Also: the plant had blooms on it, but the stems also became droopy and the blooms dried out shortly after I bought it.

Seems like you dried it to a crisp already. The goal is to keep the sol uniformly slightly moist, not soggy and not ever dry to the bone. You can do it with the original soil as well - but just pay more attention.

Right now the plant is sacrificing the outer leaves to keep the center alive.

What you can do - water it sparingly with room temperature water at least once a week - you can water it from the bottom or from the top - but make sure that in 15 minutes you will remove all the water from the saucer. You can spray the leaves now - with tepid water every day or more to try to rehydrate it. Eventually some leaves will die, some will perk up. If you start repotting right now - it will not survive. You need to rebuild it first.

We are not born with a knowledge - and we learn on the go - and most beginners lose their first several plants until they figure it out. So - do not feel guilty - we all did it.

Good Luck

irina

Oh Celeste, do what Irina says. The goal now is to gently rehydrate it. Good luck! Rosie

Okay I will! I really hope it's not doomed, it has really beautiful blooms. Thanks for the advice!

Celeste have your violets perked up any? Rosie