My mother gave me a african violet last year. Its very healthy looking but hasnt bloomed since. What can i do?

I have grown many African Violets. I have learned several things about them. One is they don't like water, treat them like cacti. Water them when the soil is dry to the touch. Then water only enough to let the water run through once. The violet's pot should be in a saucer. The pot should be made of plastic or glass; not Terra Cotta. They do not like Terra Cotta pots. Also, when you planted the violet, you should have put a wick in. A wick can be made of a old rag. The material should be something that soaks up water such as cotton. You should have 2 inch wick. Half of this should be put inside the pot and the other half remains outside. It will be in the saucer when the violet is planted. After inserting 1 inch of the wick, then plant the violet. Do not ever use potting soil. It is too dry. Use either topsoil or dirt from your yard. There is something in potting soil that turns dry and hard as it ages and the violet cannot get water even though you water it. If this continues, the violet will die. After you plant the violet, take the planted violet and put it in a saucer. Then water it until the water runs through into and starts coming into the saucer. Then stop. After this, find a place to put the violet. The violet likes indirect light; it does not like direct light. If you have a windows where the light shines a good part of the day, put it in front on that window. Don't put it too close though such as putting it right up next to the window because it could be burned from the heat that it reflected from the glass. I know this sounds impossible, but I have seen it happen. After you have put the violet in it's place, check the soil every week by placing your finger on top of it and if it feels dry to you, water the violet. If not, or if you see water in the saucer do not water the violet. The wick will take up the water to the violet. You might try putting the water in the saucer if your violet needs water, because the wick will absorb this water and carry it up and inside the pot to the roots of the violet. Fertilize your violet once a month with an African Violet fertilizer. There is such a thing. A garden supply store will know what you're talking about. Go and ask them.

My mother gave me a african violet last year. Its very healthy looking but hasnt bloomed since. What can i do?
I can tell you way with out all the things other people have said,not to say they are wrong but my method works,

I read it in the libary 10000 gardening questions i think that was title ,anyways thing about violets that they like to be stessed ,meaning they like to be root bound ,dont transplant a violet an think its going to bloom,thats why you see them in stores in little pots,however you can transplant them to make them bigger but it ordered for it to bloom again it will have to be root bound ,and the water thing ,well I water mine about once a week or every two week .I grew mine from a single leaf and it took almost three years ,thats because i put it in a bigger pot.now it blooms about every six weeks,and this time the colors are reallly dark purple.so have fun
Reply:Site 1: From plantanswers.com

"The most common cause of the African Violet not flowering is insufficient light. Since your plant has normal, healthy foliage I suspect that this is your problem"



Site 2: African Voilet Care
Reply:Most Plants flower to propogate... When a plant is very healthy it seems to decide that it doesn't need to propogate and in doing so it doesn't flower or produce a fruit/seed very often. Maybe you are looking after it too well and it needs a little shock.. Try giving it and extra few days before you water it... maybe dig around the roots a little or add a different fertilizer than what you normally give it... Give it a little taste of sunshine each day...

I found this on a web page...

A Silly Tip



Occasionally a grower is doing everything well, and a violet will still stubbornly remain out of bloom while developing beautiful leaves. Botanists would say that it is in a vegetative mode. In order to switch it to a fruiting (flowering) mode, the plant needs a gentle threat that will trigger a “survival of the species” response. Squeezing the sides of the pot or gently thumping the pot on the table surface will disturb roots enough to trigger a panic response, often causing the violet to begin setting flowers. It sounds silly, but there is good science to support this action.

http://www.avsa.org/VioletBloom.htm Good Luck!