
News Letter 

May, 1950 
SPER VER 23 
Dear friends: a 
Last November we devoted this space to bugs, 
diseases, and abnormal conditions of Saintpaulias. 
We ran out of that issue long ago, but requests for 
it have been such that we feel a re-print is in or- 
der. You will note that a few items have been 
added. 
FRET TROUBLES 
(Don’t worry too much 
about these) 

CHLOROSIS (Ring Spots)—Cold water on 
foliage, cold drafts, sun shining on wet foliage 
can all cause leaf marking. Sometimes these 
markings are in rings, sometimes only a white 
line which borders the leaf, or they may form all 
sorts of fantastic designs. Keep cold water away 
from the foliage, strive for even temperature, and 
place washed plants in sunlight only after they 
are thoroughly dry. 
CHLOROSIS (Overexposure)—Foliage turns 
dark, yellowish green, or merely bleaches out to 
near-white, leaf reverse usually quite red. Leaves 
may assume a coarse, gnarled appearance. This 
condition due to continued exposure to strong 
sunlight. 
LEAF BURNS—Dark stewed-looking areas at 
time of burning will dry up in a few hours to 
parched spots on leaves or flowers. This condit- 
lon more often occurs when a plant has been ac- 
customed to a well-shaded location and is sudden- 
ly exposed to bright sunshine. 
YELLOWED FOLIAGE AND LEGGY 
GROWTH—Have classed these two abnormalities 
together to avoid confusion over yellowed foliage 
caused by strong sun and yellowed foliage caused 
by no sun at all. One frequently sees plants with 
long, long stems, with absurdly small pale green 
leaves at the ends of them. This indicates a need 
for stronger sunlight and/or better fertilizing. 
A case of malnutrition, in other words. Get a 
good commercial fertilizer and follow the direct- 
lions on the package. 
LACK OF BLOOM—A frequent complaint. 
First, check your sunlight. Violets need as much 
(Copyright, May 1950, by Russell Gray) 

