| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
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| Diseases African Violets | 8/31/2009 | Patricia |
Q: I have been growing African Violets for many years and have just discovered a leaf issue. They have ...
A: Bonnie, You were smart to isolate the unaffected plants. Mealy bugs are very soft-bodied insects ...
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| African violets dense growth in center of plant | 8/18/2009 | Patricia |
Q: I have been growing African violets and recently have had a problem with dense, crowning leaves in ...
A: Darlene, First, the white powdery substance is most likely powdery mildew. It often attacks ...
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| Five AVs all in the same window -- only one won't bloom. | 8/13/2009 | Patricia |
Q: I read with interest the question about why Cathy's AV will not bloom, and whether it was a problem ...
A: Diana, I wanted to first thank you for the fine rating you gave me! Also, since they all came from a ...
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| africian violet self watering pots | 8/9/2009 | Patricia |
Q: I have several African violet self watering pots, which don't seem to be absorbing the water through ...
A: Rose, I actually have had the same problem with my self watering pots. What I am answeing is only ...
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| Dying african violet hearts | 8/3/2009 | Patricia |
Q: My mom has been an avid african violet grower for many years. Over the past year, all her violets ...
A: If your mother has successfully raised violets for years, it makes me suspicious of WHERE she is ...
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| How to replant African Violet | 7/20/2009 | Patricia |
Q: I have a violet that I started from a little piece when I was working, it has grown so very well but ...
A: Brenda, There are two schools of thought on repotting violets. I adhere to the one who says "Don't ...
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| My poor little African Violet... Help | 7/9/2009 | Patricia |
Q: I bought this little African Violet from the Grocery store and I am trying to save it. I read that ...
A: I think your first mistake was to repot it as soon as you bought it. The nurseries grow the violets ...
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| Snipping back the dead flower | 7/4/2009 | Patricia |
Q: I just received an African Violet but I'm not doing a very good job taking care of it. My question ...
A: Laura, Let me first apologize for not answering you right away. I receive so many newsletters and ...
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| knats and african violets | 7/1/2009 | Patricia |
Q: I have 7 African Violets in my office, and occasionally I have small knats flying around me. What ...
A: The main thing with any insect is to keep your plants as healthy as possible and they will naturally ...
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| White leaves | 6/17/2009 | Patricia |
Q: I have had my African violets for about 8 years. I have repotted them at difference times and about ...
A: Laura, This must be my week to get difficult questions! I actually have never heard of this ...
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| brown spots on white flower | 6/17/2009 | Patricia |
Q: I have a white flowered Av that when the flower buds open, the buds dont appear to have any marking ...
A: I have had this happen to my flowers before, however, I can't tell exactly why. It usually has to ...
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| thin a.v.'s | 6/11/2009 | Patricia |
Q: i have 2 violets that has been with me for almost 3 years now. i was able to let 1 plant bloom. ...
A: Katie, It took several days because I had to do some research. I have never been asked this before. ...
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| Leaves are growing twisted | 7/26/2008 | Nancy |
Q: I have had them for about 10 years under the same conditions, but the last six months the new leaves ...
A: Well, hopefully you don't have the dreaded mite then. A plant needs to be repotted about twice a ...
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| Leaves are growing twisted | 7/25/2008 | Nancy |
Q: I have had them for about 10 years under the same conditions, but the last six months the new leaves ...
A: Mercedes, Are the centers pale, brittle, twisted out of shape? Are leaves excessively hairy? It ...
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| Too Wet | 7/18/2008 | Nancy |
Q: I have the self watering pots but some of my violets are getting too wet and are dying. Should I ...
A: Because the soil is always in contact with water with this type of pot you need to add a hand full ...
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| African violet propagation | 7/4/2008 | Nancy |
Q: .. I'm going to start propagating African violets... I have access to a greenhouse... I wanted to ...
A: If you take an old leaf from the last row of a plant, the time will be much longer than if you take ...
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| african violets | 7/2/2008 | Nancy |
Q: sure hope u can help me with this small problem i have..i have had my av for many yrs.they are doing ...
A: I can't imagine what this could be! It might be eggs left by any number of insects but usually eggs ...
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| white cottony material on violets | 6/11/2008 | Nancy |
Q: I have three little violet plants that have been doing quite well. I just noticed today that there ...
A: This sound very much like foliar mealy bugs. Take a Q-Tip, dip it in rubbing alcohol and scrape off ...
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| two colors on one plant | 6/3/2008 | Nancy |
Q: I am new to AV. I bought some tiny starter about quarter size and one is now blooming. the plant has ...
A: A fantasy violet has a solid color with lines, dots, splashes of a different color on the flower. ...
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| two colors on one plant | 6/2/2008 | Nancy |
Q: I am new to AV. I bought some tiny starter about quarter size and one is now blooming. the plant has ...
A: Your plant is a fantasy. Probably the plant is supposed to be pink with dark purple fantasy spots. ...
