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Little by little, African violets have invaded Brigitte McKnight's home. It started 10 years ago with a small plant for decoration. Then came two plant stands equipped with florescent lights. She also emptied one of her children's rooms for two more stands of African violets.
"I like African violets," says McKnight, who has been a member of the South Bay chapter of the African Violet Society of America since 1995. "If you treat them right, they bloom year-round for you."
African violets are the best-known members of the gesneria family, a family of chiefly tropical and subtropical perennial herbs and shrubs.
Every third Tuesday, McKnight and other members of the African Violet Society of the South Bay meet at Sunnyview Lutheran Home, 22449 Cupertino Road in Cupertino, to share tips about growing African violets.
At a recent meeting, the 18 members of the club discussed how to prepare plants for the club's annual show May 34 at Westgate Mall, 1600 Saratoga Ave. in San Jose.
"Even though the show is three months away, you have to decide right now which competition categories you want to enter and which plants you want to show," says club member Anne Jantzan. Jantzan handed out a 14-week plan offering suggestions about grooming, potting, lighting and fertilizing.
Dorothy Gawienowski, who has won the best plant category almost every year since she joined the club in 1975, is a walking encyclopedia of information about African violets. The Sunnyvale resident shared her expertise at the meeting.
African violets need just enough water to keep the soil moist. Too much water can cause root rot and crown rot. Water should be about room temperature.
A regular grooming routine is important. Growers should remove dust, dirt and other debris that has accumulated on the leaves with a soft-bristled brush. A thorough grooming routine includes an inspection for insects and pests.
The amount of light an African violet receives also affects its health. Too little light causes the plants to stop flowering and the leaves to turn yellow.
A good violet fertilizer should have equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Fertilizers should be totally water-soluble so that plants can absorb all the elements.
Ruth Wasserman says African violets appeal to everyone.
"When you go to a show, you can see both teenagers and old people, and about the same number of men and women," she says.
Wasserman, who had about 200 pots of African violets before moving to a retirement home in Portola Valley, says growing African violets has become a habit. Now she keeps 20 pots of African violets in her small apartment.
"I gave up a lot of things when I moved to the retirement home, but not African violets," Wasserman says.
For more information about the African Violet Society of the South Bay, call Nancy Funnell at 408.376.0808.
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Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer