As a curious gardening novice who like to try different things, I decided . . . → Read More: African Violet Care – How to Separate Crowns]]> I bought my first pot of African violet a few months ago. While the newly acquired African violet is blossoming beautifully, I didn’t aware but only until another gardener pointed out to me that my African violet actually had multiple crowns.

As a curious gardening novice who like to try different things, I decided to take up this challenge and separate the crowns. It has been almost three months since I separated the crowns. Seeing that the separated crowns of my African violets are now growing healthily, I consider this “operation” as a successful one. And here, let me share with you how I did it.

This was my African violet three months ago. As you can see, the plant was very messy, jam-packed with its leaves shooting to all directions.

First, I allowed my African violet to dry slightly so the compost was loose and the leaves were rubbery. This helps preventing the roots and leaves from breaking easily when one tries to separate the crowns.

I picked out all the unhealthy leaves from the plant. You can also do this after removing the plant from its pot.

Then I removed the plant from its pot, shook away any excess compost and exposed the root ball.

After some careful examination, I found two distinct root systems. With a clean sharp knife, I cut between the root systems. I feel like a doctor doing a surgery.

Since there were existing roots on the crowns, both of them could be placed directly into fresh compost. If the crown is an offshoot without its own root system, then it is better to first be placed in water to permit root development.

The two African violets, which I have separated there months ago, are growing strong and healthily now.

Yes!  After repotted my Ness Fantasy Gold to a smaller container for about six weeks, I have finally found a sign of life!  My plant is finally growing!  This has confirmed that my guess is right.  Not only did I overwater my African violet, the ridiculously huge pot probably had caused rotten . . . → Read More: O Yes! Finally Started Growing!]]>

Yes!  After repotted my Ness Fantasy Gold to a smaller container for about six weeks, I have finally found a sign of life!  My plant is finally growing!  This has confirmed that my guess is right.  Not only did I overwater my African violet, the ridiculously huge pot probably had caused rotten roots in the plant. Lucky that I have taken the correct action early enough, else my plant would have been killed by my silly ignorance (again…).

While a smaller container is the major factor that brings life back to my plant, the weather now in Hong Kong probably helps much as well.

It seems like everything just grows in spring

When a houseplant gets too large for its container, . . . → Read More: Containers for Houseplants – Size Matters!]]> When we pot our plant for the first time after getting it from a garden nursery, or repot our houseplant when it has outgrown its container, we have to choose a new container with the right size for our plant.

Using Garden Containers Too Big

When a houseplant gets too large for its container, its roots will start circling around inside the container, and restricting themselves. If our houseplants appear to dry out more quickly than they used to, but are otherwise healthy, the plants are probably pot bound. There are simply too many roots in the container and not enough soil is left to hold and distribute water to the plants.

To fix this problem, simply repot our houseplant into a container an inch or two larger. When choosing a garden container, think about what is good for the plant. Don’t try to save ourselves some work by planting our houseplant in a container too large. The extra soil may keep staying too wet and can smother the roots and lead to root rot.

Related Post: My African Violet Doesn’t Like Its Big House

Using Garden Containers Too Small

On the other hand, a garden container that is too small crowds roots, and cuts down the ability of the soil to provide moisture, oxygen, and nutrients that are vital for healthy growth.

Outdoor container plants, especially rapidly growing ones such as summer flowering annuals, need adequate space for root development. Small containers restrict root growth, which causes limited top growth. The end result is fewer flowers. And plants with deep-running roots, such as tomatoes, require a container that is much deeper.

So, before we pot our plants, we should do some research and learn more about our plants to ensure that we are using an appropriately sized container for the plants we are growing.

I have bought a little Ness Fantasy Gold (Saintpaulia) in October last year. Once after . . . → Read More: My African Violet Doesn’t Like Its Big House]]> Ok! Here is a lesson that I have learned recently – Don’t try to save ourselves some work by planting our houseplant in a container too large, for we could damage or even kill our plants!

I have bought a little Ness Fantasy Gold (Saintpaulia) in October last year. Once after I brought my African violet home, I repotted the houseplant into a bigger container and watered it whenever the surface of the soil feels dry.

