26 plants. Watering from the bottom is an advantage, however, in that 

 the soil is sometimes soaked more thoroughly. Evidence from this ex- 

 periment indicates that the African violet needs adequate water at all 

 times. Severe drying may cause serious damage and limit flowering. 



Container 



The plants of this group were grown in porous and glazed pots and 

 in porous pots set in various kinds of jardinieres. Various metal jardi- 

 nieres used gave no ill effects. There was no difference between the 

 plants grown in the several types of containers. Plants are somewhat 

 easier to water when kept in jardinieres and the danger from excess dry- 

 ing will be less than when the entire porous pot is exposed to the dry 

 atmosphere of a room. However, if adequately watered, the African 

 violet will be equally successful in any of these containers. 



Temperature 



The African violet is one of the most satisfactory of flowering plants 

 at higher temperatures, provided sufficient light is available. Two of 

 the three plants of this group tried under adverse office conditions were 

 highly successful. The one failing received the same temperatures of 

 70° - 75° F but north light only. In general, night temperatures of 60° - 

 70° F and day temperatures 65° - 75° F gave very satisfactory plants. 

 Temperatures below 60° F slow up growth and development of the 

 African violet considerably. 



Feeding 



All plants rated as excellent and all but one of the plants rated as 

 very good were fed regularly. Only four of the 1 1 plants rated fair and 

 failure received additions of plant food. 



Insect control measures 



Insects were not a problem on the plants used in this experiment be- 

 cause they were clean of pests when distributed. Two plants had slight 

 infestations of mealybugs when returned and cyclamen mite injury was 

 responsible for the failure of one plant. Since they are very difficult to 

 control, these two insects are by far the most serious troubles on Afri- 

 can violet. Isolation is the most valuable control measure to be used. As 



Fig. 10b (left) — Rooted cuttings are easily grown to proper size for potting in 



this simple container. Fig. 10c (right) — As soon as plants have made a good 



growth they are placed in individual pots 



Seventeen 



