White African Violet Grow Healthy African Violets.

African violets have the reputation of being difficult as a house plant but new varieties are much easier to grow. While they don’t thrive on neglect as some house plants do, with a little attention to their needs African violets will reward you with beautiful blooms in a wide range of colours.

Water and humidity

Most older books call for African violets to be watered by pouring water in a saucer and setting the pot in it so it draws water up. With modern, well draining potting soils you can just as safely water from the top. Just make sure to keep water off the leaves or it will spot them.

Don’t water on a schedule, water when the pot feels dry to the touch. Use distilled water or rainwater for best results. If you use chlorinated water let it sit a day or so for the chlorine to dissipate. Use mildly warm water to avoid shocking the plant roots.

Both hard and softened water may cause a build up of mineral salts in the soil. If you use either, watch for yellow-white crusts on the top of the soil or sides of the pot. You should re-pot the plant in new soil if this happens.

African violets are jungle plants and appreciate high humidity, which most homes don’t have, especially in the winter. If your home doesn’t have a humidifier you can sit your African violet pots on a tray filled with marbles or decorative stones and some water. The stones or marbles should hold the pot bottom out of the water, so the pot isn’t continually soggy, which would kill the plant. Do not mist your African violets, water will spot the leaves.

Flowering

African violets flower in repeated cycles if they have all their needs met. That is they will flower for a month to 6 weeks and then rest before repeating bloom. Some varieties are more free- blooming than others. Remove dead flowers to make the plant look nicer and encourage more blooming.

African violets come in many colors from white to pink to deep purple. Some are bi-color. There are double flowered African violets, fringed and star shaped blooms and a whole range of leaf shapes and sizes. African violet growers often enter their plant pets in shows and get involved in developing new varieties. 

Soil and fertilizer

There are special mixes sold for potting African violets but any good soil-less potting mix will work. Soil-less mixes are composed of peat, vermiculite and shredded bark. They are light weight and drain well. Do not use garden soil for African violets or buy cheap, heavy potting soil.

The pot you use for your African violet can be clay, ceramic or plastic but it must have good drainage. Don’t use too large of a pot as large pots cause watering problems. Small plants will grow well in 4-5 inch pots, as the plant increases in size it can be transplanted into 6-8 inch pots.

In Michigan African violets should be fertilized from March to September. If the potting soil you used had fertilizer mixed into it, (check the label), you will not need fertilizer for several months. Use a special African violet fertilizer or a house plant fertilizer and carefully follow directions. Too much fertilizer will cause more problems than too little. If the plant has dark green healthy looking leaves and blooms regularly it is getting enough fertilizer.

Grow Healthy African Violets. Keep the temperature in your home between 65 to 85 degrees.
The east window is the best lighting for African Violets, they need lots of light but not direct sunlight.
Do not over water! Always water from the bottom of the plant.
If the plant is dry on the surface then water. I have a device that checks the moisture of the soil, I would suggest you get one of these. They can be purchased at a hardware store. Let water stand overnight to allow the chlorine to evaporate.
Fertilize with African violet fertilizer.
To keep your African Violets healthy, they need to be re potted at the least on a year. This gives the plants new nutrients through having fresh soil, and helps get rid of fertilizer salts that may have built up. If one of your African Violets has developed a neck, a bare place where the leaves have been taken off, you should re pot it as soon as possible so the neck is covered with soil and can grow new roots.

Colour Kaleidoscope 2013 images.

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Amaryllis Red-Lion flower bulb (Hippeastrum ) Amaryllis Flowers.

 Blooming Time: Blooming time: December-May. Amaryllis can be forced to bloom any time of the year.                                                                                                                                      Propagation: Amaryllis is propagated by bulbs, but may be grown from seed. Expect flowers the third year from sowing.

 Amaryllis is one of the most brilliantly coloured spring bulbs. The cultivated kinds are largely hybrids or variants and often of complex parentage.

 Pot Amaryllis in a pot large enough to leave an inch of soil around the bulb--a 5 to 7 inch pot is usually adequate. The best soil is composed of fibrous loam, leaf mould  and sand with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. The bulb should be planted so as to leave the upper third exposed above the soil line. Water Amaryllis well after potting and then water sparingly until root growth has started (lukewarm water helps). Temperatures of 60 to 70 degrees are suitable for forcing. Lower temperature of 45 to 50 degrees will delay flowering.

About 8 weeks after potting Amaryllis, they should bloom. When Amaryllis is in full growth, they should be watered frequently and fed a balanced fertilizer once a month. They enjoy full sunlight during the growing season. However when coming into flower, partial shade helps to bring out their brilliant colour  After Amaryllis has flowered, it should be kept growing throughout the summer. When leaves dry out, the plant should be kept in a cool, dry, and dark location until they begin to show signs of growing in late fall or winter. The plant should be left in the same pot and given a top dressing of some type of compost.

How To Plant Amaryllis

When ready trim dead roots and remove dry outer layers. Soak the bulb in lukewarm water for about six hours. To plant the bulb as a house plant you should choose a clay pot that is 2 inches wider than the bulb.
Plant the bulb in a nutritious well-drained potting compost of equal parts loam, sand and organic matter leaving about one-third of the bulb exposed. Firm the compost around the bulb and water to settle the soil around the bulb. Don't water again until the leaves start to grow. Place the container in a cool but bright spot.
The amaryllis plant should flower within 6-8 weeks from setting the bulb.
Amaryllis care after spouting requires removing it from any heat source and rotating the pot weekly while watering very sparingly. Bulb rot is a common problem with amaryllis if you keep the plant too wet.To propagate from seeds do so 4 weeks after the seed pod has formed. Allow the seeds to dry for a few days and then plant them in a partially shaded area that is well drained. When the seeds germinate, they need more light.To propagate from offsets look for bulbs growing along side the main bulb in the fall. Replant those bulbs that are half the size of the mother bulb immediately.To propagate from cutage during the summer, cut the bulbs vertically into at least four pieces, making sure each cut part has at least two parts connected to the basal plate. Apply a fungicide dust to the pieces and plant them base down so that at least a third of the bulb is above ground.
At this time, you need to transplant them into small pots. The plant will not bloom for two to three years.

These are lovely plants, requiring very little in the way of care, as long as you remember not to over water, and to plant the bulb with at least 1/3 of the bulb showing while doing your amaryllis care. Then sit back and enjoy the splendid flowers.