I used to grow African Violets, and I used this method to water when I was gone for extended periods of time: Fill a plastic container (I usually used old margarine tubs) almost full of water. Punch a hole in the top big enough for a cord to go through. For a 6 inch pot, use 3 plies of 4 ply acrylic yarn to wick into the plant container, and then down the hole into the water. Place your pot on top of the container, and that should water it for about a week. Of course, outside in the heat, you'll run up against evaporation and such, so check it every three days. OH! forgot...put three pennies into the water container...it keeps the fungus out. I guess you could put the plastic container into something prettier, like maybe a larger pot, to make it more attractive outside.

twobit, don't worry, you did nothing wrong. You have to remember, that poor plant had been taken from a very controlled greenhouse, shipped in a dark truck, stuck in a too dark too dry store, and then to your house. The poor thing is just in shock. It's had a radical change in its environment, and dropping the flowers is a survival mechanism. Remember also, plants flower for two reasons; either they're happy, or they're stressed and trying to reproduce before they die. It's generally pretty easy to tell the difference. So, check out the FAQ on the main forum page, because you *will* want to transplant it out of that peat. Give it a couple of months after that and it'll probably start blooming for you. Also, check the link below; Rachel has lots of useful cultural info, with pictures! Good luck and keep asking questions. Korina PS If you overwater (or underwater), you might consider switching to wick watering. It simplifies everything. Here is a link that might be useful: Rachel's Reflections

Hi, Sorry you're having so much trouble with your violets! I'm "new" to this forum. I used to have tons of violets a bunch of years ago, lost some/gave some away during a move, then had children, etc...now I'm back! :) Anyway, there are a few things you could try. 1. Grocery store violets are risky, as are the ones from Lowes and Home Depot. Be careful that you don't bring home any with bugs or worse. Not every pest is obvious. Most of us order them through the mail and are very happy with them. Of course, you can get some nice plants anywhere! There is a small family owned nursery by my house that I got some lovely Optimara Violets from but they only had like 15 of them and took care of them. They were not cheap either. Think of it as getting a dog from the pound or a dog from a breeder. 2. It may not only be that you're 'watering wrong'. Are they in direct sunlight? I have mine in a north window and they are ecstatic. Lighting matters alot. If you have a good spot, they're tickled pink and will let you know. If you're using natural light, try and turn the plant every day or so 1/4 of a turn to get even growth. 3. What do you pot them in? Alot of people don't like Miracle Gro. I planted one of my houseplants in it and it is so hard it's like cement! The little roots will get strangled. Everyone has their own opinion on this but the potting mix you decide on should be somewhat fluffy, have a little bit of perlite in it and have good drainage. It shouldn't pack down like concrete. I lost a spider plant in Miracle Gro because only the surface got wet. The water sat on top and didn't drain. 4. Repot your plants at least annually (in the spring or summer is best, IMHO) and ensure you put somthing for drainage in the bottom of the pot. A few pebbles or broken old clay pot pieces is fine. The roots should not sit in the water. 5. People have successfully raised and watered violets from the top, the bottom, wick, self-watering pots and what have you. I used to always gently water from the top with a small watering can with a skinning spout. Use room temp or tepid water. The water here is high in PH, heavily chlorinated and hard so I let it stand a bit. (overnight) A rule of thumb is to stick your finger in the soil. If it feels damp and sticks to your finger, let it go. If it is on the verge of being dry, it won't stick to your finger. Water the plant. If you want to water from the bottom, place the plant in a tray, fill it up so that the water covers the bottom inch of the pot, leave it for 20 mins or so and then remove. 6. If all of this is too much work, you can try a self watering pot. I recently bought 10 Oyama self watering pots to try them out. It's almost idiot proof and I like them. There is an insert which you fill perlite up to the line, then your potting mix with the plant. The outer pot has lines for water. You fill the bottom of the the outer pot up to the line with your water and maybe a weak fertilizer (I loved Granny's Bloomers, can't find it anymore!) and then you set it and forget it! So far, my plants have been doing well and drinking normally without my attention for 5-7 days. The only con I have is that the pot is kinda big and takes up space. 7. Some people who have a few plants have them in pots set in a tray of pebbles and then they water the pebbles until they see the water. The plants get some more humidity that way. I never tried that. 8. Most importantly - no hot burning direct sunlight, don't splash the leaves. don't use cold water and if you water from the top, water the soil, not the crowns or the stems. Hope that helps a bit!

ok so I will remove the affected cups and take off the tray lid completely and let them air out. So if I am getting this right. When I first separate the babies, its ok if I put them in a sealed ziploc baggie to increase humidity. Then a normal plants just keep them in an open tray. My larger plants, or mature plants are also in a humidity domes, is that ok? I do have the vents open and vary it when I see condensation forming. They were in there over the winter, so I left them in there and they seem to like it. I live in the mid-atlantic area, so winters are fairly cool here. Is it ok if I leave them in there? Thanks Irina for all your help!! Cooks