Newbie: Hello

10 years ago

Hello,

I am new to AV. Found this forums by Google. I hope to learn from all of you.

For the last 3 weeks, I ordered 2 AVs from ebay, 2 from Amazon. Bought 2 from Lowes and 2 from Meijer. So far, I killed 3 including one from ebay that cost me $20.

The rest of them I kept them in their original vases, so afraid of watering them. At this point, it's still too soon to cause any damage.

Just learn from here that the botanical garden (U of M) across the street from where I work sells AV in spring. I wish I got into this hobby (now it is) sooner. I could have bought all the AVs I wanted. I hope I will be patient enough to wait for next year to load up. Meantime, I will learn how to keep them alive and bloom!

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Comments (10)

Catherine
10 years ago
Hello Julie! I am also new to this forum and to AV. I just planted a few leaves, and even seeds a little more than 2weeks ago.... l hope everything is going to grow!
Julie He
Original Author
10 years ago
Hi Catherine,

Yes, let's learn. Good luck to us both.
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Catherine
10 years ago
Where are you from, Julie?
kathi_mdgd
10 years ago
I'm no expert,far from it,but i have grown them for years.I just water from the bottom,when needed,and everytime i water i add av liquid fertilizer to the gallon of water.I keep mine in a north facing window.When i first started them i had them in a west window,but the afternoon sun was too hot.The north window seems to be the best place for mine and my orchids as well.I'm in S.Cali.HTH
Julie He
Original Author
10 years ago
I live in Michigan near Detroit and Ann Arbor. Right now I put my AV at a French door facing south. Since the sun is so high in summer it doesn't shine on the plants.
irina_co
10 years ago
Julie -

you are on a learning curve. Do not buy from ebay yet - people sell small plants of fancy hybrids - and you will get there but not yet.

So far stick to big box stores near you - and only buy them when they are fresh delivered, not when they were mistreated there for 2 weeks and ready to be disposed off.

Your goal for now - not to bring 50 of them home - but take care of the ones you have so you are comfortable and not afraid to water poor things.

Get this book on Amazon - and keep off buying more plants until you read it.

African Violets Back to the Basics: Your Questions Answered

by Melvin Robey (Author)
aegis1000
10 years ago
Concentrate on the plants that you have now.

They will eventually need water. When their soils dries, give them a little water (maybe half a cup).

They will need light to bloom. Position them maybe one foot away from a bright East, West, or South window (and let them get a little sun).

When I started growing AV's (in the mid 1980's) I had (3) plants ... from some grocery store. When I realized that I could keep those alive ... and get them to bloom, I was ready to try some others.

Good luck ... and stay in touch ...
Julie He
Original Author
10 years ago
Irina and aegis,

Thank you so much for your advice. Even with 3 dead, I still have 3 at home and 3 on the way. I better stop buying more. I can't stop myself going from store to store to search for them.

i am reading this board on how to take care of them. When they need water, I am going to try water a little from top and soak 20 mins from the bottom. That's going to be my stretegy for now. I bought these cute self watering pots from Meijer that I hope to use though.
aegis1000
10 years ago
Hi Julie ...

I envy your living across from a Botanic Garden.

Regarding the self-watering pots you mentioned, ... I think that the concensus of the posters here is that they can be tricky ... and can, often as not, lead to more dead plants.

It might be better to get used to watering your AV's normally for a while, ... and then try the self-watering pots when you have more experience, and are more likely to be able to tell if things are going well or not ...
Leon Ash
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Julie, I also live in Michigan but in Grand Rapids where there are no AV fans that I can find. I have my AV's on a shelving device next to a window facing west. I wish I could have them facing south, but I don't have any window there.

To prevent future disasters, try wick watering. I believe that beginners will do well using this method because it makes watering automatic, with under- or over-watering impossible.