Grow African Violets the Easy Way - Wick Them

African violets are one of the easiest houseplants to grow. They are hearty, easy to bring to flower, require infrequent watering, and bloom year-round. It’s no wonder that some people have covered every available surface of their homes with these perky and reliable little performers.

An Error Free Watering Method

If you haven’t grown African violets, or are having trouble keeping track of all your African violet related chores, you might want to think about the best way to water your precious plants that insures they get the care they need.

African violets are notoriously fussy when it comes to watering. The traditional wisdom is to let the soil dry out and then water carefully, making sure that the roots don't sit in water.

Although this sounds pretty straightforward, the most reliable way to make sure your plants get the water they need without risking root rot, is to wick them.

Wicking is an accepted method for keeping large numbers of African violets, but it can help anyone who is concerned about giving their plants a consistent and safe course of watering.

Making a Wick

Here's how it works: a piece of twine or string is threaded from the drainage hole of each pot, through the soil, and out the top. It is then trimmed flush with the surface of the soil. You can use strips of old stockings (pantyhose), or acrylic yarn as wick material. Most standard African violet pots will require three wicks spaced evenly around the pot. Once the wicks are in place, trim the bottom section about two inches from the outside of the drainage hole and set the ends in the drainage tray.

To easily thread the wicks, tie a length of wick to the end of a narrow stick or skewer and push it through the pot from the bottom. Make sure that the wick material you’ve chosen is longer than the pot by at least four or five inches. The extra can be trimmed off once the wick is in place. The last step is to place stones or marbles in the drip tray. This raises the level of the pot to allow for a water reservoir underneath.

Filling the Reservoir

When you are ready to water your plants, don’t water from the top or take them to the sink. Instead, fill the drip trays with water to a point just below the pot, making sure that the wicks are in the water. The wicks will provide a consistent source of water to the plants by pulling water from the reservoir into the growing medium. When a tray is empty, refill it with water.

This method insures that the plants are receiving water continuously without being at risk for root rot. It also has the advantage of providing an additional source of humidity to the air around the plant. Check the trays every few days to make sure they don’t dry out.