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 I have 5 0r 6 violets that I would like to repot into 1 pot. Is this advisable and what size pot should I use to accomodate this amt. of plants. Thank you for your time.
Answer Usually we advise violet growers to measure the violet, one leaf, then across the top to the opposite leaf. We divide this number by three to get the appropriate pot size. So a violet that measures 9 inches across should be in a 3 inch pot. A 12 inch plant would be in a 4 inch pot.
Violets like to be a little bit tight so they stop producing roots and start blooming. With too much soil, they continue making roots instead of blooms. Also when a plant has a pot that is too large, it becomes over watered and soon roots start to rot.
In your case, however, I would suggest making a kind of dish garden, using a 12 or 14 inch saucer. Put pebbles or charcoal in for drainage, then arrange the plants in the pleasing manner you would like to see. You can add large leafy plants to the back, and smaller violets to the front.
You could, if you like, keep the plants in separate pots covering them with soil as one stops blooming. Like this, you can change the non bloomers for those that are blooming.
You would be able to make a nice colorful arrangement, yet keep the individual AVs in smaller pots.
Remember that light and fertilizer is important to make violets bloom. These plants produce more blooms with all the elements used for good growing, light, fertilizer and a small pot so they can produce blooms instead of roots.
