Question
Hi Mary,
I have a half dozen violets that I bought several years ago--the $.99 versions you get in Walgreens!
They are in 4 inch plastic pots and they have become huge. The leaves on one span at least 12" across. They bloom regularly and seem to like their location. I fertilize everytime I water by using a very dilute fertilizer solution that I put in a saucer so the water is soaked up through the holes in the bottom of the pot. On several I've noticed the roots starting to come out the holes in the pot bottom.
My question is about repotting. I know that AFs like to be potbound and these must be after all this time and the profuse growth. When is it time to repot and what are the best type of pots to use? I've read that you should only use plastic.
What's the best medium to use?
Thanks.
Bob

Answer
Hello Bob:  Your violets seem very, very happy. I have all my plants on wicking reservoirs and they all have roots coming out of the bottom of the pot. Sometimes I see that happening two or three weeks after I repot. Nothing wrong with it for sure. The general rule on the sizes of pots are: the pot should be one third the size of the plant. So if your plants are 12 in. across then a four inch pot is fine. However, when you you repot you might want to gently take off some of the old soil around the roots before repotting in to fresh soil. You can safely go up to a 4 1/2 inch or 5 inch pot if you want. When you repot, pull all of the blooms and bloom stalks off. That will allow the plant's energry to be concentrated on the roots. Your fertlizing program is just the same as I use. One suggestion--about every 6 to 8 weeks, pour some plain unfertilized tepid water through the top of your pots so that it will leach out any fertilizer salts that have built up in the soil. Then you don't water again until the soil feels dry. In regards to soil--I don't have a very good opinion of the soils available in the retail outlets. But you can improve on what is out there. You want a very, very light mix. So if you buy a bag of soil that says it is for African Violets--then add at least 50% or more perlite to it--that will lighten it even more. Every so called African Violet soil on the market is too heavy and when you water your plants it keeps them too wet. The old saying of the ideal potting mixture is:  1/3 soil, 1/3 air and 1/3 water. You can get perlite anywhere--even Wal-Mart. I use plastic pots on everything. Clay pots are fine but they tend to dry out quicker. Plastic works for me since I have ten plant stands full of plants--I grow for show competition. If you haven't visited the African Violet Society of America web site, you owe it to yourself to do so.  http://www.avsa.org  It has tons of good growing info and lots of pretty picutures too. I hope this has helped you, but if you need to get in touch again, please feel free to do so. Mary Hill, Tulsa