african violets help

can anyone help. I inherited a number of african violets from my dad when he died last year. He grew them beautifully but I am having problems. Ive tried new soil and watering as my dad taught me but the leaves are all droopy. I dont want them to die as my dad loved them can anyone advise me? thanks sue

 

Hi sue, your near me.
African violets like to be kept on the dry side and in relitivly small pots I find.
Potting on is not really necessary, 3.5in pot is plenty and a feed occasionally. Always water from the bottom and then let them dry out so the leaves flop a bit before watering again.

 

thanks for that. I was watering from top probably didnt help. Just another question, where is the best place to put them, do they like direct sunlight or a cool spot? It was easy for my dad he only needed to look at a plant and it grew, shame Im not the same.

 

They like a cool position but plenty of light, just to be awkward! This lady who lives near me suggests a west facing window to get evening sun:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/articles/2006/03/01/african_violet_feature.shtml

 

I say full sun in winter, no sun in summer, but good light.

 

itissue, just another pointer, don't get any water on the leaves, none of this hairy leaved family like wet foliage or it will mark them and spoil their good looks . Hope you have sucess with them.

 

African violet are more depending on regular care than most other house plants. They have to be watered when the soil feels dry but not hard, as up and down in the watering can cause damage to the leaves.
If watered from the bottom of the pot, the surplus water has to be removed.
The odd watering from the top (avoiding contact with the leaves) will help to wash out the accumulation of minerals on the surface, which creates a white layer.
The day time temperature is ideally 72-85 degrees F, and the night temperature ideally 62-70 degrees F.
If the light is not enough, the stalks will become elongated and the leaves thin; but if the light is too bright, the leaves will become yellow or pale green.

 

I found African Violets did really well under artificial light when I still worked in a large open plan office. Too much direct sunlight through the windows tended to make them shrivel but in the middle of the room (on top of filing cabinets!) really suited them.

To get them to come back into flower let them dry out a little (to stress them) then start re-watering. I always watered from the top with a small plastic watering can but was carefull to not wet the crown. Stand on saucers with gravel in so roots do not come into contact with any standing water.