Thanks for the link rain1950. I am looking for instructions using 5 gallon buckets. Do you have instructions for that size as well? You tube is a great thing, however I'm looking to learn from other's trial and error. Anyone can throw one together and put it up on you tube, but how do I know whether it was constructed properly so that there is a big enough water chamber, it will wick properly, ect? I can certainly throw one together, but I don't want to "wing it" only to find out that my "design" has a big flaw and my plants die.

Welcome! Keeping an African Violet is not rocket science so don't be afraid. :) Getting it to bloom as if you were about to enter it into a flower show takes a bit more effort (extra lighting). Most of the complicated instructions are over the top, too wordy and designed for people who plan to wick-water feed or Grow For Show. Garden Web does have basic care instructions - although I disagree with feeding at every watering...it should maybe have a 2nd option for people who don't wick. #1 DON'T over water!! (But don't forget to water - letting plant go limp as the reminder to water is stressful :) And would you want to be dying of thirst everytime before your next drink? (Okay: this was my sin before finding GardenWeb!) #2 Even potting soil designed for African Violets generally needs Perlite added to it. (Check the soil around your plant - it may be mostly peat; you probably want to repot soon. (At least when it stops blooming.) Leaving them in the soil they're sold in tends to be the kiss of death because they get soggy and stay soggy for a long time. (Should not feel like it weighs a ton after a normal watering) #3 If the afternoon sun is too hot in the window, try a sheer curtain between. Rotate the plant a bit when you water so it doesn't grow lopsided, leaning the same way all the time towards the light. Now we'll all sit back and see how long it takes for your first purchase of a named AV and some kind of lighting system. [grins] Slippery slope! Just like roses? Laurie in Maine Here is a link that might be useful: Basic Care (a place to start)

You can buy minis from the fancier garden centers. Depends on where you live. A store called Orchard Supply has minis. You can go to the Flower Mart in a nearby major city. That is where the wholesale sellers go. They will usually have a section for "The public " to buy a few plants. You can go to a florist near a location where there are office buildings where people sit in tiny cubicles all day. Such florists have great demand so they stock minis. Finally, you can place an order with actual growers if minis such as Lyndon Lyon and Violet Barn in upstate New York . Their minis are more likely to grow just one plant that does not sucker. Optimara brand is more likely to sucker and grow multiple crowns because minis have trailer genes . So , if you have limited space, then buy just one or two or three minis from either Lyndon Lyon or Rob 's Violet Barn. Other high quality minis that don 't sucker were developed by Kent Stork but are harder to find. Also, George MacDonald. You can also get small standards and semi minis if you have limited space . The plants often cost the same or more as standards. If money is an issue, buy leaves and be prepared to wait. If a mini gets older and you move it to a bigger pot, it will probably grow larger leaves . If you buy minis in a local retail store, they will be Optimaras. In my experience , they eventually grow three crowns that I then have to divide. If you order on line, read the fine print to see if it says "grows symmetrically." Then it won 't sucker or spread out. More info than you wanted ... Joanne

Soooo......yeah basically ever since I planted this thing in the new "gritty mix", it has gone downhill. ..and fast. It appears to be drying out. Some leaves are actually getting curling and getting crispy. I water every day. .the water goes from the top of the pot and is already draining out the bottom in mere seconds. I watered it around 10 today.it looked bad., I thought..ok..I need to water this even more. So I gave it another drink around 6. Just looked at it again and now it looks like it's straight up dying. I don't get it. Followed the gritty mix directions to a T. It was doing great in the "tiny" black container it was in when i had it for the first two weeks. Now that its in a "proper" mediym, and a large pot..it's dying. It's in shade, outside on my patio. What could possibly be wrong? Someone help! Al?