African Violet Assist?

[rolanni]

I brought my poor African violet home from its perch on the windowsill at the day-job; the leaves had started to crisp in the heat. As a general thing, African violets grow for me grudgingly for about a year, then die precipitously. This one, though, been doing champion work -- it's even bloomed once or twice in the couple years that it's managed to survive my care.

I figure that, while I have it at home, I'll give it a new pot, and some nice, fresh African violet potting soil, to prepare it for the excitement of the coming school year.

Thing is, the local Agway has pots that they're specifically calling "African violet pots," that include an "automatic waterer." Does anybody have any experience with these contraptions? I know that African violets don't like to stand around with their feet in the wet, and I've been very careful not to keep this one too damp -- maybe too careful, considering the scarcity of flowers. I'm willing to pay for a fancy pot app, but only if it's actually useful.

Anybody?

Comments

[curlicue.livejournal.com]

Mine lives on a northfacing window, so it gets no direct light. It looks good and blooms well.

Here's the secret.

1. Osmocote plant food.
2. Water it once a week...just pour a quart of water right through it, and then let it spend the rest of the week drying out.

As long as no one touches it (I had a roommate who wanted to "help" and watered it without telling me) it blooms like crazy and is totally beautiful.

Orchids and AVs: thrive on neglect, and don't want to be fussed over.