It's a common misconception that African violets are fussy and die easily. In fact they are fairly rugged plants that take a lot of abuse. They do not always bloom if there's not enough light, etc., but even without blooms African violets are beautiful.

These special plants originated in the mountains of South Africa. True to their origins, they enjoy some humidity; temperatures of between 70° and 75° F; filtered, bright light; good air circulation between plants; and a constant supply of nutrients such as those found in Schultz Liquid Plant Food For African Violets.

Watering methods African violet growers employ include top watering; saucer watering; wick watering; and mat watering. With top and saucer watering, it's best to allow soil to dry slightly between waterings. Schultz Liquid Plant Food for African Violets is compatible with all these watering methods.

For the best overall results, repot violets once or twice yearly in a light, slightly acidic potting soil such as Schultz Potting Soil Plus for African Violets.

Autumn can play tricks on African Violets

This time of year can provide unexpected hazards for your plants. African Violets that grew problem-free in a window throughout the summer might suddenly start developing bleached or mushy leaves. What happened? Well, the culprit might be the sun. You would think the sun would be more of a problem in the summer. But window grown indoor plants actually get more direct exposure to sunlight in the spring and fall, when the sun takes a lower path across the sky. Plants that were getting indirect sunlight from the overhead summer sun might now get burned from the lower angle of the autumn sun. If this becomes a problem for your plants, just move them to a window with a more protected exposure.

Temperature and humidity extremes can also cause damage to African Violets in the fall. A plant near a poorly insulated window or cold wall can suffer leaf and root damage if exposed to severely cold temperatures. Spots can also form on leaves and blooms if condensated moisture settles on them overnight. Even worse damage can occur if the dew-covered plant is exposed to direct sunlight. This problem is most obvious if the damage seems to occur only on one side of the plant (the side closest to the wall or window).

If you recognize any of these symptoms, the solution is often simple: just move plants to a more protected location, treat them to some Schultz African Violet Liquid Plant Food Plus, and their vigor and beauty will soon return.

For more information on African violets, contact the African Violet Society of America at www.avsa.org .