HI Ken, I just reread your original message and realized that I hadn't answered it. As for fertilizer, I have been using a combination of fertlizers. I have been using Optimara fertilizer which has no urea nitrogen and also alternate it with Dyna-Gro grow formula which is also sans urea. I like both of them very much and have been using them successfully for years. The only problem I have ever had was with Dyna-Gro which is a liquid and eventually it evaporates somewhat especially if you use small amounts. When the liquid evaporates it makes what is left stronger so you may have to adjust the amount that you disolve in the water. I now buy the smallest bottle and it has solved the problem of evaproation over a long period. Glad to hear your surgery went well. Fred in NJ

Hi, Caren - Thanks for posting. I, too, am interested in cheap and "organic" ways to grow violets. I think we all need to learn how to garden in accordance with Mother Nature. Also, violets are an inexpensive hobby to begin with, and keeping costs down helps to make them available to all - which is as it should be! Having said that, I see a few problems with your approach. There is a reason why most people who grow a lot of violets don't bring in dirt and stuff from the outside to plant violets in. The reason is BUGS and DISEASES! Since I don't use toxic pesticides, my only protection against pests is to ISOLATE my new violets from dirt, cut flowers, new plants, etc. for several months before mixing them in with my regular collection. To try to get more to your point, if I were going to try to fertilize violets using homemade methods, I would try to create an organic compost to plant them in that contained lots of good stuff -- like rotted alfalfa, composted manure, worm castings, blood meal, fish meal, etc. If I was collecting this stuff from my yard, I would compost it well (which kills a lot of things) and then bake it in my oven to sterilize it before using on indoor plants. This can make a stink, and I haven't even tried this in many, many years. However, it can and has been done. Another problem is that like many people who grow lots of violets, I wick water my plants. This is by far the easiest way to keep them, I think. Anyway, wick watering requires a very light potting soil with 1/3 to 1/2 perlite mixed in. The above-mentioned compost would need to be mixed with a lot of perlite in order to be light enough for this watering method. The only way I know to get perlite is to buy it. I don't think that using homemade compost is likely to save you any money if you count anything for your time, electricity to heat the stove, etc. If you can hook up with a violet club, you might save money by going in with other members to buy soil ingredients (perlite, vermiculite, peat moss, dolomite lime) in bulk, mixing it, and sharing the mixed soil among you. You could add some of your own sterilized organic compost to this mix to feed your plants. However, it would be easier to buy a small amount of African violet food for a few dollars. Most of the time, you will want a fertilizer that has 3 balanced numbers -- like 14-12-14. I even use Osmocote timed release flower food, which is 14-14-14. 1/4 tsp. feeds a 4" pot for 4 months. The cheapest way I know to grow good violets is to go to a violet club, buy a bag of their pre-mixed wicking soil and some violet food, plant your leaves, and watch 'em grow. That way, you can get started for probably less than $10. Enjoy your African violets! Barbara

Soooo......yeah basically ever since I planted this thing in the new "gritty mix", it has gone downhill. ..and fast. It appears to be drying out. Some leaves are actually getting curling and getting crispy. I water every day. .the water goes from the top of the pot and is already draining out the bottom in mere seconds. I watered it around 10 today.it looked bad., I thought..ok..I need to water this even more. So I gave it another drink around 6. Just looked at it again and now it looks like it's straight up dying. I don't get it. Followed the gritty mix directions to a T. It was doing great in the "tiny" black container it was in when i had it for the first two weeks. Now that its in a "proper" mediym, and a large pot..it's dying. It's in shade, outside on my patio. What could possibly be wrong? Someone help! Al?

I use rayon mop strands - they last longer than the rayon man-made chamois you can purchase in automotive stores or store sections. Also, I really like the woven polypropylene ties that onion & citrus bags are often secured with, but not all of them work well. When they do, they last indefinitely. I have some that are more than 15 years old & still like new. This is a high-fired Tokoname bonsai training pot. It still offers the gas permeability of terra cotta, but is impervious to freezing. Sadly, I can no longer find a supplier for them - glad I stocked up when they were available. Al