I am with you. A glazed clay pot would work just fine. It is the fact that clay pots dry so fast that make them a problem. This is especially true if one is wick watering.

Larry

Thanks for your helpful input, Larry! I am so glad I could keep it in the glazed pot...it's so unbearably cute. I'm totally in love.

I was wondering--could you also water from the top down with a glazed clay pot? (I was told that bottom watering is best.) I've never tried wick watering. What kind of "wick" is best?

Hi,

If one wants to get a full-scale argument among African violet growers just take a side on whether to top water or bottom water. You will find a whole slew of people who will passionately argue for the other and several reasons why. lol I top water. It's much quicker. The only thing is to throw out any water that collects in the saucer. African violets don't like their feet wet. I use room temperature water for my African violets. It doesn't shock the roots and if I get some water on the leaves it doesn't spot. Leaf spotting occurs when one gets cold water on them. I will let someone else give instructions for bottom watering who is familiar with it.

As far as wick watering is concerned, you don't want to do that unless you have a soil that is mixed in correct proportion for wicking I use a soil that is 1:1:1 ratio of milled sphagnum, perlite and vermiculite. Some people even say to use two parts perlite in this mixture. Never wick water with standard African violet soil. The mixture has to be very porous or the root system will rot.

If or when you do wick, people use nylon cord, yarn or strips or pantyhose. It's basically a personal preference. I like nylon cord myself.

I hope this helps. If you have any other questions ask away. We love to answer questions.

Larry

Thanks yet again, Larry! I am so new to this AV stuff--I'm conquering my fear of killing AV's by consulting you guys this time, who happen to be far more experienced and generous with your knowledge. Good point about the soil. I am not touching the commercial soil for a little while--at least until I can get a handle on the mix.

As for watering, the florist ( the one who told me not to pinch dead blossoms) went ballistic on me for suggesting any other watering method than bottom watering--not to mention threaten to not sell me anything in the future if I didn't take care of his plants! Talk about feeling intimidated. If I wasn't already feeling timid about AV's, after that incident, I was tormented! It was asking this forum that's helped me make sense of anything...

You guys are the best!

Wish,

Roflmao!! I know. People can be so passionate about their method of watering. lol I know that either method works just fine. One just needs to do it correctly, that's all. Again, I top water because I could not be bothered with putting water in a saucer and coming back 10 minutes or so later to dump the excess water out of the saucer. With all the violets I have I just don't have time for that.

Larry

Silly question, Larry, but what is "Roflmao?" I'm new to this chat stuff....:) By the way, I'm up to four(!) AV's now.

Rolling on floor laughing my a__ off.