Hi Comet girl,

That is a good question. For us veterans, knowing how to water a violet is something we don't even think about. We just do it. I can see why there might be some confusion though. Let me address what that confusion might be.

Whether the violet leaf is getting water is pretty easy to figure out. If the leaf is nice and crisp and the surface has a nice shine, it is getting enough water. If it is even slightly limp then it is time to water the plant. When checking the leaves make sure it is not a leaf from the center or from the very edge. Test a leaf somewhere in the middle.

The first rule that I like to put out there is when figuring out whether a violet needs to be watered. If the soil is dry and the violet is limp, it needs to be watered. If the soil is wet and the violet is limp, there is a problem with the root system delivering water to the violet. With the latter, root rot should immediately be considered. I say immediately because he violet can die from root rot within a matter of days.

I am of the philosophy that a violet can be either top watered or bottom watered. I consider it to the a matter of personal preference. If you are top watering then pour water into the top of the pot until there is water coming out of the bottom of the pot into the saucer. After a few minutes go back and pour out any excess water that is in the saucer. If you would rather bottom water, then put enough water in the saucer where the plant can soak up the water in say a matter of 10 minutes. After 10 minutes discard any excess water left in the saucer.

Now is the tricky part. How long should I wait until the next watering you might say? My answer is always, "when the plant needs it". A good yardstick is whether the soil is slightly dry. Also, the criteria I presented in paragraph two will take you a long way toward determining whether the plant needs to be watered.

The density of the soil should also be considered in the overall scheme of watering. If you have a plant that goes more than one week, and the soil is still wet, there is a real good chance that the soil is too dense. Dense soggy soil can lead to root rot. If you think you have this condition I would repot the plant in a soil that is lighter and more porous. Soil can be made more porous by adding perlite.

I hope I haven't left anything out. If you still have any questions, ask away. Either I or someone else should be able to address them.

Larry

Hi Larry!

Thank you for your answer. I understand alot better! Maybe your answer will help some other newbies.

Best Regards,
Cometgirl

Hi All:

I had two AV's that were rather limp and dirty looking, and the bottom watering wasn't enough. So I chanced it and gave them a spray bath and watered a little on the top and they perked right up! And they look better - clean pretty leaves. But I have learned alot from this website, I downsized all my plants and they had to have time to recouperate. Lost alot of leaves - but they made it! So hopefully I will have alot of blooms. Any suggestions or comments are appreciated.

Best Regards from Florida!
cometgirl

A good bath will perk anyone up! Good for you!

The only advice I can give is the one no one wants to hear; patience. I still struggle with that one.

Good luck and keep asking questions.

Korina
~embrace the confusion~

Hi CG,
When I first started growing violets I was told to stick my finger into the pot and if the soil mix was dry about an inch down it was time to water.
Fred in NJ

I wick-water my AVs... but sometime, some wicks don't work well and the plants suffer, they don't grow. So to make sure all the wicks work and plants get enough water, I often "feel" the wicks, especially the part right outside the pot, to see if they are wet or not. If they are wet, it's fine; but they're dry, I change the wick.
Now all the plants are happy, the babies grow in front of my eyes!

Xuan

Hi:

I also learned when I repot not to "pack down" the soil, so the soil is looser and the plant likes it better. And some of my plants seem to require more water more often than others. Got lots of baby AV's started and am looking forward to my "Looking Glass" blooming! So I am being careful with the watering!

Thanks a bunch!
Cometgirl

I bottom water mine and barely think about it. They flower all the time so something must be working.

I had two AV in 7" AV Self Watering Pot. Yesterday I repot them in 3" plastic container as they were too small for such a big pot. On those self watering pot I always left the water in the outer pot, never took it off. When I was repoting I notice that the soil was really damped. Maybe I have to start leaving the outer container with water only 30 minutes or probably adding more perlite to the soil.

Now that I've started all my rooted leaves on wick-watering, there's no more need to do anything other than periodically check the reservoirs for water level.

