African Violets and Gardenias

I keep buying plants. I shouldn't. I know this and Mr Boots knows this. Plants don't do well under my care. In college, I managed to kill a cactus.

Does this stop me? Of course not! We were in Home Depot about a month ago and they had African violets, so I said to myself, 'Self, they can't be that hard to maintain. My grandmother did it and she was blind!' So I bought it and have been slowly butchering it ever since. But I water it and make sure it has enough light, and still it withers in my hands. If it were to try to kill me in my sleep it would be completely justified and aquited because it'd be self-defense.

And then Mr Boots brought home a gardenia because I love them. That too I've been slowly killing. He was all 'Oh it's ready to bloom anytime!', and wouldn't you know it, but all the buds ready to burst forth took one look at me and thought better of creeping out of their casings.

So how do I care for these flowers? Is there food? Should I go into therapy? Should I turn myself over to the authorities?

I want them to live!!

I'm not a plant butcher and I have never had any luck with Gardenias.

I did however bring several African Violets back to life in my office when a co-worker got a mixed plant basket sent to him by his mother and he neglected it.

Someone gave a gardenia palnt once. It was nice for a week. Now I buy my gardenias in perfune form only!

My mom has had African violets. I think they are easier to care for.

I bought DH ' The Idiots Guide to Houseplants' & he says it is very informative.

( That whole, I can learn anything from a book thing again! )

Ivy is a good starter plant. I have killed Ivy, but DH's is doing well.

I don't know ... I'm just kinda lucky with plants. But from what I can remember of AV ... indirect light and the soil should be moist (maybe, I think )

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Posted by shamrock12472

I don't know anything about Gardenias but with the Afician Violets, they like bright indirect light. Water them from below...it the have a cup like container that they sit in... put the water in there. Don't water them from the top like normal plants. They tend to get water root easily.

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Good advice...I gave African Violets as wedding favors and people still tell me there plant is alive and well.

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Posted by tourist


Ivy is a good starter plant. I have killed Ivy, but DH's is doing well.

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You have killed ivy!! Please tell me how - it has found it's permanent home in our yard and I want to make it go away. I rip it up, it comes back, I spray stuff, it shrugs and keeps growing. Please tell me your secret!!!