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.
How frequently should an African violet 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.
What environmental factors favor African violets?
African violets require bright light to bloom, but they are unable to handle scorching, direct sunlight since it can easily scorch their leaves. The ideal range for violet blooming is between 65 and 75 degrees.
In a sunny window:
Violets thrive in windows that face south, east, or west during the winter. Move the plants away from the glass to a location that stays over 55 degrees on chilly winter evenings. Plants should be relocated to a cooler east or even north-facing window in the spring when the light becomes more intense.
To maintain symmetrical growth, spin each plant a quarter turn clockwise every several days.
Under grow lights:
Many lovers of African violets grow their plants under grow lights for the best flowering and growth. Depending on the strength of the bulbs and the size of the plants, place the bulbs between 12 and 15 inches above the tops of the plants. Set a timer for 10 hours of darkness and 14 hours of light each day. Advice: For African violets to bloom, there must be at least eight hours of darkness each day.
For African violets to bloom, there must be at least eight hours of darkness each day.
Are African violets shade-tolerant?
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.
Are African violets able to grow on 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.
How old are African violets on average?
Because of their lengthy lives, repotting these flowers is crucial. Ryan McEnaney, public relations and communications specialist for Bailey Nurseries, advises consumers to keep in mind that African violets can live for up to 50 years. To avoid becoming overly root-bound, plants can be repotted into larger pots as they mature. It’s probably time to relocate your African violet when it has doubled or quadrupled the size of your container and the leaves are beginning to wilt, according to McEnaney.
However, you don’t have to repot your plants right away. If your African violet appears to have outgrown its container, don’t rush to relocate it, advises Brian Parker, senior merchant for Live Goods at Home Depot. “African violets are best when their roots are in a little bound condition,” he adds. “They will produce and perform for years and years with just a simple routine of the right light and food,” the speaker said.
African violets—can they grow outside?
African violets typically cannot survive outside. Despite being very hardy plants, you need to create the ideal environment for them. African violets are native to Tanzanian rainforests, therefore your backyard is probably not up to the task. The unpredictability of outside surroundings makes it impossible to offer the ideal conditions these plants require to flourish.
However, the fine print contains a lot of ambiguity. Some gardeners claim that some areas have more hospitable climates; others insist that African violets thrive best when grown outside only occasionally; and many say categorically “NO” to the topic in its whole.
Let’s examine what you need know about cultivating African violets outside.
Which containers work best for African violets?
You want to plant some African violets in pots around your house because you are cultivating them. There are many various types of plant pots available, but which one is going to work best for your African violets?
I prefer pots with two layers since you can add water to the bottom of the plant without worrying about it becoming waterlogged. You can discard the remaining water until it is time to water the plant again once it has received enough to make the soil at the top of the plant moist. The flower will self-water itself if you leave a tiny bit of water at the base of the pot, which is a terrific tool to use when you have to travel and no one to water your plants.
You can select from a variety of materials, which include the following:
- Clay vases Although these are not the prettiest pots, their high porosity can help your African violets drain their water.
- Pliable pots
- The majority of these pots are well-draining pots that your African violets will adore, but especially the ones with saucer bottoms. Just be careful not to let the plant’s base become wet.
- Ceramic PotsThis kind of pot has two pieces, making watering simple. They are very vibrant, which can really enhance your growing area.
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.
Do African violets prefer being housed in tiny pots?
African violet plants won’t reach their full potential if they are potted in either a tiny or large pot. Growth could be slower, leaves could be smaller, and blossoms or buds could not form. The African violet plant will still thrive, but its growth pattern will be irregular.
Likely Culprit: Overwatering
One of the most frequent reasons of droopy African violet leaves is overwatering. They can’t handle soil that is saturated with water because of their sensitive root systems. Long-term overwatering can choke your plant, leading to the potentially fatal condition known as root rot.
How to tell if your African violet is overwatered
The unmistakable signs that your plant is suffering from too much water are droopy, squishy, and mushy leaves. These additional symptoms can help establish that your plant’s problems are being caused by overwatering.
- Wet soil: Dirt that is too moist for a plant to adequately absorb or soil that is too dense for a plant’s roots to properly absorb.
- Growth inhibition: If your plant is overwatered, it may drop its leaves, grow more slowly, or stop growing entirely.
- Root rot: Above ground, root rot results in yellowing and falling foliage. There are areas of the root that have gone black and wet beneath the soil.
How to fix an African violet with droopy leaves from overwatering
- Trim off any foliage that is dead, drooping, or mushy first. By removing these leaves, you give your plant the energy it needs to mend since they won’t grow back.
- After that, take your African violet out of the pot and carefully brush the soil from the roots. If the damage is severe, remove any dark or mushy root segments and treat the root rot.
Why are my African violet’s leaves going yellow?
Typically, African violet leaves only last for about a year. The older leaves typically deteriorate and turn yellow before dying and falling off, making place for new growth. It’s time to look at a few possible causes if more leaves than just the lowest ones are beginning to turn yellow. African violet leaves becoming yellow may occur for a variety of causes, including cultural maintenance, illumination, or illness.
water problems
Inadequate hydration is one of the most typical causes of yellow African violet leaves. The foliage will respond by developing yellow or bleached, necrotic areas or ring spots because the leaves cannot withstand water being applied directly to them.
The cells within the leaf collapse and the leaf turns discolored when the water is warmer or colder than the leaf. The leaf cannot be cured, but you can stop further harm by watering underneath the leaves. For African violets with longer stems to reach the soil surface beneath the foliage, there are even specialized watering cans available. Utilizing water that is at normal temperature will also help to reduce damage.
LightingWhile African violet plants don’t do well in direct sunlight or intense heat, they do require light for energy production and flower formation. Southeast or west windows are the ideal locations. For optimal light, place the plant 3 feet (91 cm) away from the window.
Plants that are cultivated longer indoors or in an office with artificial illumination will develop yellow margins. This indicates that the plant isn’t receiving enough light. If you move the plant to a brighter spot with indirect light, the leaves will grow back.
Fertilizing
Another reason why African violet leaves become yellow is a lack of sustenance. The state of the plant suggests that it would require further feeding in order to grow glossy, dark-green leaves. Use an African violet food that has been diluted in accordance with the instructions.
Once a month during the growing season, fertilize. Four times a year, drench the soil to eliminate extra salts to prevent overfertilizing.