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African Violets

non-blooming AV

18 years ago

Hello all!

I was given the most stunning AV some years ago...nearly 10 years ago. The parent plant died and I was able to get a leaf from the parent to root out and now the leaf is a nice little plant...probably a good 4+ years old now.

All of my AVs are great bloomers and are going crazy right now. So my question is, why is this one not blooming? Will it ever bloom? Its parent was so stunning..I have never seen one like it and now I am worried that the child plant may never bloom.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thank you!!

--KWien

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Comments (10)

korina
18 years ago
KWien, your most likely culprits are either not enough light or a pot that's too big. The pot should be 1/3 the diameter of the plant; so a six inch plant should be in a two inch pot.

Hope this helps; good luck.

Korina
Q101
Original Author
18 years ago
Korina, thank you for your reply. The pot is the right size. ...I was wondering if the soil might have become stale...? Its foliage is continueing to grow nicely while the mini next to it is blooming away.

--KWien
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sunflowerlover_KY
18 years ago
Not the original poster, but I think you may have answered the question I was going to post. About how soon after repotting should you start to see blooms?
korina
18 years ago
sunflowerlover, it depends on the plant and how severely you mangled the roots. I'd give it a month or so.

KWien, someone suggested a technique that appears to have worked for me. I had a mini rescue that had never bloomed in all the months I've had it. I read on the forum that taking the pot and knocking it sharply on a flat surface can get a slow bloomer to put out. Well, dang if it didn't work. I guess it's the shock or jiggling the roots or something. Of course the little guy is taking *forever* to open up, but it's getting closer...

Korina
medrep50
18 years ago
I've been using Expert Bloom Burst Plant Food when I want something to bloom (usually new plants that I want to see if it will bloom true) and it really works. In fact, I've never had it NOT work. Really! I wouldn't use it alot but to get them started, it's great. I suppose any plant food that is high in phosphate (the middle number) would work.
Q101
Original Author
18 years ago
Thank you all!! I will give those suggestions a try.

--KWien
korina
18 years ago
My baby popped! The first flower seems to be red in the middle with a wide white edge. I'm so excited! Well, I would be if I was more awake.

Good luck KWien.

Korina (I don't do mornings...)
Motezuma
18 years ago
Yay for you, Korina! Now, let's see a pic.

Kind of OT: I have a mini I grew from a sucker from a friend. It's had bloomstalks for over a week and they just are not opening up. Is that common for minis?

-Mo (WV)
korina
18 years ago
Mo, it's like KMart. Open, open, open...

I'd post a pic, but -- icky camera. You'd get colored blur.

Korina
Q101
Original Author
18 years ago
Korina,

Congradulations!! That is so nice when they finally give us a peak!

I whacked the pot of my AV on a hard book on the floor...was scared I would wind up breaking the pot.

The plant is putting out some nice foliage so I am happy about that..will keep you posted if any buds show up. ...if none after a bit, then I will try the super bloom booster!!

--KWien

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