Why do my African violets get moldy and die?
Question:The soil turns white and the leaves darken and die
Answers:
You are giving it too much water; or the roots are sitting in water. The containers specially made for African Violets let the water drain, and then if there is any left after 20 or 30 minutes, pour it out. I water mine only once a week and I've had it for 13 years.
Try to keep the leaves dry when you water it . It's a myth that the leaves can't get wet. (What happens to 'em in the wild?) However, if they stay wet overnight , especially when it's cool , they probably will rot . Best to water them in the morning, keeping them as dry as possible , & make sure they have plenty of air circulation . Make sure the soil drys out a bit between waterings . Not totally dry, but mostly dry.
You may need full sun.
Too much water. Next time, before you water, check if the soil needs the water.
African violets are pretty finicky. Sounds like the plant is sitting in water too long. Allow the soil to dry out completely before watering. Water then let dry out again. I wouldn't water more than once a week. Good luck!
overwatering
sounds like too much water
i had the same problem so i use a tray filled with aquarium rocks to set my pots on. they seem to drain nicely that way. (set them next to an eastern exposure window) -i have killed lots of plants by giving them too much love...maybe when you normally would water them, tell yourself to wait 2 more days. oh, and you could try putting some sand on the top of the soil, kind of like mulch. i've noticed that violets tend to grow themselves right out of the soil and need to be transplanted more often than most houseplants because the roots expose themselves after a while. did you know that if a leaf breaks off you can root it in water and have a whole new plant?
All the "too much watering" answers are right but also remember to water African violets with warm water.
More Related Questions & Answers...