Hi,
I have been groiwng AV's for over 25 years and have gone to numerous garden clubs and av societies to speak about the care of av's. I have three pages of handouts that I distribute to these groups. If yhou would like them, email me and I will send them back to you.
Fred in NJ

Welcome!
Keeping an African Violet is not rocket science so don't be afraid. :) Getting it to bloom as if you were about to enter it into a flower show takes a bit more effort (extra lighting). Most of the complicated instructions are over the top, too wordy and designed for people who plan to wick-water feed or Grow For Show.

Garden Web does have basic care instructions - although I disagree with feeding at every watering...it should maybe have a 2nd option for people who don't wick.

#1 DON'T over water!! (But don't forget to water - letting plant go limp as the reminder to water is stressful :) And would you want to be dying of thirst everytime before your next drink? (Okay: this was my sin before finding GardenWeb!)

#2 Even potting soil designed for African Violets generally needs Perlite added to it. (Check the soil around your plant - it may be mostly peat; you probably want to repot soon. (At least when it stops blooming.)

Leaving them in the soil they're sold in tends to be the kiss of death because they get soggy and stay soggy for a long time. (Should not feel like it weighs a ton after a normal watering)

#3 If the afternoon sun is too hot in the window, try a sheer curtain between. Rotate the plant a bit when you water so it doesn't grow lopsided, leaning the same way all the time towards the light.

Now we'll all sit back and see how long it takes for your first purchase of a named AV and some kind of lighting system. [grins] Slippery slope! Just like roses?
Laurie in Maine

Here is a link that might be useful: Basic Care (a place to start)

I'm no expert, everything I know I learned here, so maybe I'm close to being an expert. LOL . . . not!

I just want to comment on the light issue. . . you said you don't have an east window, and you mentioned a north window. I have two no id's growing in a north window and both of them are on their 3rd bloom cycle since I gave them an extreme makeover with the help of alot of nice folks here. One I've only had since April of this year and the other I've had for over a year but it hadn't bloomed since I bought it. My north window is in a bathroom, and the toilet is under a window. They sit on the back of the toilet so they are really close to the glass.

One thing to remember tho is the less light they get the longer it will take for them to dry out slightly, thus causing them to stay wet longer which isn't a good thing either. I have mine in one of Al's mixes and the watering isn't an isuue for me.

Hope this helps. . . you're in good hands. Lots of people here know a lot about growing AV's, if you pay attention you'll have healthy blooming plants in no time.

Maid

Welcome W.B.!

Don't be alarmed by all of the information about growing African Violets on the internet! You really don't need a touch of rocket science to grow African Violets. Like you said, they are like growing roses, only different! Like roses, violets like lots of light. Difference: not much direct sunlight (other than early morning in an east window). That's why dognapper2 suggested a sheer curtain in your window. You prune roses to shape them. Violets sometimes grow suckers that need to be pruned so they don't spoil the desired round symmetrical shape. Roses get bugs and diseases that need to be treated. So do violets, but generally different ones. I could go on and on, but I'll spare you!

You said your African Violet is a little tiny thing that you repotted after reading to put it into a bigger pot. Be careful not to overpot it. The usual practice is to grow violets in a pot that is 1/3 of the plant's diameter. This keeps the small root system from being surrounded by wet mix that the roots can't handle. From there fungus, disease, and rot can set in. Overwatering is probably the #1 killer of violets. Also, violets bloom better when slightly rootbound, so smaller pots help you to see those gorgeous flowers inside your home during most of the year.

Please return and let us know how your tiny little AV fares. Good luck. Warning: they can be addicting. Once you see the full head of blooms inside on a dreary winter day you'll probably want to buy more!