I found that a few of the self-watering pots I bought (somewhere else) never let water seep into the pot where the soil and the plant were. Due to water not penetrating through the inside liner pot, I lost two violets. Any recommendations?
When functioning properly, a self-watering “violet pot” maintains the soil’s consistent moisture by allowing the water in the outer, glazed pot (reservoir) to keep the inner, unglazed pot wet and the soil inside by osmosis. Sometimes you merely need to start the process if the inner pot is clean and unglazed. Before using (potting in), try giving the inner pot a good soak in (hot) water. This will clean it up and, in a sense, open up the pores, allowing capillary action to take off. In the beginning, water the plant from the earth’s surface so that the inside pot and soil are both damp. When the wet inner pot is immersed in the reservoir water, the self-watering procedure should start.
Are African violets suitable for self-watering plants?
Although picking a pot for your African violet plant is down to personal style, you can bear in mind certain fundamental tips to guide your decision.
What kind of pot material is optimum for growing African Violet plants?
- Plastic is the material that requires the least maintenance because there is no risk of the soil drying out.
- They last a very long time.
- They come in a range of sizes and colors.
- A plastic pot with a diameter of 4 inches is shown below; this size is suitable for standard or large African violet plants.
What kind of pots for baby African Violet plants or leaves?
- I suggest using tiny plastic mouthwash cups for newly potted African Violet baby plantlets or for laying down leaves for propagation.
- They are available in 2 or 3 sizes.
- For drainage, you can drill a few of holes underneath.
- Images of African violet plants and/or leaves in mouthwash cups are shown below.
Can I use ceramic pots for my African Violet plants?
- The other material is ceramic, which has exquisite vintage variants available in a variety of sizes, shapes, and designs.
- If the ceramic pot has sufficient drainage and is the right size, you can pot your African violet plant right into it.
- Check out “What Pot Size To Use For African Violet Plants? for additional information on the appropriate pot size for your African violet plants.
- Otherwise, you can conceal your African Violet plant in a plastic pot by placing it in a little bigger ceramic jar. This is merely for aesthetic reasons. Here are two pictures of a ceramic pot holding a potted plant.
Can I use clay pots for my African Violet plants?
- Clay pots are an option, however they are not advised.
- Clay pots would require constant monitoring of the watering because they dry up rapidly.
- African Violet plant roots may become stressed by the cycle of wet/dry soil.
- If you are not careful, they might also break.
- Mold may also grow on the pots and around them.
Self-watering pots for African Violet plants?
- African violet plants can also thrive in self-watering pots.
- I advise utilizing self-watering pots for plants with deep roots.
- Plants with weaker or smaller roots probably wouldn’t do well in self-watering pots, in my opinion.
What kind of pots to use for trailing African Violet plants?
- Shallow pots are ideal for growing trailers.
- A pot with a minimum depth of two would be suitable.
- Azalea containers are effective.
- Even bulb pans are effective.
- Plastic shallow dishes and pans can also have holes drilled in them.
Love self-watering containers good for violets?
African violets and other plants that require moisture can be easily maintained in self-watering ceramic pots. The plant is held in one of the two distinct pieces, which is unglazed to let water slowly seep through to hydrate the soil, and the water reservoir is in the other piece.
How do self-watering plants function?
By using sub-irrigation, plants are irrigated from below rather than above. For thirsty plants (like the Ficus family), the roots can grow through the sub-irrigation insert and straight into the reservoir for continuous access to water and nutrients. This technology is used in our self-watering planters, which also have a patented sub-irrigation insert.
It can be useful to look to nature for an understanding of the entire process. When it rains, the soil absorbs the rainwater, and gravity then pushes the water down into the subsurface layers of clay and stone. Deep root systems of the plant continue to be able to take water from the subsoil’s water stores while the upper layers of soil dwindle. Due to the roots’ continued availability to water, plants can survive droughts even when there is water retention in the subsoil. Instead of allowing the plant to rely on top waterings when a human judges the plant to be thirsty, typical indoor planters do not make use of this natural mechanism.
With no guesswork involved, self-watering planters use sub-irrigation to distribute water directly to plant roots. The plant may drink at its own pace thanks to the water reservoir at the bottom of the planter, which also serves as a visible cue for carers that it’s time to water the plant.
How are ceramic pots for African violets used?
- The unglazed, semi-conical ceramic planter is where you will place your African violet.
- After planting the African violet, you will place the planter inside the elegant ceramic pot.
- When it’s time to water, take the conical planter out of the pot and pour room-temperature water into it halfway.
- Place the conical planter inside the pot once again.
- The non-glazed ceramic will allow the house plant to gradually absorb a little water at a time.
- African violet soil should never be saturated or completely dry; it should always feel just slightly moist to the touch.
- Empty the decorative dish if you believe your African violet has absorbed enough water.