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| Gloxinia | 6/1/2008 | Nancy |
Q: I have had a gloxinia for several years. Every year before it flowers the stem seems to weaken and ...
A: Gloxinia are not my area of expertise although I have grown a few. I suggest you pinch off all ...
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| blooms are drying & dying | 5/30/2008 | Nancy |
Q: I recently took over my Mother in law's African Violet. It had not been watered hardly at all & the ...
A: It sounds like the peat moss in the soil never really got damp. I would take a knife and cut off ...
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| African Violet care when away | 5/22/2008 | Nancy |
Q: I am going to be away for 3 weeks. I want to put dry cleaner plastic bags around my plants. Should I ...
A: You can cut 6X1 inch long strips from old pantyhose or you can use knitting yarn. Stick the wick up ...
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| African Violet care when away | 5/22/2008 | Nancy |
Q: I am going to be away for 3 weeks. I want to put dry cleaner plastic bags around my plants. Should I ...
A: Make a tent so the plastic doesn't contact the plants. That should be all right if you have a ...
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| African Violets | 5/19/2008 | Nancy |
Q: I have African Violets that are at least 15 years old!! When they start outgrowing their pots, I ...
A: To begin with, I would take a leaf and start a fresh plant. With the older plant, it can be ...
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| NEW to AVs - pinch off dead blooms? | 5/17/2008 | Nancy |
Q: I received a beautiful trio of AVs as a gift and I've never cared for them before. Is it proper to ...
A: African violets bloom all year long provided they get a good amount of light (no direct sun) water, ...
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| Violet Fertilizers | 5/17/2008 | Nancy |
Q: I have used Peter's A.V. Food for years, and my Violets LOVED it!! I ran out awhile back and I ...
A: Peter's Fertilizer Brand was sold. He has now come out with Jack's fertilizer. I have grown AVs ...
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| African Violets | 5/6/2008 | Nancy |
Q: The bottom leaves on several of my plants are turning white. They are flowering and the leaves feel ...
A: This is the natural way for African violets. The last row of leaves will either dry up or rot off ...
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| black specks on african violet | 5/2/2008 | Nancy |
Q: I have tiny black specks on my violet, what could this be?
A: This is somewhat hard to answer without seeing the plant. 1. Are the black specks movable? It ...
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| African Violets | 4/30/2008 | Nancy |
Q: I have two beautiful African Violets. Can I give these to my daughter for her to plant OUTDOORS.
A: It is possible to grow African violets outside if the weather is not too cool or too hot. Room ...
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| Repotting African Violets | 4/28/2008 | Nancy |
Q: Is it okay to repot my African Violet when it is in full bloom?
A: Yes, you can repot even though the violet is blooming. We prefer to take off blooms after repotting ...
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| droopy leaves | 4/17/2008 | Nancy |
Q: I have a wonderful purple/blue violet that blooms its little heart out about this time every year. ...
A: Cathy, Sorry for the delay in answering. It seems my answer did not go through to the end and was ...
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| persian violets | 4/12/2008 | Nancy |
Q: i think i already e-mailed you a question, but put my wrong address. i"m asking about how long ...
A: Persian violets (Exactum) should be kept as annual plants. You can keep them over the winter but a ...
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| persian violets | 4/12/2008 | Nancy |
Q: i buy a persian violet every year when they are available. are they seasonable, or am i doing ...
A: Persian violets should be treated as annuals, that is, once they have lost their vigor, buy a new ...
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| white spots on my AV flowers | 4/4/2008 | Nancy |
Q: I have one AV here at work. It is in a north-facing window and has been thriving until recently. ...
A: White spots may be one of three things. Powder mildew: Most often on foliage only. Paint with a ...
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| Avs flowers wilt before blooming | 3/24/2008 | Nancy |
Q: Why my avs's flowers buds wilt before blooming ?
A: Flower buds that wilt before blooming is usually caused because of dry air. The plant needs more ...
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| leaves turning black | 2/26/2008 | Nancy |
Q: . The leaves look strong initially but gradually they turn black and the stem of the leaf has no ...
A: This sounds like a soil problem. Most growers of African violets use a soil less mix on one third ...
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| Potting Soil | 2/26/2008 | Nancy |
Q: .. In a place where we do not get vermiculite and perlite what do you think is the best soil that we ...
A: Vermiculite and perlite lighten the soil. If you can not get this, this is what I suggest: Can you ...
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| Long curly stems - repotting | 2/24/2008 | Nancy |
Q: My African violets are seriously overgrown and threatening to just fall out of their pots. There's ...
A: More than likely you have several crowns, or starts of plants in the one pot. If you let the soil ...
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| Curled up leaves | 2/23/2008 | Nancy |
Q: . I am from India. I have not been able to find anyone here who could help me with my AVs that I am ...
A: Short leaf stems is a genetic problem and can not be "fixed." But you can try a few things to see ...
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