Question: I purchased some self-watering pots (elsewhere) and have found that with a couple of these, the water never would weep into the pot with the soil and the plant. I’ve lost two violets due to the lack of water not seeping through the inside liner pot. Any suggestions? Answer: If working properly, a self-watering ‘violet pot’ […]
Question: I recently bought bleach to use to disinfect pots and trays. I brought Ultra Clorox bleach and used it at a one to nine ration as I had done with another bleach. When I called the Clorox service number, I was told not to use the Ultra product for this purpose. I wonder what is […]
Question: We received our order of 8 various African violets. Most of them we potted into self-watering planters. They are not progressing. I would appreciate any help you can give. Answer: This is likely the single most-asked question we receive. There is nothing inherently wrong about growing in self-watering, Oyama, or “violet” pots, but when using them […]
Question: My sister sent me some “Neem oil” to use for powdery mildew, but I haven’t a clue how to use it. Could you tell me? Answer: “Neem oil” is processed from seeds of the neem tree, native to eastern India and Burma, and is a wonderful product that can be effective as an insecticide, miticide, and […]
Question: How is the best way to clean my pots to reuse them? Answer: We reuse or recycle almost everything here, including all of our pots. We wash all of our pots in a dilute bleach and detergent solution, using very hot water. Place your pots loosely (don’t stack them together) in your wash tub, so that […]
Question: In your catalog, you describe some varieties as good “show plants” and others as good “houseplants”. Could you elaborate? Answer: It’s not a matter of better or worse, just different. Much like the difference between the family pet and the winner at Westminster. By “houseplant” we mean a variety that one grows purely for decorating the […]
Question: I’m growing for show for the first time. If I keep my standard-size violet disbudded, but don’t pot it into a larger container, will it produce the bigger leaves that I see on some large showplants? Answer: When a standard-size violet is continuously disbudded, it will produce larger leaves (mini and semiminiature varieties will stay small […]
Question: Is it better to remove a damaged leaf, spoiling symmetry, or to keep it? Answer: If the plant is being exhibited, this is a judgment call. points can be lost for both gaps in symmetry, and for damaged leaves. If it is not a showplant, it becomes a trade-off between the appearance of the plant […]
Question: Should I ever remove leaves from my violet? I would guess so but, other than removing obviously dead ones, I have no idea how to decide. Which ones need to be removed? Answer: Yes. Most (non trailing) varieties only need to have 3 or 4 rows of leaves since blooms are produced only from those leaves. […]
Question: I have a plant that needs dividing, but seems so overgrown that I don’t know where to begin. Answer: This was from a member at a local club meeting who had a “supermarket” violet that was so overgrown and crowded with crowns that dividing it by simply pulling crowns apart would have been impossible. Normally, if […]
