African violet leaf splotches?

Several of the leaves on my mature African violet plants have tannish-colored splotches on them. The plants are watered from the top once weekly using a well-known brand of African violet liquid fertilizer diluted 14 drops per 1/2 gallon of water.


None of the plants is in direct sunlight. They all bloom well; the leaves are not limp. My city water is chlorinated; is this the problem? Should I let the tap water sit for a day or two before using it to water the violets, or should I decrease the amount of fertilizer?

African violet leaf splotches?
I have had African Violets for many years and have always set the pots into containers of water to let the water be absorbed up from the bottom. I remember reading a time or two that the leaves can be damaged by getting water on them. I don't usually let the water sit for a day or two before setting them into it for watering and they are always happy and healthy and bloom quite nicely. I do water other house plants from a watering can with water which I try to allow to sit for at least a day. I also almost never fertilize my African Violets. My feeling is that 14 drops of fertilizer per 1/2 gallon of water sounds like an awful lot. Unless, as you wrote, the fertilizer is VERY diluted first. Also, I let my African Violets get totally dry before soaking them...maybe about once every three or four weeks. They are African plants, I guess, so they like to have a dry period. Good luck.
Reply:The spots may be caused by the chlorine in the water. definitely, leave the water for one day. that will allow the cholrine time to dissipate.


The spots may also be water spots. try watering from the bottom. To do this you need openings in the bottom of the pot, or a special bottom watering pot.


We have dozens of these plants and those two simple tasks have eliminated spots.
Reply:That sounds like a fungus. You need something to kill the fungus. Go to a nursury and ask them what would be good. I would get a pot that you can water from the bottom, as sometimes African Violets are so delicate that top watering gives them diseases.