| Anyone can grow beautiful African Violets
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| | are used). If water gets on the leaves,
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| if they provide the simple conditions
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| | dry with a paper towel to prevent leaf
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| required for healthy growth.Natural
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| | spotting.Soil:A potting medium suitable
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| Light:Adequate light is the most
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| | for African Violets should be sterilized,
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| important factor in promoting flowering.
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| | and light and airy to allow root
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| Place plants near any window that has
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| | penetration. Soilless mixes are ideal -
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| bright, but filtered, light. An east
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| | they contain sphagnum peat, vermiculite
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| window is best because it gets morning
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| | and perlite.Atmosphere:Temperature and
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| sun. A thin curtain will be necessary if
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| | humidity are important factors. Most
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| placing plants in a south or west window.
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| | violets can tolerate temperatures between
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| In order to develop a nice symetrical
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| | 60 and 80 degrees. Ideal temperatures
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| form, plants must be turned 1/4 turn
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| | are 72-75 degrees day-time and 65 degrees
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| every week.Fluorescent Light:If adequate
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| | night-time. The preferred humidity range
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| natural light is not available, plants
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| | is 40% to 60%. A humidifier or bowls of
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| can be grown under fluorescent lights.
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| | water placed near plants can be used to
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| Use double tube fixtures with one cool
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| | increase you home's humidity during
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| white bulb and one broad spectrum bulb.
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| | heating season.Feeding:Lack of regular
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| Lights should be 8 to 10 inches above the
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| | feeding is one of the reasons an african
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| top of the plants and turned on for 12 to
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| | violet will not bloom. The best way to
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| 14 hours a day. If plants have tight
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| | feed is to use a dilute fertilizer
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| centers or seem to be bleaching out,
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| | solution every time you water. Use 1/8
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| reduce the number of hours to 8-10 a
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| | to 1/4 tsp. fertilizer to one gallon of
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| day.When to Water:More violets die from
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| | water. A balanced fertilizer should be
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| overwatering than from any other single
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| | used such as 20-20-20 or 12-36-14. Find
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| cause. Violet soil should be kept evenly
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| | a fertilizer with a low nitrogen urea
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| moist and never allowed to become soggy.
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| | content as urea burns the roots. Some
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| Water only when the top of the soil is
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| | brands are Peters, Optimara, Miracle
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| dry to the touch. Always use tepid
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| | Grow, Schultz.Sharon Rosenzweig has been
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| water.How to Water:You can water from the
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| | growing African Violets for more than 30
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| top, bottom, use wicks or use self
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| | years. She is a Board Member of the
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| watering planters. However, about once a
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| | Baystate African Violets Society (BSAVS)
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| month, plants should be watered from the
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| | in Massachusetts. She is the owner of The
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| top to flush out accumulated fertilizer
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| | Planter Depot which specializes in Oyama
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| salts. Never allow plants to stand in
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| | Self Watering African Violet Planters and
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| water (unless wicked or Oyama Planters
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| | other growing supplies.
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