Get potted blooms to last this Valentines

Cut flowers are undoubtedly the most popular manifestation of showing your love for someone on Valentine’s Day but potted flowering plants can do the trick, too. Perhaps the potted bloom has the potential to remind your lover that the sentiment lasts all year…but what does it mean if you can’t get it to bloom again? Is your love doomed? Of course not, but here are some tips just in case.

African violets are sweet and can bloom all year round so if you receive one this Valentine’s Day here’s what you should do. After the bloom cycle finishes repot the plant to improve soil nutrients and drainage. They bloom best if they are slightly pot-bound so keep the pot small. Set the plant in bright light and let the soil surface dry out between waterings. Use a diluted solution of fertilizer every couple of weeks. Bright light, good drainage and regular feeding are required for continued bloom.