When you learn how to produce African violets, you can add a few to your indoor spaces for a burst of vibrant color when the rest of the world is mostly brown and bare. African violets can be grown indoors with little room required; for a beautiful display, combine them in tiny pots.
For the simplest African violet care, sow the seed in the proper soil. You can buy specialized mixes or create your own by mixing equal quantities peat moss, vermiculite, and perlite.
African violet plants are particular about the water they receive, so be especially careful when watering them. water that was left to stand for 48 hours with lukewarm or tepid water. Just a drop of water can damage the leaves, so always water at the base rather than drenching it.
An essential part of learning how to grow African violets is proper irrigation. When the soil no longer feels damp to the touch, water. Never allow African violets that are growing to stand in water or to totally dry off. Although wick watering from the bottom is occasionally appropriate, it might not be the greatest technique for people just starting to produce African violets.
LightGive the African violet plant the proper amount of illumination. Filtered light of a bright to moderate intensity should be allowed to reach the developing African violet. Flowering is impacted by light. Dark green African violet plants typically require a little more light than those with pale or medium green foliage.
To prevent flowers from reaching towards the light, turn containers frequently. For optimal illumination, place African violet plants 3 feet (1 m) away from a window with a south or west face. Consider adding fluorescent lights if you can’t keep this light on for eight hours.
FertilizerFertilize African violet plants using a special food designed for them or with a food that has a greater phosphorus number—the middle number in the NPK fertilizer ratio—such as 15-30-15. Every time you water, you can use a quarter-strength mixture of fertilizer. African violets that are in growth are not receiving enough fertilizer, as seen by less flowering and poorer leaf color.
When the African violets are finished, pinch the wasted flowers. This will promote the growth of further flowers.
Try growing African violets inside now that you are aware of a few growing guidelines. Garden centers near you or online have a variety of varieties.
How should an African violet bloom be cared for?
The vibrant African violet blossoms are particularly lovely. They’ll provide color right away to any space.
Even during the gloomier winter months, they have a reputation for continuing to bloom. Place them around the house so you may enjoy their vibrant hues and plush textures all year long.
Once you establish a routine for caring for African violets, you’ll discover that they expand with ease. But unless all of their fundamental requirements are satisfied, they won’t develop. Give them the proper temperature, light, and nourishment, and you’ll start to bloom right away!
How to Choose and Take Care of African Violets:
1. Start out strong. Select a plant with the desired blossom color and vivid emerald foliage. Make sure the pot has openings for drainage.
2. The ideal lighting. African violets frequently don’t blossom because they don’t receive enough light. Because direct sunlight can burn the leaves, African violets require indirect light. For optimal results, pick a window that faces north or east. Keep plants away from cold glass, and turn the container once every week to ensure that all the leaves get enough light. African violets can be grown under a grow lamp to extend the day throughout the winter.
3. Remain cozy. The most comfortable temperatures for most people are between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit at night.
4. Subsurface water. Water should be at normal temperature to fill the saucer. Pour off any extra water after letting it settle for about an hour. Between waterings, let the plant dry out completely.
5. Use the new liquid Violet from Espoma to fertilize! Every two to four weeks in the spring, summer, and fall, indoor houseplant food.
6. Be thoughtful before replanting. Only when a plant is root-bound will an African violet bloom. Use organic potting soil designed exclusively for African violets, such as Espoma’s African Violet Mix, when it comes time to repot your plants. Choose a pot that is about a third the diameter of their leaf spread in diameter because they flower best in compact pots.
How frequently should African violets be watered?
Consider fluorescent lighting. Fluorescent lighting is the solution if you lack bright window light. I make use of four-foot lights that each have two cool white bulbs. I’ve successfully used one warm white and one cool white bulb in a fixture. unique plant bulbs, known as “A beautiful plant is also produced under grow lights. 8 to 12 inches is the ideal distance between the pot and the light.