Yet, despite of my constant care, my African violet has never grown at all in this half a year! In fact, instead of growing bigger and stronger, my African violet is getting weaker, with discolored, yellowish leaves that, at some point, may droop and die young

After some researches online and getting advices from other gardeners, I have learned that the big container of my plant may be the root cause of this problem. Originally, I thought that a garden container too large wouldn’t hurt. Since I would need to repot my houseplant later anyways, I could just pot my African violet into a larger container now and save myself some work later. Wrong thinking!

Lesson Learned

Only now I have learned the importance of the size of garden containers. A container too big will lead to rotten roots. The extra soil in the big container will keep staying wet all the time, causing rotten roots in the plant.

I have just repotted my Ness Fantasy Gold into a smaller container – a much, much smaller one.

It is actually quite embarrassing when I put the two containers side-by-side, showing how silly I was using such an oversize container for my little African violet…

Hope my little African violet will survive. I am crossing my fingers now

Related Post:Why My African Violet Isn’t Growing Much?
I once guessed that it might be a problem of overwatering.  I got part of it right.  But I missed the key factor – the size of the garden container – the reason why the soil had been kept wet all the time.

Besides the following plants, which need to . . . → Read More: Suitable Plants for Indoor Gardening]]> Here is a list of the most common houseplants that are suitable for indoor gardening.  The houseplants in this list are mostly easy-to-grow, low maintenance, hardy plants that fit the busy lifestyle of us, the city gardeners.

The Exceptions – Houseplants That Need Full, Direct Sunlight

Besides the following plants, which need to grow in direct sunlight – full light, the houseplants in my list require low to moderate daylight, indirect sunlight, or diffused light.

• Codiaeum (Croton)
• Coleus
• Pelargonium (Geranium)
• Setcreasea purpurea (Purple heart)

Suggested Way of Using This Houseplant List

And as you notice, I have only put the scientific name, common name, and a photo of each houseplant in the list.  There are so much information on houseplants available online. Hence, I don’t think my extra words will make much difference.  However, I believe that you will find this list helpful, for I haven’t seen many extensive lists of houseplant with photos.

So, I would suggest you to first check out this list and find the houseplants that you are interested in.  Then, do a google search to learn more about the water needs, light requirements, care methods and such of the plants.

Cheers and have fun!

Aglaonema (Chinese evergreen)
Anthurium (Tailflower, Flamingo-Flower)
Aphelandra (Zebra plant)
Araucaria (Norfolk island pine)
Aspidistra (Cast iron plant)
Begonia
Bromeliads
The Bromeliads are a large family of plants, and one of the hardiest kind of house plants.  I have two Tillandsias (a.k.a. air plants) and have made the simple yet elegant tabletop garden – I Love Air Plants.
Caladium
Calathea (Peacock plant)
Ceropegia woodii (Rosary vine)
Chlorophytum (Spider plant)
Cissus antarctica (Kangaroo vine)
Codiaeum (Croton)
Coleus
Dieffenbachia (Dumb-cane)
Dracaena (Dragon plants)
Fatshedera
Fatsia japonica (Japanese aralia)
Ferns
Ficus
Fittonia (Nerve Plant)

I like Fittonia.  I have had my Fittonia planted in hydroculture, as well as used it as one of my “ingredients” for my tabletop garden – Bento Box.
Fuchsia
Helxine (Baby’s tears)
Hoya (Wax plant)
Impatiens (Patient Lucy, Busy-Lizzie, touch-me-not)
Maranta (Prayer plant)
Monstera (Swiss cheese plant)
Note: Monstera is often confused with the split-leaved philodendron, and is sometimes sold under the name Philodendron pertusum.
Palms
Pelargonium (Geranium)
Peperonia
Philodendron
Saintpaulia (African violet)
Sansevieria (Snake plant)
Schefflera (Umbrella tree)
Scindapus (Devil’s ivy, Pothos)
Setcreasea purpurea (Purple heart)
Nephthytis (Arrowhead vine)
Tradescantia and Zebrina (Wandering Jew)