Thanks Everyone I am currently using water from my dehumidifier but am almost out and it don't run in the winter. I have a water softner so I can't use that water and we don't have a tap before it goes thru the water softner. I have been also been taking a gallon jug to work everyday to bring home some un softened water, but I will be retiring very soon and have been looking for another source. I did save some rain water this fall and will try Irina's suggestion to use it on one of my plants. Thanks Again Cork

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!

My first response disappeared so will try again. I know little about Botrytis Blight so do your plants' symptoms match or could it be something else? Are the blooms affected? Several growers are experiencing problems with rot this year because of the amount of rain & cooler conditions, perfect for the spread of fungal diseases. I would check Dr. Optimara for any treatment. Some of these type diseases spread so quickly that the plant is gone before you can treat. For the time being, I would separate your healthy ones, increase your air circulation, & try to control moisture and humidity. You can also cut out any rotted areas & at least apply cinnamon or sulfur if you have it. I'm curious as to why you think you have mites. Do your plants have tight centers? Are the center leaves twisted or grey, brittle, extra hairy, or cup under? Mites are nasty critters so you want to make certain you have them & not a cultural problem. Pictures would be helpful. Terri

Probably Botrytis. (Photo of the problem plant would be helpful). Yes it is highly contagious. Usually it happens in a case of a high humidity and stagnant air. If you try to grow AVs i a terrarium - and the spores of this fungus get in - it will destroy the plants. Normally this fungus lives on a dead plant material - but if the conditions are right - it will attack living plants. While you can find a fungicide that will take care of it - it will probably be expensive and not good for the family - the better solution is to look what you can do to improve the conditions where your plants grow - may be move them to a drier spot, give more space between the plants, remove all dead and sick leaves... the plants will recover.