African Violets & My Mom
Posted on October 2, 2016 by bob in Yard 'N Garden
When I was growing up, my Mom had African Violets (Saintpaulia) all over our house. My worst nightmare was being told to water the violets. “Aarrgh!” I’d think. (At least I was smart enough not to voice that consideration aloud.) There were so many rules, like don’t get water on the leaves, don’t overfill the pot so it runs over on the furniture, and only use the water specified. There were so many plants that watering them was not a job quickly done.
Fast forward twenty years. I am married and busy with three sons. Out of the deep, dark recesses of my mind comes the thought that I should have
African Violets at my house. Of course, I go to my Mom to procure advice and also three beautiful, blooming plants. She is overjoyed I am following in her hobby footsteps. I ask the secrets to growing gorgeous violets.
“There’s nothing to it,” she answers. “They are the easiest, most rewarding plants you can grow.”
Great. I am all set. I carefully transport my new plants home to Alabama. I wish for a kitchen window in which to put them — like Mom has always had — but I remember she has them in other rooms too, so I am not concerned. I place all three plants in the dining room window so they can get a full dose of the afternoon sun.
A week or two goes by. I remember I have violets in the house and wonder if they need water. To my surprise, they are not looking all that great. All the blooms are spent and the soil is kind of dry. I call Mom. The interrogation begins.
“Did you overwater them?” she asks. I could honestly say no. “Do you have them in an east facing window?”
“I’m not sure what direction that window faces,” I lie. “I will check on that.”
“Your house always seems cold to me,” says mom. “They may be too cold and they don’t like draft. Did you remember to put a drop of liquid fertilizer in the water before you water them?”
“Well, no, you never told me the cocktail you were feeding them,” I reply.
“You really need to talk to them,” Mom concludes.
“What??” I exclaim. “I am not about to talk to dead violets, Mom!”
“Well, dear,” she says, “then that is exactly what you will get. I will be there this weekend to bring them home.”
And so my violet growing ended.
They may be easy to grow, but it seems you need to know all the rules and to follow them diligently to have a good experience. I guess Mom thought I’d learned those things that were second nature to her by growing up with violets.
I still occasionally buy a violet at the grocery and enjoy it until it quits blooming. Nothing else I know reminds me so much of my Mom.
Martha Skelley, an intern in the 2016 Master Gardener Class, lives in Montgomery. For more information on becoming a master gardener, visit www.capcitymga.org or email capcitymga@gmail.com.
Capital City Master Gardener Association
Free Lunch & Learn
12:00-1:00 p.m. | Bring a sack lunch. Drinks provided
Oct. 5: Fruit Tree Selection for the Backyard — Dr. Arlie Powell, Petals from the Past
Nov. 2: Care and Selection of Garden Tools — Mary McCroan, Advanced Master Gardener
Armory Learning Arts Center, 1018 Madison Avenue
Contact the Montgomery County Extension Office (334) 270-4133 for more information.
