My paternal grandmother, who was my very favorite relative, kept African Violets in an area that looked much like this one does. As an adult, I tried once or twice just to keep a connection with her, but didn't have her touch with them. Maybe if I'd had them set up like these are it might have been a different story. Such a great idea to use those plastic containers underneath.

Debra: I don't grow African Violets anymore but I know they are still very popular house plants. I've met people who grow AV's in windowsills or on side tables under bright lamps, those like me who use inexpensive stands with shop lights attached, and those who grow for shows and exhibitions who have expensive set-ups with special stands and lights.

In the photo below, the larger plastic containers are self watering containers. The plants have cotton wicks that come from the soil through the bottom of the pot and trail down through a hole into the water in the plastic container. There are two small plastic containers, one holding a little plant and one with rooting leaves. Those are zip lok or glad plastic storage bowls that I used to hold the little pots for when I watered.

I grow a few AV in an East window. I always assumed that if they were grown under lights that they had to be closer to the lights than your picture shows. Yours must have been successful. I have some shelves with lights but haven't tried it yet as I didn't think they would be easy to see with the lights as close as i thought they needed to be .

Paul: I don't know about growing them too close to the lights. If they are miniature's they'd probably have to be raised up closer to the lights but I think too close and you'd have scorched foliage. Here's some info regarding light at the Optimara website: http://www.optimara.com/africa...