Can african violets still grow healthy without "food"?

Question

i dont have the money to buy the african violet plant food so i just keep the soil moist with filtered water and keep it near the window for sun (not direct). i've had the plant for a few days now and i notice the flowers are dying (wilting and drying up). i want it to be healthy so vital is the "food"? isn't water, indirect sun and love enough?

Answer 1

All plants will eventually use up the nutrients in the soil they are potted in. However, this will take quite a long time. As long as you're planning on re-potting the plant - say every two years or so - you don't really need the "food".

You are certainly not losing the flowers now because if a lack of fertilizer. Your plant is just going through it's normal cycle and will eventually bloom again. Using african violet "food" may help speed up the cycle and make it bloom again faster, but it's not absolutely necessary.

Also note that the lowest level of leaves will eventually die out as the plant pushes new leaves from it's center. This is normal as it grows.

Answer 2

The flowers will die they will not last forever. I have 2 of them and have never fed them any plant food and they have doubled in size and bloomed a few times since I bought them ( about a year ago) but i also repoted them in bigger pots with some or the African violet potting soil but I am sure any would do just fine