African Violet Care
The African violet is not a true violet. They are not a member of the plant family Viola. They are a member of the plant genus Gesneriads. These endearing species are thought to have first been seen in the western world when Baron Walter Von St. Paul brought them back from West Africa in the 1800s. The collection of Baron St. Paul was delivered to Germany. With their fuzzy emerald leaves and vividly colored blossoms, African violets were an instant hit and are still among the most cherished and well-liked house plants today.
Over the past few centuries, hybridizers have had a lot of fun with this species of plant. Dark purple blossoms are what gave the African violet its name in its original common form. Today, you can find African violets in every shade, including lavender, different blues, pink, white, and bi-color varieties, all eager to enhance your home in a way that few other houseplants can. You can find leaves that are flat, green, with a distinctive velvety texture, and flowers that are single, double, semi-double, and ruffled.
Based on the width that the plant will eventually attain, African violet gardeners divide these plants into four size groups. African violets come in a variety of sizes, including those larger than 16, those between 8 and 16, those between 6 and 8 semi-miniatures, and those less than 6. The incredible range provides countless options for your home’s dcor.
In these handcrafted ceramic African violet pots, we do not recommend using peat moss. The best gardeners we know have informed us that this inexpensive product may really do more damage than good to your plant. Purchase a small bag of soil designed especially for African violets from your neighborhood nursery. Sand and pine bark should be used to create it so that the plant’s roots have breathing space. Our African violet pots are made with special features that prevent you from drowning your plant when watering it from above. Using our two-part African violet container to water from below is the best option.
The majority of gardeners concur that growing this plant is best done on a window sill that faces northeast. A lack of light can cause thin, straggly leaves that are straining to find the light source they require, while an excess of light can result in tiny, rumpled, yellow leaves. Dark green foliage and a rounded, compact mounding habit are characteristics of a healthy African violet.
Fluorescent lights will work if you don’t have a window with a northeast exposure. Your African violets should have the strength and stamina to bloom and thrive with an average of 14 hours of light every day from these artificial lights, which should be positioned so that they dangle about a foot above the plants. For this, you don’t need to buy pricey grow lights.
We advise looking for an organic fertilizer for African violets. This is crucial if the violets are placed near food areas, in the kitchen, or anywhere else where kids might play. It is advisable to be as safe as you can while growing plants inside by selecting organic African violet food because chemical fertilizers should not be consumed. Your plants will need regular fertilizer because they are being grown in pots, which will re-enrich the soil.
Aphids are a common problem for gardeners, but they can also appear on indoor plants. Tiny white and green bugs are known as aphids. Many insecticides designed to poison garden insects are probably available to you, but we kindly ask you to avoid spraying potentially toxic chemicals inside your home. Each year, over-the-counter pesticide exposure sends thousands of individuals to the hospital, many of whom are young children.
The good news is that you don’t need any unpleasant pesticides to entirely get rid of pesky aphids on your African violet plants. Take the plant outside if it becomes infested, then just brush or blow the aphids away. For this delicate technique, you can use a tiny paintbrush or cotton swab. Check the undersides of the leaves and petals for any potential hiding places for tiny insects. These tiny insects are undoubtedly enjoying themselves on your beautiful African violet plant, but if you’d rather not have them there, the aforementioned approach is kind to the naive aphids as well as kind to your home and the environment.
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thoughts on “How to use your African Violet Pot
Does anyone know whether the violet’s unglazed pot will lose its capacity to let water seep through? I have successfully raised African violets for many years, but now that they are dying, I’m wondering if this is because the pots have become less permeable over time, preventing water from penetrating.
African Violets (Saintpaulia)
An indoor ornamental plant called an African Violet blooms most effectively when watered from the bottom up. It’s because watering a plant from top to bottom might cause the plant’s crown to decay.
It is also advantageous to use distilled water to enhance the health of African violets. To get rid of salt and dust, we can occasionally mist the leaves of African violets with water.
Water that is at room temperature must be used to water African violets. It is always recommended to choose self-watering pots because plants are vulnerable to quick leaf chilling. Ring Spots may appear on the leaves of African Violets if we soak them in cold water that is below 55 degrees Fahrenheit (a condition of discoloration of leaves).
Peace Lilies (Spathiphyllum)
Once per week irrigation is necessary for Spaths or Peace Lilies. For my Peace Lilies, I like to use self-watering pots. The Peace Lillies are kept moist by a self-watering plant, which is the main cause of this.
Peace Lilies prefer high humidity and require moist soil to grow. The plant would receive the necessary amount of water from a self-watering pot while avoiding the risk of overwatering.
I frequently fill the water reservoir all the way to the top to ensure that my Peace Lilies have enough water. I’ll also make sure the dirt is completely dry before adding more soil to the pot.
Pothos or Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum Aureum)
Pothos grows well in a self-watering container for many of the same reasons as other plants do. Root rots can be prevented with a self-watering planter. Pothos either experiences it as a result of water shortage or excessive watering.