The system works continuously.

Here!! Here!!! Good for you Leon! I am all for wick watering! Works so well for me.

Hi Fred! One thing I don't like to hear is that someone "tests" the soil by sticking their finger in it. In my opinion,,,,,when you do that you may break fine feeder roots that are in the pot.

I would rather a person learn the fine art of "hefting" (or testing the weight) the pots! A heavier pot (one that is just watered) will be heavier than a pot that is halfway dried out or just barely moist.

Babywatson, the only thing I would caution about bottom watering, is every now and then (maybe once a month or so) water thoroughly from the top to flush away any accumulated fertilizer salts or other things. Rinse the soil so to speak! If bottom watering works for you keep doing it!

Hey just my own opinion on this stuff, only tryin' to help! Rosie

Guys -

Babywatson posted his/her reply in 2007... lots of water under the bridge... Fred Hill from NJ passed away several years ago . He was an expert AV grower and teacher, winner of many AV shows.

I guess it is my pet peeve...look at the dates!!! It can easily be that you are trying to talk to dead people - and they cannot really reply ...

Irina, the grouch

I think it has become more common lately to see new people posting by tacking onto an ancient post. One really has to watch the dates, that's true. It's good in a way that they are researching information and reading as much as they can, but when it comes to asking a question or adding new information I really wish they would start their own thread!

Anne, who's a bit grouchy this morning, too.

Rather than referring to this practice as tacking onto an ancient post, I would characterize this as bringing to attention a recurring question and attempting to answer it. At least, that was my intent.

BTW, there's nothing wrong with being grouchy. It's an asset to one's character.

Water the plant then pick up the pot and feel it's weight. When it feels light again in a couple of days water again.

I think it happens quite often when a new person revives an old post...nothing wrong with it. But talking to dead people - it really creeps me...

Rosie - I didn't want to step on your toes - you are a Sunshine on my list ;-)).

Oh my,,,,I am laughing so hard now. Please don't take this the wrong way. I finally feel good enough to get into posting again and didn't even look at the date!!!!! Oh so sorry to all!

Irina, you are not stepping on my toes at all. But it begs the question,,,how did you know Fred passed????? AND just to let you know,,,,there is a Fred that is in gwf african violets that does post and I really did think I was talking to him! Oh my I am still laughing silly about this. Just tickled my funny bone.

For those who don't know me, I do try to address multiple questions within one post by using names. Oh geeze,,,,,I am still giggling which makes it harder to type this.

Awww Anne! Why so grumpy????

I think we should all type in african violet plant images and go look at eye candy! It always "fixes" me! How 'bout you Anne and Irina? There now,,,feel better???? Come on girls,,,,cheer up! Rosie

I am cheering up. At least my behind doesn't hurt anymore. I climbed on the roof to clean the gutters yesterday - and even it was a nice fresh day - the roof was very hot. And I was scooting on it.... baked my ..ss for good.

AV crowd - is a small world - people who attend conventions and active inshowing judging - know what's going on. And our beloved Fred from NJ was one of them. So - I got an email. The second loss - Nancy Robitaille. She was very active and positive and she knew all about bugs...

I

Irina, you actually got up on a roof????? I am lucky to get up out of a chair!!!! hahaha.

Sorry about Fred and Nancy.

Ok, will check dates from now on. But remember,,,,there IS a very much alive and well Fred that is on this forum!!!! Rosie

I crawled on it. I didn't get up on it. And I wouldn't recommend you doing things like this after your surgery. Plus I am 8 years younger. I wish my broomstick would get fixed - so I can fly around them darn gutters.

Now my 89 yers old mother is after me so I need to fork a patch of land for the vegetable garden so she can plant dill and cucumbers to pickle.

I.

Oh Irina,,,,,I am still trying to get my knee to bend to 90 degrees or my surgeon won't be happy. And I don't want to have my knee adhesions rebroken. Did that with the other knee. Not doing it again. But it is doing well. And I go to therapy 3X per week. But I am off my walker and onto a cane. I am a little cautious, but things seem to be moving along.