How frequently should African violets be watered? “The most frequently asked question regarding African violets is how frequently they should be watered. The greatest indicator is to touch the surface of the soil; if it feels dry, it’s time to water. For best results, African violets should be given time to completely dry out in between waterings. An overwatered plant can die. A soggy, moist soil mass prevents air from penetrating the fine roots of an African violet, which they need. Half of your work is finished once you have learned the art of watering African violets.
Do African violets need to be watered from the top or bottom? Both are acceptable. It’s crucial to avoid using cold water; lukewarm or warm water is recommended. To prevent leaf spots, if you water from the top, take cautious not to get water on the leaves when the plant is in the sun. If you water from the bottom, you should dump any extra water once the plant has absorbed all that it requires. An African violet shouldn’t be left submerged in water for too long.
Should African violet flowers be clipped off?
Popular indoor plants like African violets may add color to your space even in the absence of other blooming flowers. I know people who have grown stunning African violets effectively and with little work, but I am not one of them. My violets eventually die because no matter how hard I try, I can never get them to bloom once more. I wanted to share these suggestions with you after doing some study on how to properly take care of my new plant so that you can maintain the happiness, health, and bloom of your own plant.
Tanzania is where African violets were first found and recorded. There are many different color varieties of African violets, including pink, blue, purple, white, and bio color blossoms. Single and double flowering variants are available, and the petals can be smooth, ruffled, or frilled. The color of the leaves can vary from green to golden or from pink to white. There are also trailing and miniature varieties available. Despite their name, African violets are neither related to nor a true violet. The real violets (Viola) belong to the plant family Violaceae, whereas African violets belong to the plant family Gesneriaceae.
Soil
Utilizing the proper soil is the initial step. It is important to pick a soil that drains well. Plants won’t become overly wet and eventually develop crown or root rot in well-drained soil. For African violets, there are professionally prepared soil blends that are available, but a good potting soil would also work nicely.
Pot
Grow your violet in a container that isn’t wider than the leaves. The majority of growers discover that violets bloom at their best when the plant’s diameter is three times bigger than the pot. Transplanting your violet once a year is a smart idea.
Light
Bright, indirect light is preferred by African violets. This is frequently found in windows with a north or eastward facing. The ideal windows are those that get early sunlight and less direct afternoon light. Observe how your violet responds to the light. It wants stronger light if the leaves have long stems and reach upward. The light is probably too strong if the leaves start to lose their color.
Water
Overwatering is one of the main mistakes people make when cultivating African violets. Wilted leaves are one sign of overwatering, but you shouldn’t water if the soil is still damp.
African violets are highly prone to crown and root rots, which can develop in overly damp soil.
When watering violets from the top, flip the pot as you pour the room-temperature water into the top of the pot (neath the leaves). Pour enough water so that it flows through and drains into a saucer from the bottom of the pot. Empty the saucer after waiting 10 to 30 minutes. Fill a saucer with room-temperature water, place the violet in it, and let it remain there until the water is completely absorbed, up to 30 minutes. This method is known as “watering from the bottom.” Drain away any extra water. Never water the vegetation. Dieback, leaf spots, and other issues can be brought on by water on the foliage. Only water them when they feel dry to the touch or every 7 to 10 days.
Temperature and humidity
The ideal range for temperature is 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. It can damage the leaves, resulting in what looks like soft, mushy leaves, if you are growing them in a window and it gets too cold in the winter. Remove any damaged leaves and set them away from the cool area if this occurs. They will thrive in environments with humidity levels of 40–60%. To maintain humidity, you can gather plants together or place them on trays with water and pebbles.
Fertilizing
If you want your violet to flourish and produce healthy blooms, fertilize it. For indoor plants, a balanced fertilizer works well. There are commercial fertilizers on the market that are complete in what African violets require. Do not overfertilize.
Deadheading
Make careful to pinch or deadhead spent blooms if you are successful in getting your African violet to bloom. This enables the plant to focus its energy on developing additional buds, flowers, and lovely leaves.
Pests and Diseases
There are some pests that affect African violets, such as different species of mealybugs, thrips, and cyclamen mites. They are also vulnerable to root rot and powdery mildew.
