Max and Minimum temperature range for growing African violets
The best temperature range for African violets is between 65 and 75 degrees F. In your area they should be grown indoors or in a greenhouse. These plants don't like sudden temperature changes or drafts, and if the temperature goes below 50 degrees, they are almost certain to die. Here's an article on their care: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/african-violet/african-violet-care.htm
I have a wonderful plant that blooms regularly however, the very middle of the plant is becoming more crowded and tightly compact. This does not allow the bud to grow up right and stunts their growth. What causes this? Thanks for the help.
Too much fertilizer and/or too much bright light can cause this. You can filter the light your plant is receiving and stop fertilizing it for a while. Also, try flushing the soil by drenching it several times, letting the water run out of the pot. Do this until the water runs clear, and then let it dry before watering again.
Here's a good article: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/african-violet/african-violet-care.htm
I TRIM S0ME LEAVES OFF PLEASE? I HAVE GROWN LOTS OF THESE, BUT FIRST TIME, THEY HAVE GROWN SO MUCH LEAVES - PERHAPS I HAVE FEED THEM TOO MUCH? Appreciate your comment as incidentally it is useless asking at garden centres as staff only there to sell, not give any advice!! THANKS JOYCE SMITH
You can definitely pinch away the leaves at the bottoms of the stems and pluck out any spent blooms and older leaves. Here's an article about pruning your violets: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/african-violet/trimming-african-violets.htm
Hi, I am failing to see the difference between letting the violet pot stand in water and water wicking. Both draw water up by capillary action if letting the pot stand in water is a no no then why is water wicking okay. The soil is going to be wet no matter which method is used. So can you explain why one way is okay and the other is not.
It is confusing. I read the African Violet Society's explanation about wicking and it says that it is the preferred method of watering because it keeps the soil consistently moist thereby more blooming. When the pot sits in water the soil can become saturated, which leads to root rot. The AVS article gives exact instructions on how to use the wicking properly, and also states the water reservoir never comes in contact with the African Violet soil, only the wick.
I Have African violet pot . should I plant the new plant in the top part of pot?
You certainly can transplant it, and a terra cotta pot is fine choice for this. Some also like to use a container that you water from below so as not to wet the foliage.
However, if you're going to remove the plant from it's store-bought pot, it should only go into a new pot that's just a little bigger than the one it's in. Transplanting to larger vessels should be a gradual process as the plant grows. Here's an article:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/african-violet/african-violet-repotting.htm
I only have a north west window that gets sun late in the afternoon
It's never a good idea to let your African violet sit in wet soil - they need drainage and to be watered from the bottom when possible. I think you'll need to repot your plant into a container that has a hole in the bottom. Here's some help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/african-violet/african-violet-repotting.htm
Propagated. Propagated one of my hybrids and it’s growing babies under the water
Here's an article that will tell you how to remove and grow the babies:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/aloe-vera/dividing-aloe-plants.htm