Question: I recently repotted an African Violet from the small plastic
container it was purchased in to a ceramic 'African Violet pot' (two
pieces, the top is the pot which absorbs water by direct contact with
water kept in the bottom).
I used African violet soil and am keeping the water level high enough
to touch the 'pot' part. The bottom row of leaves is turning yellow
and then brown. Please advise on what I need to do to fix this
yellowing leaf problem.
E.W. from NC
Answer: E.W.,
There are several possible reasons for the yellowing leaves on your African violet. The most frequent causes are; dry air, too much sun, incorrect watering or overfeeding. From your description, it sounds to me like your violet may be getting too much water.
Here are some general guidelines for watering African violets:
Watering
Don't try to rely on a regular watering schedule for African violets. It won't work. Light, humidity, soil makeup, and temperature all play a role in when to water them and how much water they need.
Always use your finger to test the soil before watering. The goal is to keep the compost moist (not wet), but let the surface soil dry out in between watering. If you leave the top half of your pot standing immersed in the bottom half, you will saturate the soil. It's better to fill the bottom reservoir to the point of submersion, wait a few minutes and then pour off the excess.
Avoid getting the leaves wet by watering from below. Splashing water can cause unsightly blemishes on the leaves and invite mold problems.
Use tepid water-not too hot, not too cold. Also, avoid water that has been run through water softeners as well as distilled water, which lacks important trace minerals.
You can make an easy self-watering system by inserting a water wick into one of the drainage holes of the top pot (a old pair of braided nylon stockings will also work). If using a self-watering system, periodically water your violet from the top pot (under the leaves) to flush accumulated minerals from the soil.
Good luck!
Ellen
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