Contact the Master Gardeners at (209) 953-6112 or visit our website at ucanr.edu/sjmg if you have any questions about gardening.
What can I do to make my African violet bloom again?
- 8 Techniques for Restoring Bloom to Your African Violet.
- Allow for light.
- Set the humidity higher.
- Refill on Vital Nutrients.
- Keep it friendly.
- Select the Proper Soil.
- Defend against diseases and pests.
- Reduce the Roots.
Why are my African violet’s blossoms fading away?
Blooms that are generally in good health show how well your plant is doing. The contrary is also true: blossoms that are faded, limp, or damaged frequently indicate that your plant is in distress. If the blossoms on your African violet are past their prime, your plant requires more attention.
Most frequently, a shortage of water, excessive light, or a growing medium insufficient in nutrients are blamed for flower loss. Make sure your African violet isn’t sitting in direct sunlight, give it a healthy drink, and start fertilizing regularly to feed your plant.
Professional Tip: African Violet Plant Food, a light fertilizer developed to accelerate growth and keep your plant sturdy year-round, will encourage huge, powerful blooms.
Do African violets benefit from coffee grounds?
If the pH of the African violet soil is too high, some people advise adding vinegar to decrease it. Instead of adding vinegar to the soil, it is preferable to start with soil that has the right pH for your African violet plants.
African violets require soil with a pH between 5.8 and 6.2, despite the fact that vinegar is an acid and they prefer acidic soil. The pH of vinegar is about 2.5. African violets may be unable to access essential nutrients from too-acidic soil.
To gradually lower the pH level of the potting mix, you can water your African violets with diluted vinegar (one or two teaspoons of vinegar per gallon of water). But since it takes so long, you might as well start with the right soil as you have to repot every six months with new soil.
Nitrogen and a small acidity in coffee grounds aid in the growth of healthy foliage in plants. It may be beneficial for the plant if you occasionally sprinkle used coffee grounds on top of the potting soil for your African violet. But don’t go overboard. It only needs a quick dusting every few months. Coffee grounds generally won’t make much of a difference if you already use a balanced fertilizer on a regular basis.
Instead of applying used coffee grounds on African violets, I would suggest adding them to your compost pile for outdoor plants. Whenever I try to dust used coffee grounds on interior plants, it always ends up being filthy.
Use potting soil specifically designed for African violets. Because regular houseplant potting soil is excessively dense, your African violets will experience root rot problems. Additionally, it’s possible that the soil won’t be acidic enough for African violets.
You may either purchase commercial African violet potting soil or make your own homemade version.
African violet potting mix can be used for various indoor plants that require light, acidic soil. That sort of mixture would work nicely for some cactus and succulents. Although some other common houseplants may thrive with African violet potting soil, most people don’t give it a try because it is usually more expensive than standard potting soil.
Where should an African violet be placed?
Because they require dry leaves, African violets are only grown indoors in North America. If you want the finest color and flowers, grow your plants in bright, indirect light. The optimal location for a plant stand is three feet away from a window that faces west or south. When placed directly next to north or east-facing windows, plants will still grow, but their leaves will be thin and spindly, and they will be less likely to flower. African violets can be grown indoors, 12 to 15 inches above the ground, under 40-watt fluorescent lights (also known as grow lights), if you don’t have a nice location near a window.
Brown Spots on Leaves
African violets should never have brown stains on them. By generating root rot, overwatering damages the root system and isolates the plant from the supply of nutrients.
If you do not provide magnesium or nitrogen, the leaves of your African violets will become discolored with brown and yellow blotches.
Edema, which is caused by the plant taking too much water, can occasionally result from overwatering. The African violet’s leaf cells are harmed by drinking too much water.
If your African violet has edema, you will observe brown, wart-like areas close to the base of the leaves.
Remove any leaves that have brown blemishes. Sadly, once brown patches form on the leaves, they are permanently damaged. Your African Violet will be able to produce new, healthy leaves more quickly if you remove them.
