About Nancy Expertise I can answer questions on the following subjects:
Pests, chemicals
Showing AVs
Sowing Seeds
Problems with plants
Basics of AV growing
Episcias
Streptocarpus
Experience I am an African violet Advanced Judge in US and Canada. I have written a book on pests of African violets called "Insects, Pests and Diseases of the African Violet Family" My articles appear in African Violet Magazine and Chatter as well as in other magazines.
Organizations AVSA
AVSC
African Violet Society of Greater Montreal
Saintpaulia Society of Montreal
Publications Book author: "Insects, Pests and Diseases of the African Violet Family"
African Violet Magazine, many issues
Chatter Magazine Many issues
Horticulture
Other Magazines
Education/Credentials University of Indiana Master's work (Music)
Awards and Honors Jr. Queen of Show (Pixie Blue) AVSC Convention Montreal
Approximately 100 blue ribbons
25 or so Best of Class
Past/Present clients I sell mostly leaves on Ebay. I sell plants at convention shows and local shows.
Question How do I clean my pots, I have the self watering kind where one sits in another? They were my mom's and have been used for years so I want to remove the scale and build up on them; however I do not want to harm the violets that I want to put in them by using something toxic accidentally.
Answer Hello:
I recently cleaned one of my self-watering pots, the kind with the ceramic insert.
It was stained with soil so I cleaned it with soap and water first, rinced it then put in a bit of bleach and let it stand overnight.
Next morning it was perfectly clean.
Then I rinced it thoroughly and washed it again with soap. There wasn't even a smell afterwards.
It should be completely safe for violets if you rince the bleach out several times. Let it dry to make sure then give it a smell test.
