african violets won't bloom (flowers, growing, tree, north)

[kelly3120]

my violets won't bloom.
the keep getting new green leaves tho!
they are in three little pots(heard they like to be crowded?), under florescent light, and in what i assume is violet dirt(they were sent to me from a flower shop)

Any tricks would rock as i want purple blooms so bad.

[Torrie]

They probably need plant food. Schultz makes an african violet food that I use on my violets and they are always blooming. African violets like to be watered from the bottom. They make a pot specifically for this plant. I got mine at Home Depot. You fill the base with water and then set the potted part of the pot into the base. If you do this make sure you water the plant in when you first pot it. Then as the roots grow they will feed from the bottom. Hope this helps out.

[nitram]

Try these websites, you should be more than successful with this information.

Growing African Violets - Google Search

[Keeper]

Believe it or not, taking a just emptied milk carton/jug and put water in it to water your violets helps them bloom. It does work..but you want to use the water only once and not store it.
You do have to fertilize them too but make sure you use african violet fertilizer.

[aween]

My violets bloomed beautifully as soon as I deadheaded(pinched the old flowers off the plant) when it looked all dried up. I also found that they thrived in my window that faces north, as to not get any direct sun.
Also I always watered on top but made sure that the water only touched the soil and not the leaves. I have had the same violet plant for 4 years now.

[ontheroad]

I think this is the trick both for african violets and other flowering plants with similar foliage (begonia, for example). Strong direct sun appears to damage both the leaves and the blooms.

Originally Posted by aween

My violets bloomed beautifully as soon as I deadheaded(pinched the old flowers off the plant) when it looked all dried up. I also found that they thrived in my window that faces north, as to not get any direct sun.
Also I always watered on top but made sure that the water only touched the soil and not the leaves. I have had the same violet plant for 4 years now.

[citydweller]

I have a dark green leaf variety that I have had on my table in front of sliding doors facing north no less. For a year I think it bloomed once. Then the association cut down the tree that was shading my patio and all of a sudden it has bloomed constantly! On the other hand a lighter leafed variety in the same area has always bloomed prolifically so I guess it just depends.

[oeabel]

I could never get our violets to bloom until I put them in a south facing window where they got some direct sunlight every day. This was a miracle and I've never had a problem since. This also worked after we moved to Florida and I brought leaves with me to grow new plants.

Also, I use the pots from Home Depot that someone suggested that are 'self watering' and the liquid Miracle Grow violet food. But, neither of those worked until the plants had some direct sunlight every day.