Root Rot And Foul Smell From Soil
If the soil does not entirely dry out between waterings or if the drainage system is not working properly, the fungus that develops will rot the roots.
Before replanting the plant, remove it from the pot and clear away any rotting dirt. Examine the stems and roots after that. To guarantee that your plants have robust, healthy roots, remove any brown or mushy ones.
After cleaning out the contaminated regions, disinfect the remaining roots by soaking them in a fungicide solution.
Your African violet has to be repotted in a fresh, well-drained bed of potting soil. (New soil is preferred, although cleaning the current soil should be sufficient if Root Rot is mild.)
Time is running out for us! Acting quickly will increase your chances of preventing root rot because it spreads swiftly.
It’s a good idea to remove any leaves that have brown patches on them. Sadly, the leaves won’t be able to recover once they start to show brown stains.
Your African Violet will have an easier time growing new, healthy leaves if you remove them.
Crown Rot
Similar to how Root Rot is identified and handled, so is Crown Rot. Where the rot has taken hold is what distinguishes them most.
Any of the roots could develop root rot, which could cause either mild or major damage. A condition called “Crown Rot” attacks the system’s top-most roots.
To treat Crown Rot, complete the Root Rot treatment procedures and apply a fungicide to the root system. Be mindful that your plant could not survive if it has severe Crown Rot.
Mold Growing on Soil
Mold in the soil is a certain indication that your African violet is receiving too much water. The top soil layer will develop moldy white specks.
Your African violet won’t be in danger from this mold (or your family). However, it is still crucial to get rid of it right away.
The mold may be completely removed if you scrape off the top layer of soil. Hydrogen peroxide mixed with a dilution can also be used to eliminate the mold.
Use five parts water to one part hydrogen peroxide. Repotting is necessary if the mold grows below the surface of the soil.
Shriveled Appearance and Mushy Stems
You are overwatering your African violet if the stems are mushy or the plant has become shriveled. A vigorous, vibrant plant will have solid stems and appear powerful and robust. When you squeeze them, if the stem gives at all, there is a problem.
A fungal infection brought on by an excess of water is indicated by mushy stems. Another indication that your African violet has perished is a shriveled appearance. In both situations, cut off the infected parts, clean the plant, and let it air dry. (Referring to Iowa State University)
Wilting
Three things can be inferred from an African violet that has withered. You are either not watering enough, watering too much, or there are bugs in your garden. Which one it is will be determined by the soil.
You are overwatering your African violet if it has wilted and the soil is moist. The African Violets can’t acquire the oxygen they require since this drowns the roots. After making any necessary repairs, let your African violet dry thoroughly.
Look for pests if your soil does not seem overly damp or dry. African violets are frequently attacked by mealybugs and cyclamen mites. Cleaning your leaves is necessary to get rid of bugs. (Source: University of Clemson)
Spraying neem oil or insecticidal soap on your leaves will smother the bugs.
If you have rubbing alcohol lying around your home, you can use it to clean each leaf of your African violet to get rid of mealybugs or cyclamen mites.
Yellow Leaves
Another indication of moisture stress from overwatering is yellow foliage. Remove any yellow leaves from your African violet plant before assessing the health of the remaining leaves.
You will need to take damage control measures if your leaves are yellow because it’s likely that your roots have rotted.
Wrinkled Leaves
Wrinkled leaves are a sign that your roots have been seriously harmed by over watering. If there are wrinkles, water cannot reach the plant tissue from the roots.
Examine your ancestry. White and hefty roots indicate good health. If your roots are mushy and brown, they must be removed. The majority of your roots may have decayed if the leaves are wrinkled.
It is worthwhile to clean and repot your roots if they are still healthy. Sadly, it is time to try again with a different African Violet if the roots all appear brown and mushy.
Curled Leaves
Overwatering is indicated by curled leaves. However, it’s also a sign that your African Violet is under stress due to the water’s temperature.
Your African violet’s roots will become chilled if you water with cold water. The leaves begin to curl downward as a result. The best water to use is at room temperature because it lessens the possibility of any temperature shock.