Expert: Darlene K. Kittle - 5/10/2004

Question
growing the violets is not the problem getting them to bloom IS! I talk to my plants to encourage them to bloom but once the flowers that they come with from the store go away NO MORE BLOOMS!I buy new plants to show my older plants what they are suppose to do but to no luck with flowering. The plants are growin in indirect light on shelves above my kitchen sink so they get humidity from the use of the water at the sink.  I really love my plants but I want flowers besides beautiful leaf growth   PLEASE HELP  

Answer
Gail,

Give each plant a teaspoon full of epsom salts sprinkled on top of the soil. Then water from the top carefully under the leaves. The epsom salts is magnesium sulfate and they need that to bloom.  It should trigger blooming in 4-6 weeks. This is good for any blooming plant that you think should bloom more, including tomato plants. A dose of African violet fertilizer once a month would be good for them. Good luck.

                                          Darlene