Growing erect or prostrate, with multi-colored tubular flowers, and leaves ranging in color from light green to bronze, Achimenes are popular plants for hanging baskets and window boxes.

In their natural home, African violets grow in the woods in limestone regions near streams and waterfalls. The plants grow close to rocks and boulders where they get constant shade and where the rocks act to keep the temperature of the soil at a uniform level.Anyone can grow good, robust African violets by observing a few basic rules regarding proper lighting, temperature, watering, humidity, and fertilizing.

Water the containers lightly and set them in the basement or under a greenhouse bench away from frost and where they will not get too wet, dry or hot. A temperature of 50F. (10C.) during storage is satisfactory. Don’t let them dry out.

Proper humidity and watering cannot be overstressed. Many troubles will be avoided if greater care is given these two essentials. To avoid water spotting the leaves, water plants with tepid water when the sun is not shining. on them. Pots three inches or smaller should be watered from the bottom. Pour enough water into the saucer and permit the plant to “drink” for a half hour; then pour off the excess. Larger potted plants should be watered from the top. Do not over water as this cuts off the air from the plants, and air is of the utmost importance.

In fall, as the number of flowers decreases, cut down on the water and allow the plants to dry off. When entirely dry, cut the stems above the soil and set the pot, with soil and tubers undisturbed, in the basement or under the greenhouse bench.

When plantlets have outgrown the small pot, repot to a slightly larger one using a rich potting mixture made for African violets, as the ones described earlier. Try to keep plants root-bound to force blooms.

If plants must develop roots, they will not develop buds at the same time.

The newly potted plants are ready for bath to cleanse the leaves of dust. Place them in the bathtub and sprinkle with tepid water from a watering can equips with a fine nozzle, until leaves are clean soil settled in the pot. Leave the pots in tub and keep them shaded and out of drainage until the leaves are dry. If leaves become weak and the room temperature is too cool, leaves will spot. Stem or petiole rot can occur where leaves touch the rims of clay pots. To prevent this condition, plant the plants only in plastic pots so that the leaves cannot touch the clay pot rims in paraffin.

Growing African Violets is a post from: The Grow Garden