. When buying a prepackaged mix, don't believe the "violet soil" label! A bag of a good soil mix should feel like a nice, fluffy, soft, pillow. Most commercial mixes are too dense and heavy, and will need to have perlite and/or vermiculite added. The wetter you plan on keeping your plants (such as wicking), the more perlite you will need to add.

GROOMING. Except for trailing varieties, do not allow extra crowns ("suckers") to form on violets. Streptocarpus, episcia, and other gesneriads can be grown multiple crowned. Remove old, yellowed, leaves and spent blossoms.

POTTING. Most flowering houseplants will need repotting into fresh soil every 6 months or so. When repotting a violet, remove some of the bottom of the root ball and lower into fresh soil to cover the bare trunk ("neck"). Pot into larger pots only when root ball fills pot, never into a pot more than 1/2 the diameter of the plant. Shallow pots are best.

PROPAGATION. Use very light rooting media. For violets, cut the leaf stem at 1/2" to 3/4" and push down into lightly moistened mix. For streptocarpus, remove midrib from leaf, then firmly insert two halves (rib or center-side) down into media, like "slices of bread in a toaster". Leaves can be protected by placing in a clear plastic bag or covered container. Place in moderate light and separate and pot "babies" when they are big enough for you to comfortably handle.

For more detailed information, click on links at left!