"The African Violet Way" is a free download for all African violet lovers. Click on the image to download each newsletter. The newest issues are at the top: scroll down to see last year's issues.
Previous issues to that are
available on the next page
Feedback about the newsletter, or questions are welcome. Please email me at
Sadly, I have had to cease producing "The African Violet Way". My life currently does not allow for this. I have tried and repeatedly thought I would get back to it, but the time has come to admit this isn't going to happen.
All previous issues will remain on this website and can be read by anyone who is interested.
From now on I will add occasional articles to the website when I can. The thought of not writing at all doesn't sit well with me at all!
July 2020
Articles include: How to Choose an African Violet, The (Further) Story of Happy Trails, When Should You Repot African Violets.
May 2020
Articles include: Kiwi Dazzler, The Sad Bunch (Neglected plants), African Violets in Red, Vale Pete White.
July 2019
Articles include: Matinee, Plants as Therapy, Roots, Variegated African violets.
May 2019
Articles include: More fun with potting mix , Elegantly simple-Saintpaulia rupicola, HVAVS 2019 show.
March 2019
Articles include: Using sphagnum moss in potting mix, The Blues, When to pot up.
January 2019 - The Potting Mix issue
Articles include: The bare facts on potting mixes, Experiences with coir, Heavy/light potting mixes, Winter leaves/summer leaves.
November 2018
Articles include: Recovering from disaster (again), How not to take a photograph, How long does it take to grow a violet from a leaf, Just reminiscing.
July 2018
Articles include: Adventures with sticky insect traps, Making insect traps yourself, Continuing to grow an Africn violet from leaf, Near death experiences, Two demostrations instead of one (mites).
May 2018
Articles include: More about coir, Taffeta Petticoats Adventures, How long does it take to grow an African violet from leaf? How much light does an African violet need. Great special price continues.
March 2018
Articles include: The Puzzle of Coir, My Wicked Plants - Final, The Quickest Way to Kill an African Violet, Great special price .
January 2018
Articles include: The wicked plant story - further report, Coir peat still under review. African violet retrospective, Great price reduction.
November 2017
Articles include: The wicked plant story, Coir peat under review.
September 2017
Articles include: African violets in the bathroom, Eek - mites, Having your cake and eating it too, Propagating from a leaf, Powdery mildew.
July 2017
Articles include: Does your African violet have too many heads? Winter time can be the best time, An African violet wall hanging, African Violet Society of America cartoon.
May 2017
Articles include: Kent Stork, Passion for purple, Recovering from a plant accident, Carolina Elegant Affair.
March 2017
Articles include: Magic fertilisers, Leaching, Lack of growth in a terrarium, Further to instability in African violets, Variegation disappearing in hot weather
January 2017
Articles include:
Heat wave, Mobile workbench/tool caddy, African violet instability
November 2016
Articles include:
Potting mix quandry (conclusion), Variegation, African violet jewels, AVAA Annual Show, African violet rules
July 2016
Articles include:
Secret Love, Pink, Potting mix quandry, Summer violets-winter violets, Definition of terms, Old friends- older violets.
May 2016
Articles include:
It's Shocking (shock marks), Is this fertiliser burn, An African violet should be repotted regularly
March 2016
Articles include:
African violets are for pleasure, The long road back, Variegation, Friendship plants.
January 2016
Articles include:
A little bit extra humidity, African violet resources, Heinz's Seduction, Wicks, Propagating from flower stem, Rob's Slap Happy
November 2015
Articles include:
Christmas bargain, Dish Garden, Hospital musings, If they are supposed to have only one crown why do I keep getting suckers, Does size really matter?
July 2015
Articles include:
Hug your african violets, Propagating from a broken leaf, Let's think about pistils and stamens, Fisherman's Paradise, African violet display.
May 2015
Articles include:
Is there a proper way to grow African violets? When do I start taking leaves off? Dirt on African violet leaves, Propagating from flower stems, A love affair with miniatures
March 2015
Articles include:
What do you do when your plant just doesn't grow, African Violet Shows, Just reminiscing, Back from the dead.
January 2015
Articles include:
TLC & Trailing African violets, Drying out plants before potting , Where can I grow them?
The book "African Violets for Everyone" is available for purchase from this site. It is full of information and illustrations to help in growing these plants.
Contact me at any time by emailing to coulson.ruthm@gmail.com