Our Potho can develop fungal infections and wilt its leaves if we overwater it. To avoid these issues, it is recommended to choose self-watering pots. Always allow the soil time to dry up in self-watering pots before adding more water to the reservoir. It is anything that facilitates Pothos’ nutrition acquisition.
I frequently add new dirt to my Pothos, especially when gaps appear. It is a great technique to occasionally provide the plant the nutrients it needs.
Fiber Optic Plant (Isolepis Cernua)
The fiber optic plant, sometimes referred to as low bulrush, is a semi-aquatic plant in its natural habitat. Therefore, this plant needs enough water to stay healthy. Water gardens are where most people cultivate their fiber optic plants. They can, however, also grow well in self-watering containers.
It is preferable to fill the reservoir all the way to the top because it needs a lot of moisture. We can’t allow the soil of a fiber optic plant dry out like we can with Pothos and other plants. It will cause it to wilt.
In a self-watering pot with medium sunlight, I’ve put my fiber optic plant. It aids in keeping my plant healthy in its self-watering container.
Umbrella Palm (Cyperus Alternifolius)
Umbrella Palms need a lot of water, just like Fiber Optic Plants need. It is a semi-aquatic plant as well. If we plant an umbrella palm in a self-watering planter, it can thrive.
We need to fill the reservoir all the way to the top and refill it frequently because it mostly grows in water. The plant can be replenished by regularly checking the pot and giving it water.
We need to make sure the roots of an umbrella palm are kept moist and damp. It will negatively impact the plant if its roots are dry. Brown spots appear on the tops of the umbrella palms’ leaves as a result of dehydration. This problem is readily solved if we have our umbrella palm planted in a self-watering pot.
Ferns (Polypodiopsida)
When we give ferns enough moisture, humidity, and peaty soil to grow in, they do well. By using water that is at normal temperature, we can guarantee the wellbeing of our ferns.
Ferns typically perish as a result of either inadequate or excessive irrigation. When ferns experience under-watering, the leaves turn yellow and become dry. On the other side, over watering can cause the leaves to become yellow and the roots to decay.
However, we can use self-watering pots to provide our ferns enough water. Additionally, we must routinely assess the plant’s needs for moisture.
We must refrain from watering the plant from the top once we have planted our ferns in self-watering pots. However, we can top-water our ferns once or twice a year to clean their foot system.
Selaginella
The plant selaginella requires high humidity levels. These plants may wilt and perish if there is not enough moisture. A Selaginella plant typically dies due to uprooting, which happens as a result of dehydration.
The plant may be able to recover its health if we give it enough water. To assure their growth and to offer a consistent supply of water, I have placed Selaginella plants in a self-watering pot.
Pitcher Plants (Sarracenia)
Similar to other predatory plants, pitcher plants demand particular care and attention. For them, having a suitable drainage system is crucial to their ability to develop. In addition, we need to guarantee that it gets enough water.
We can always rely on self-watering pots for that reason, especially in warmer climates. To make sure the plant receives the right amount of water in such locations, we must fill the reservoir each morning. For the self-watering container, we can also set up an automatic watering system.
For a pitcher plant, it is best to choose a self-watering pot that is between 16 and 20 cm wide. Here, the reservoir needs to be routinely topped over with four to six cm of water.
Cherry Tomatoes Plant
When we plant cherry tomatoes in large pots, they do well. The soil will have greater space to absorb water thanks to it. To provide us with a good crop, they require more water.
Split tomatoes and blossom end rot can both result from under-watering. Similar effects on the plant might also come from overwatering. Therefore, it is crucial to give the plant consistent amounts of water and nutrients to preserve its health. The soil must be moist, but that does not mean it must be humid.
Choosing a self-watering container will help us to give our Cherry Tomatoes a plentiful supply of water. We can water the plants automatically as well.
Basil (Ocimum Basilicum)
Basil, which is often used in cooking, needs plenty of sunlight and mild weather. When the weather is hot and dry, it grows best. If it’s freezing outside, the plant might not make it.
By giving the plant a good environment to flourish in, we can prevent these issues. Basil plants can benefit from indoor cultivation, proximity to a windowsill, or exposure to fluorescent lighting.
Our basil plants, especially those kept inside, might benefit from a self-watering pot by getting the necessary amount of moisture. When the reservoir is empty and the ground is completely dry, we can replenish it.
Cilantro or Coriander (Coriandrum Sativum)
For survival, cilantro need a lot of moisture. The majority of people grow them in water, particularly in large pots. However, we can also use self-watering containers to cultivate our cilantro plants in soil.
The leaves of the cilantro plant get moist as we water it from top to bottom. Powdering mildew can grow on moist leaves. Self-watering pots can help us solve this issue because they don’t wet the leaves.