How long to cut flower stems?

African Violet flower stems thin out and droop/hang over?

• I bought my first African violet that had tons of blooms. I moved it to my cubicle at work. Ever since the leaves seem to be stretching longer and all the flower buds it had have wilted off. When I say wilted I mean they were growing big and strong then before they bloomed or after they bloomed the stem thinned out and I had to cut them off. I have had it for about 2 months now and moved it closer to the fluorescent lights here at my job but it is about 3 feet below the lighting (that is as close as I can get it). I bought some AF Schultz fertilizer for it today to see if it helps and moved it to a coworkers desk with a window for the weekend. Is the thinning of the flower stems from a lack of light or lack of fertilizer? The temp is around 68-72 indoors averaging. It’s also under a vent that blows out cold/hot air on a regular basis but doesn’t necessarily hit it directly. I always water it from the bottom about twice a week (Mon and Fri only if it needs it) then occasionally put a little water on the soil, avoiding the leaves. It’s a small plant size (4” pot) so I’m pretty sure I’m not over watering it. It’s a double purple flower with dark green leaves.

• Answer:

  These plants are suppose to be watered from the bottom up. so that part is right. These plants do well under florescent light. The proper way to water is to put the pot in a bowl of water for no more that an hour. The plant soaks up the water from the bottom up. Then remove it from the water allowing it to drain out. Also the plant may be root bound. You can often use the same pot for transplant by removing some of the bottom root. Then put a layer of African violet soil on the bottom of the pot. Put the plant in the pot and replenish the soil. If soil is not properly packed in to make good contact with the roots, the plant does not do well. This could also be the problem with the plant. if the soil is not packed down solid then It won't do well at all. Check the soil.