I need suggetions on a good brand or mix of fertilizer/food to get for my African Violets.

Actually for my Phal. Orchids too.

Any good homemade mixes or good brands that any of you TRUST? I'm a protective mommy.

Was this really posted in 2003?

I have a job that takes me away from home for weeks at a time, so I need a hobby that fits on my window sill in the hotel. Early last summer I picked up an African violet at Wal-Mart and immediately fed it with used coffee grounds. I brought it home in August and in October started an experiment using milk. So far it looks great. When I started with milk the watering requirements REALLY went down. Before milk I was watering every week. Now I water every 2-3 weeks. By every (non-organic) AV expert's opinion, my milk-soil is too heavy, but that one plant is doing very well. Two weeks ago I rescued 15 end-of-the-season African violets from WM. We'll see what happens with them with organic fertilizer. One has already kicked the bucket and a couple others look pretty sorry - even sorrier than when I brought them home.

Here's my milk fertilizer recipe. When I finish a half gallon of milk I put a quart of water in it and swish it around. Then I water the plants with that water. I drink chocolate milk. If the milk is spoiled it doesn't seem to matter to the plant.

I used to have about 20 beautifully fragrant cattleya orchids when I lived in California. I moved to Ohio in 1979 and took them all with me. When I left Dayton for San Antonio it was Christmas and freezing. Since I was driving a pick up I left the orchids in the care of a friend who killed them all with kindness before I could get back to get them in the springtime. I have tried to grow orchids in San Antonio in the back yard and really have not succeeded. Now that I'm on an organic program I might try it again. But if I'm away from home this much, I probably can't make it work.