Got a great gardening tip from my great friends, Peggy Noodle and Johnny D ... a quick tip on extending the life of an African Violet plant. Mind you, this came from Peggy's sister-in-law, but Cindy's a pretty good egg and I know she wouldn't steer us wrong. Plus, I love a great, new gardening tip. 

If your violet's looking a little peaked, lift the whole plant out of its pot and use a sharp kitchen knife or set of shears and trim off the bottom half inch or so of soil. Be sure to catch the tips of the roots in there, too, because giving them a fresh cut startles the violet and encourages it to grow stronger. Think spinach to Popeye. 

Trimming the bottom undercarriage is also a great solution for violets that have gotten stalky. By losing that bottom fraction, you're making room at the top of the plant to lay new soil (just beneath the leaves). The new soil will enrich the whole pot, and cover the unsightly, gangly stalk. 

• Have you ever heard of this tactic? 
• Have you ever tried it?

I've got a violet that's on its last legs, and am planning on giving it a whirl this week.