LP>  And I can't grow African violets! I love them, but they don't like me!
LP>Oh well, I'll always have something to strive for!  :)
   Neither could I up to about four years ago.  I seemed to be able to
   grow any house plant *except* african violets.
   For some reason, now long forgotten, my Mother in Law bought me
   another AV, even though I had long since given up any attempt to grow
   them.  It survived, and in fact did extremely well through the spring
   and summer, but it started failing as we got closer to winter.  It
   seemed to be in a good place for light - it seemed to be in a place
   which other plants prospered - but it nearly died.  For some reason,
   instead of giving up on it this time - and pitching it in the garbage
   (thats how bad it looked), I moved it into the room where I kept my
   computer.  Now this is (or was) one of the smaller bedrooms - with an
   east window.  Most of the year it's somewhat dark.  But - I had a
   table lamp there - one with a 14 inch flourescent bulb - and it was
   left on for the better part of the day.  The room was also perhaps
   one of the warmest in the house.  The plant took off!  It not only
   started growing again, it bloomed within the month!
   The trick to AVs seems to be LOTS of light - light for at least
   twelve hours a day. (Something we sure don't get in the winter).
   They don't expect very high temperatures, anything we are comfortable
   with - they seem to be too.  But they do want light!  And, of course,
   they are the type of plant that don't like TOO much watering - but
   don't like it dry either.
   Get things right - and they will reward you with some of the most
   terrific, long lasting blooms you have ever seen.
   The setup I use now is a simple 48 inch, two tube fixture, with one
   cool white tube, and one special tube for growing plants.  There are
   53 AVs growing there - some are large, but many are small plants or
   rooted cuttings.  The setup I use is a home-made automatic watering
   system, thus I never have any problems getting the watering
   right - even if I have to ignore the plants for several days.
   Perhaps it's time to try it again - with a little help from the
   light.
 * SLMR 2.1a * Now you see it, now you dont - Murphey at his best!
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