The Garden Guru - www.thegardenguru.com.au Phil Dudman - www.thegardenguru.com.au

African Violets

Have a look at this African violet. It’s a cheery little thing, but just a few weeks ago, it wasn’t looking so happy at all. There were no flowers and the foliage was looking yellow and sickly. I could ignore no longer and decided to finally give it the attention it deserves. Literally overnight, it burst into beautiful bloom and continues to produce new buds every day.

A lot of people ask me, how can I get my African violet to flower? Well the first thing you need to get right is the light.

The best spot for your plant is near a window. African violets flower well in bright light, but they don’t like direct sunlight so be careful because it’ll burn the foliage.
The next thing is watering. Don't give African violets too much because it will rot the roots. Just stick your finger in the mix every few days. If it feels dry, then give it a good soaking.

Every time you water, it’s a good opportunity to give them a feed too. I find you get the best results with a liquid fertiliser that’s been formulated for flowering plants. Just dilute it to about a quarter of the amount recommended on the label.

Don’t pour it on the plant from the top. The leaves don’t like it and it can rot the crown. Instead, put the fertiliser solution in a bowl and sit the pot in the liquid so that it soaks it up from the base. Just remember to tip the excess out after an hour or so.
Try these tips yourself and I guarantee your African Violets will start blooming their heads off.


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Copyright Phil Dudman 2006