| White mold/mildew has been forming on the soil, flowers and leaves of my African violets. They are kept in a sunroom where the thermostat is regulated at 60 degrees. There are 5 thermopane windows with southern and eastern exposure, and on a sunny day the temp can reach 70-80 degrees during the winter. Do I need to keep the room at a constant temp? |
| It sounds to me like your African violets are too wet. Try watering them from the bottom. This can be done a few ways. One way would be to set them in a dish of water for an hour or so, removing them and allowing the excess water to drain from the pot. Do this whenever the soil begins to feel dry. Another method is to set them in a tray of stones, watering them only via the bottom (the stones). This increases the humidity around the plant, allowing the leaves to absorb moisture from the air as well. Remember not to let cold water splash on your African violet leaves as that can cause them to spot. Average house temperatures seem to be just fine for African violets. I wouldn't have them exposed to temperatures below 50 F, however. That might be a bit chilly. |
