She is absolutely right guys.

She was the one who told me in very nice words "Put the Watering can down, step awaaaaaaaaay from the bruuuuuuuuuuuugs!"

I was over watering. All I had to do was stop.

I still struglle with fancy schmancy ones that I get from Ebay, but, then again, I'm not gonna worry too much about tiny green cuttings.

But heed her words, they are some of the most important words anyone could have ever told me.

I grow African Violets too, and have found that contrary to what many afficianados say are "Must have" pots, mine do best in old KFC styro cups... lol So, when reading tips and treasures, I usually just kind of use it as a guide.. and not as carved in stone... common sense goes a long way too.

I must remember to put down the watering can and step back from the brug.

lol

Carolyn

Words of wisdom from Karyn- that's a BIG thing with Brugs- I used to nurture my plants by over watering them, & ended up killing them! Restraint is a great thing!
Kasha77

Ya know what worked for me?

Ok, this sounds wierd, but hey, it works.

Use a SPRAY bottle to water. yep. It keeps you from "dumping" on them and only lets you water x amount at a time. Your hand will get TOO tired to over water. (ha!)

Carolyn it's funny that you said that about AV's. Mine are completely neglected, have been in the same pots for 15 years, never been fertilized and I've never cut the sports off. They just hang there until their weight causes them to snap. I also rarely water them. When I notice the foliage looking like kleenex I give them a drink (from the top lol). These plants are in bloom for most of the year in spite of my lack of care.

Karyn,

What a great reminder. Yes, I'm very guilty for overbabying my plants. Quite a few years ago I purchased an inexpensive water measuring meter. It's wonderful. I now place that in my plants and I will not water them unless the meter reads 4 or less. That way I know the top 2 - 4" of the soils is dry. Unless it's a water loving plant.

Also, I try very hard to use rain water ofr water from my pond instead of tap water. When I use tap water, even after it's been sitting out for a couple days, it seems the plants don't grow as well.

I love reading everyones experiences. I might give a few of them a try and even adapt their techniques a bit with mine. I've found some great ideas that work very well for me.

Great reminder!
~Tj~

Okay, there is exceptions, contray to what another person stated in another post, I have found that certain B. Sangs if they aren't kept moist will die. I have been playing with a couple this past month and the one that we didn't keep moist/wet is really looking sad. So we have been keeping our sang in a little water. Those with Vulcs are you seeing the same thing?

In the heat of the summer my Vulc and Sangs were getting just as much water as my other brugs. The one that seemed not to need as much was my Culebra. Now that's they are in the GH and cooler they get watered infrequently.

Thanks karyn, we have what some think are vulcs and we call them our large leafed Sangs. which we noted that they drooped faster than the brugs did during the summer months, they were in more shade. The mother is well over 6 foot and it was on the north side of the house so it stayed wet. Do keep me posted as to how yours do.

The Vulc I have I got at the same time Karyn did and I haven't watered it since it was potted up..It is a very Happy plant..I did over water and kill the sangs I started from seed.. I am rooting a few now but keeping them slightly moist and they seem to being doing well and putting on new foilage.. Perhaps envioroment plays a large part in our different experiences with these..
Kylie

I completely agree Kylie. That was one of the reasons I made this post. I can imagine the confusion someone new to growing brugs would have reading all our different suggestions. They'd think we were all nuts (and according to DH we are lol) I think so much has to do with environment and even our own perception of what a lot and a little of something is.

TRUE!! So many harp on soil mix needing tons of perlite or the such.. That just doesn't apply to me becoz we rarely get rain.. where say MS where DD is ..it rains most days she has to use it..Same with sun exposure.. They get up near 100* maybe where we stay at 107* for weeks at a time..She doesn't need near the shade for her Brugs where I do..Some of my Banana's need some shade in the late afternoon or they will burn..

So true. I am going to use some of the moisture retaining things next year after it gets good and warm when its time to upsize pots. I can't get blooms here in the heat without watering the potted plants several times a day but those same plants will die from rot in a mix like that in the garage over the winter so they will have to get repotted toward the end of summer in something else or really let them dry out and not water but just a tiny bit at a time then. Its too dang hot here, lol. Now watch it flood all next summer if I do that, lol.