African Violets are unique plant species. Growing them requires a level of expertise and caution.
How much water do they need?
How do you ensure that you’re giving them the right nutrients, and a ton of questions will be answered in this article.
So, are self-watering pots good for African Violets?
Yes, self-watering pots are good for African violets and other indoor plants because they will keep the roots moisturized, prevent diseases such as wilting, offer a consistent supply of water, and preserves nutrients needed by the plants.
Growing flowers in Containers
If you’ve ever tried to grow flowers in containers, you probably know how difficult it can be.
Most people find that they don’t get the results they’re looking for, and sometimes it takes an expert to get the right balance between light and water.
If you’re one of those experts, then consider this: what’s more important — the blooms or the roots?
Many people think that if you’re getting the water just a few inches below the roots that the roots are getting all the water.
This is not true. Roots need water just as much as the flowers, but the roots soak up the water by squeezing it from the soil instead of soaking it in.
The water that the roots soak up is not used by the plant, and instead it flows out from the root system and flows into the top of the pot where the plant will take it in.
It doesn’t really matter whether the plants that you grow in containers have shallow roots or deep roots because both will work.
There are many advantages to using self-watering pots and containers, but the main benefit is that it allows you to control the amount of light and water that your plants receive.
When you water your plants in pots, you can often have a hard time knowing exactly how much water is needed.
While this is true for indoor plants, it is especially true for African violets. If you put them in a container that has drainage holes at the bottom and you can watch them, you can watch their water usage.
When you use self-watering pots you can decide how much light they get.
The plants need light to grow, but the difference between watering them once a week and every other day will be huge.
You will see that they get the proper amount of sunlight and also have the chance to show off their beautiful blossoms.
The most common problem with self-watering pots is the loosening of the pot lid. When a plant is in the pot, it is still in the soil, and soil tends to move around.
However, if you make the pot airtight and screw on a lid, the soil will not move around. This allows you to know how much water the plant needs without it moving around.
Most people have problems with roots from overlapping, but this does not happen when plants are planted in self-watering pots.
When plants are planted in containers, the roots grow together and attach themselves to the sides of the pot and surrounding soil.
This is okay, but it can cause the plant to have weak roots because the plants are growing in tightly packed soil.
They don’t have the space to grow normally, and when the roots are cut off, they just start to grow back quickly.
Planted or unplanted, African violets will not care which way you water them.
If you have a spot where you want to water, use a hibiscus pitcher and pour the water into the pitcher and place it in the spot. Your plant will take care of the rest.
How do you water an African violet from the bottom?
Well folks the answer is how you water an African violet from the bottom up.
I know some people water from the top down and that seems to work OK for them but what about the bottom up? Do they ever get the yellow blossoms?
The question “How do you water an African violet from the bottom up?” could be answered by those who have grown one of these beautiful plants for years but not by many newbie gardeners.
So let’s see just how you can water this beautiful plant from the bottom up.
Now first you need a good soil mix. You can use your existing garden soil, purchase some new soil or mix your own potting soil.
I like to buy some potting soil when I am ready to plant my African violets.
It is best to purchase some potting soil that will be suitable for the African violets plants.
So you must select African violets species that has large leaves and stems. It also has large, relatively flat flowers that can be found growing on the stems.
If it does not grow on the stems then it probably will not flower unless you plan on transplanting them to another potting pot.
Place the plant in a fairly large pot. Keep in mind the plant needs plenty of water, you don’t want to over water it.
Be sure to keep the potting soil covered and not press it down into the soil.
Let your African violets sit in their new pot for at least a month before starting to water them.
After it has been sitting for a month I like to add a slow drip system, if you just water the plant straight from the tap you will likely end up with root rot and blossom rot and nothing will save your plants.
After the plant has been sitting in its pot for a month, you may need to water it once or twice during the growing season.
I also like to use a slightly moistened pebble with a sprayer nozzle to water the roots as they need a little moisture at the top of the soil and a little moisture on the bottom to avoid too much standing water.
So, now that you know the answer to “How do you water an African violet from the bottom up” I hope this article is helpful.
How much water do African violets need?
Most people don’t know how much water a plant needs to survive.
I have a quick lesson for you on this subject because I want you to understand how much water an African violet needs. Then you can decide whether it is healthy to water them or not.
When most people think of an African violet they think of a water garden planted in the backyard.
I am happy to report that there are African violets that are quite healthy to be kept indoors.
Their size and beauty to them are just as beautiful in a pot as they are in a potted plant.
If you take a look at your African violets, you will find that they do not always drink the water that you put in front of them.
Some African violets drink the water after they have ingested the sugar for the day.
Some drink the water from a bowl, while some will drink water right out of the tap. Most African violets require only water when they are young.
They will grow at a good rate with no water use whatsoever.
Now let’s say that you’ve chosen to keep African violets inside. So, you have them in pots and now you find out that you have a problem with their growth.
What do you do? You can give them more water, or you can add some water to the water.
If you add water to the water you have already given your African violets, they will not drink it and you will have them dehydrated before they grow.
A dehydrated plant will wilt and die within a week or two. They will be quite beautiful for a while, but after they die they will be more like weeds.
It’s a good time to add water to the water, it is summer and the weather outside is hot and dry.
To make things easy, I recommend using tap water. It’s going to be the best option, if you can’t find the perfect African violet for the size of your garden.
The water will still taste the same, it will still be filtered and you won’t have to worry about the little water left over getting into the soil.
Once your water is completely saturated, you will be able to add more, or to just use it straight up.
You could use the extra water and add some wood chips to them. I have done this several times in my life and it has always worked out great.
You will get wonderful results using a little water and wood chips to water your African violets.
How to use African violet self-watering pots
If you want to know how to use African violet self-watering pots, then keep reading for information.
I’m going to share with you a few key ideas about using this eco-friendly method of growing vegetables in the garden.
Now that you’re ready to plant your tomatoes and peppers, the next step is to do a little planning.
You’ll want to pick a spot in your garden where you have room to work and no large plants that you don’t want. It’s important to not dig up a big patch and then add it to a larger one.
Water your plants when they start to grow a little and then again every day. Don’t over-water, because you want to water your plants thoroughly.
Over-watering can cause root rot and a lot of other problems.
To use African violet, you’ll need to wait for the first green shoots to appear.
Then, simply water them with your garden hose so that the water will soak into the soil and flow down through the leaves and into the roots.
It’s just like watering your plants with water but without having to spend so much time getting out the hose.
This is a very good way to use less water, as well as help to ensure that the tomatoes and peppers remain disease-free.
If you don’t water them properly, then the water can seep into the ground and can contaminate the ground.
It can also make the soil too dry, which can cause it to become too compacted, which in turn will kill the tomato or pepper plant.
These methods are a wonderful way to enjoy fresh, home-grown food.
But it’s also important to realize that the method does take time to get results.
Summary
Some plants take a lot longer than others to mature.
Be patient, and don’t be discouraged if the tomatoes and peppers don’t appear in time.
There will be instances where they won’t sprout for a month or so, or in some cases they may take up to two years to become fully grown.
Don’t worry, they will.
In summary, African violet self-watering pots are a great way to use more natural, organic, green vegetables in your garden.
Use it to grow flavorful, healthy foods like tomatoes and peppers, and you’ll find that they are well worth the effort.