When the knee doesn't bend it makes it a lot harder to sit up on the broomstick. Life would be easier if I could just fly around again! lol!

Ohhhhhh,,,,,home made pickles!!!!! Bless your mom!!!!! Where did you say you lived??? lol

My violets are doing well. Did I tell that I got a beautiful strep from the violet show that AnneC and I went to???? It is doing well on its wick system. Can't wait for the first flower.

And I bought several trailers. I just love trailers! One has the most beautiful shade of Amethyst colored flowers! I bought another one with very pretty blue flowers (never met a violet that wasn't pretty!) but to this day, I don't know if I really like it. It is like I am stuck on the fence about it and can't make a decision! But I have it.

I know, I can just hear someone say,,,,but what are the names of the plants you are talking about???? Well, they are way over there and I am way over here. I was going to (and should have) take pix of them when I brought them home but I only had one day to get them on wicks before I had surgery. Eventually I will get them posted.

That day was so much fun!!!!! Can't wait to go again!!!!! Rosie

You are a tiger. I helped my friend after the knee replacement surgery... and a recovery is quite lengthy. I will need one sooner or later.

The way how it is going - you wll will start posting the AV pics next week!

I am going to try to do the pix next week. Rosie

Now Rosie, I can't believe you haven't softened towards little Bashou (the trailer you're on the fence about and the one you "accidentally" broke off one of the crowns so I could have a piece when all I asked for was a leaf, you sweet lady, you! - which piece incidentally has rooted and is blooming for me - Yay!) Glad to hear you're using a cane now. Good for you!

I hurried through taking a bunch of photos (51!) of AV's in bloom only to find that most of them are a little blurry. I was too rushed the end of last week to really sort through them and see if any are worth posting, but I'll try to get to that. Or just re-take them. I don't know if I was too close and should have switched to micro setting or if I was just too shaky. Sigh. I know I was rushing - just was overwhelmed all around last week, work and home. Hopefully this week will be better. :-)

Awww Anne,,,,,you're welcome!! You know, I look at it all the time and it is not that I don't like it. I don't know what the issue is. Never did that with a plant before. Especially a violet!!!!! Well, I think that piece would have broken off all by itself had I not done it on purpose! (oops!!!! did I say that out loud????) Well, I knew you liked it and honestly you don't know how close you came to getting the entire plant!!! Seriously! But glad the piece is doing well for you!

I do hope this week is better for you. Slooooow down and take it easy. You know you are also recovering from knee surgery. They say it takes at least a year!!!! I know you are walking well etc, but you also need to take it easy sometimes!!!!! THAT is where eye candy comes in!!!!! (and this forum!!) lol

Tomorrow is plant day for me. Gonna work on my plants and go as far as I can. Maybe even take a few pix! If I do I will post them. Rosie

Here's more proving that ancient posts can still be relevant.

This article (I got its address on another forum) provides important information :

http://www.davs.org/Wicks%20by%20George%20Starr.html

Good Job!!!

I read every word and it answered a question I had! Shall we dub thee "Detective Ash"???? Nice work! Rosie

That's why I said that old stuff can still be relevant. Because I'm new to this I've had to learn a lot, and I've done some of it by reading all the past posts. I was amazed at the number of posts that had answered questions that are now being asked again. We learn from the past.

Another thing : I found two other forums on AV's besides this one, and that has also helped me learn.

Yes, old posts are relevant! We just have to remember to reference them to tie past to present! I learn a lot also from past posts. The thing that bugs me though is you cant always see the posted pix! Rosie

Yup - it is the same AV now as it was 40 years ago. Good growers of that time would be still good growers now. People still read Shakespeare and go to the theater... and think that he covered all important human conflicts in his plays.

(I am not talking about the most important question of our time as it seems - to befriend or unfriend a gal on the Facebook ;-))

I.