How to Select & Grow African Violets and Other Gesneriads by Theodore James Jr.

• Two pages on the popularity of African Violets and a brief history of their African origin.

• Soil or Planting Medium - discussion of various potting mixes, soil ph, how to make and pasteurize your own mix.
• Pots and Potting - types and sizes of pots and "how to pot" step by step.
• Light - growing in natural light, artificial light and how much light to give.
• Water - different watering methods including a diagram on wick watering.
• Temperature, Humidity & Ventilation - how to ensure your plants get the right amount of humidity and air circulation.
• Fertilizer - information on types of fertilizers, warns against over-fertilizing.
• Pests & Diseases - sanitation, safety precautions when using chemicals, symptoms caused by various pests, diseases and cultural problems.

• Step by step instructions on rooting leaves in potting mix and rooting in water as well.  Also propagation by suckers, division and seeds.
• Creating Hybrids - structure of the african violet flower, how to pollinate with step by step diagrams.

• Decorating with African Violets, container gardens and how to plant a bottle garden.
• Showtime - How judges score your plants, how to prepare for show, grooming and transporting your plants and a sample show schedule.

• Lots of Photos of Standard, Mini, Semi-Mini & Trailing Varieties - lovely  pictures, many Optimaras, descriptions of bloom and leaf types.

• A discussion of the other well known gesneriads we see at Shows, including Episcia, Streptocarpus, Gloxinia and Kohleria.
• Lesser Known Varieties - a list of the rarer types of gesneriads.

This book is often available on Ebay and at used book stores for only a few dollars.  I think it is well worth picking up at that value, it covers a little bit of everything you need to know to raise beautiful African Violets and gives you a little taste of the "other" gesneriads as well.

Review by Alana

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