Newbie needs a little help!

9 years ago

Hello! I am new to growing African violets. I just bought a baby African violet last week at a local show. Like a true newbie...I also bought a ceramic self-watering pot for my violet. The plant seems to be doing ok-it has new leaves coming from the crown, and it has already gotten a little bigger. My concern is that the outer leaves seem to be getting a bit darker. They're not limp, but seem like they might be less firm then the newer growth. Is this a sign of overwatering? It's in a south-facing window getting plenty of light, but it is pretty direct light for a few hours a day. It's potted in light soil, (a peat/vermiculite/perlite mix. Not exactly sure what the ratio is.) I currently have the reservoir empty to give it a chance to dry out a little bit. Should I re-pot it into a plastic pot? If so, will it dislike being repotted twice in two weeks? I've attached a picture of my little violet. Thanks in advance for your help!

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Comments (3)

aegis1000
9 years ago
Your plant looks okay.

Be careful with the watering ... the soil should only be slightly damp.

Make sure that your pot has drainage holes.

If the soil has too much water, set the unpotted rootball on those paper towels to absorb out some of the excess water.
perle_de_or
9 years ago
Some of my plants are in a south facing window, but during the part of the day when the sun comes directly in, I draw a sheer curtain across the window. They don't like direct sun, also a south facing window can get very hot. I hope your plant does well.
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Rosie1949
9 years ago
Aegis, I think she has her plant in one of those self watering pots with the removeable middle ceramic/bisque insert. No drainage hole and no way to get the actual plant out unless she is transplanting it.

Amanda, If this is the pot you have this violet in, a self watering ceramic/bisque pot set into a ceramic reservoir, you cannot let it "dry out" for a few days. In fact, before you potted the violet into that insert you should have soaked the insert until it was good and wet. THEN pot into it. That starts the wicking action for the plant. The pot is designed to sit in a source of water constantly and it is the bisque part of the pot that is your wick. Which means you have to pot your plant in a lighter soil mix so as the water is wicked up by soaking into the bisque pot, which then wicks into your soil, and it has to evaporate quickly so the soil doesn't get soggy. If your soil mix retains too much water because of peat and vermiculite,,,THAT is what will kill your plant because your soil will not dry out as quickly as it should. Maybe that is what your outer leaves are telling you. That the plant is being overwatered. Just a guess.

I wish I had a pix of your pot.

These containers take some getting used to. I have yet to master them and I have 2 of them! And I have been growing plants since the '60s. That doesn't mean you can't, but peat and vermiculite should not be in that mix IMO.

I know this sounds like doom and gloom but if this is NOT the pot I am thinking you have,,,,,then we will have a different conversation!

And maybe someone else can guide you better than me. But I create ceramics and I know the dynamic of those particular pots. They are a good idea,,,,if you can master them. Rosie