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.
Why don’t African violets bloom in the first place?
African violets might have poor flowering if there is insufficient light. They favor direct, bright sunlight. They strain for the light when exposed to insufficient sunlight, which results in few or no blossoms, while excessive sunshine can burn the leaves. The best window is one that faces east, especially if a sheer curtain is used to hide the sun’s worst rays.
African violets flower how frequently?
Hopefully you were able to pinpoint the cause of your African violet’s failure to bloom, and you now have the knowledge necessary to solve the issue. Here are some additional queries you can have regarding African violet blossoms.
How often do African violets bloom?
African violets can bloom for almost the entire year. Your African violets should bloom for 10–12 months a year if you can supply the ideal circumstances. An average bloom lasts for two to three weeks.
What time of year do African violets bloom?
If the correct conditions are present, African violets can bloom all year long. African violets grown indoors need at least 8 hours of light a day in order to bloom. This means that if your African violets don’t get enough daylight throughout the winter, you might need to supplement with artificial light. However, African violets typically continue to bloom indoors throughout the winter as long as they receive enough light.
Should I pinch off African violet flowers?
After they have completed flowering, African violet blooms shouldn’t be left on the plant. The plant can focus more energy on growing new blossoms by removing the wasted flowers. Additionally, removing the plant’s remaining dead blossoms makes it look more appealing.
Why are the only things growing on my African violet?
(REVISED FOR 2022) I can never get enough of AFRICAN VIOLETS (Saintpaulia ionantha), which I ADORE. My windows are being sexified. They give my tabletops and mantels wonderful adornment. They even offer gift plants because a single leaf will give birth to numerous offspring. I give the plants everything they need to remain perpetually in bloom.
Light. Don’t be mistaken To blossom, African violets require lots of light. Give them bright light in the summer and full sun in the winter, on average. I cultivate these in my upstairs bathroom’s bright east window from October to April (above). I then allowed the plants to live in a north exposure or under fluorescent lights from May through September. Otherwise, their leaves would undoubtedly be fried by the summer sun.
Put them under fluorescent (or LED) lights for spectacular bloom. As you can see, in my writing room, I have dozens of African violets growing beneath 48-inch lights that I’ve mounted to bookcases. These are typical, affordable “cool white fluorescents,” not fancy “grow-lights.” The plants are placed 7 to 10 inches from the light, measured from the top of the plants (5 inches for miniatures and trailers). Each day, I leave the lights on for 16 hours before turning them off for 8 hours. Though they require more food and water, plants under lights always blossom to their absolute best.
Warmth and Humidity. You may have heard that in order for African violets to flower, an interior temperature of at least 70 degrees must be present. In reality, this is untrue. My own plants continue to blossom in the 55 to 65 degree range. I remove the plants from the windows during chilly nights and only put them back once the morning sun has warmed the glass.
When humidity levels are low, saintpaulias won’t bloom. They enjoy relative humidity levels of about 50%, which are relatively high for the typical residence throughout the winter. Remember that during the heating season, the humidity falls dramatically. Imagine how unpleasant your African violets must be while the heat is roaring—especially if you have dry skin and a scratchy voice.
Plants can be gathered in groups to promote humidity. Put them on trays with pebbles for even better results. Galvanized “Boot trays can be painted to match your window trim and are effective. Water should still be in the trays, but make sure the plants are sitting on the stones rather than in the water. When plants are watered from above, extra moisture drips into the stones and evaporates to produce humid air. Trays can be replaced with pebble-filled bowls or large saucers (such as the ones pictured above).
Here’s one more piece of advice: Plant the seeds in clay pots. Clay absorbs moisture, which it subsequently evaporates to release as humidity.
Watering. Use only water that is at room temperature or slightly warmer. Both the top and bottom can be watered; occasionally, bottom watering is simpler due to spreading leaves. To water a plant from below, add one inch of water to a saucer or bowl, cover it, and wait exactly 30 minutes for the plant to take all the liquid it can. After that, drain out any extra. Water the soil sufficiently often to keep it moist but not flooded.
the periodic shower. I give my plants a once-weekly shower with room-temperature or slightly warmer water to eliminate dust from the foliage and to ward against pests (such as aphids and red spider). After that, until the leaf has dried, the plants are kept out of direct sunlight. Only when the water temperature is lower than the leaves’ temperature can leaf spotting develop. Even with moist leaves, you may put plants back in the fluorescent light garden without risk.
Soil. Use a potting mixture that is thin, humus-rich, and well-draining. African violets may grow in almost any commercial mix made for indoor plants.
Crowns & Suckers in plenty. Most African violets eventually develop numerous sideshoots and crowns, or “suckers. These prevent blossom and drain energy from the parent plant. Follow the instructions I provided in this post and in this very old video to rid your plant of these offenders.
Plants sent by mail invariably come in little, 2 1/4-inch plastic pots. For months, you won’t require larger pots. In a large pot, the African violet will take longer to bloom. I go to 4-inch pots after waiting six to twelve months, and that’s all. For use in the window garden, I like clay pots that have drainage holes whether they are glazed or not.
When do violets bloom in the year?
Violets are simple to grow and, with a little care, have a variety of purposes in the garden. Wild violets look lovely as accents around trees, around water, and in flowerbeds. In a woodland garden, they are also great options for rapid ground cover. Even containers can be used to cultivate them.
The late winter and early spring-blooming blooms and leaves are both delectable and vitamin-rich.
Violets can almost always be planted in the spring and fall, though early spring is ideal. Although they like some mild shade, these plants can also be grown in full sun. Although they can grow in a variety of soil types, wild violets prefer moist, well-draining soil that is also high in organic matter.
How can an African violet be made to bloom once more?
- 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.
Can African violets use Miracle Grow?
The best soil for growing African violets is well-drained and somewhat acidic. Specially formulated Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix offers indoor plants like African violets the ideal growing conditions. African violet pots, which are tiny (4 to 5 inch) ceramic or plastic self-watering containers, are the finest option for growing African violets. Growing plants in these pots will provide the proper amount of continuous moisture to the plants.
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.
Where should an African violet be placed?
African violets should be planted in an area with strong, indirect light. A excellent position is frequently one that is next to an east or north window. (Avoid putting African violets in the sun.) African violets can be planted beneath a fluorescent light fixture with two 40-watt fluorescent tubes if a window isn’t accessible. Leave the lights on for 12 to 16 hours per day and suspend the fixture 8 to 10 inches above the plants. African violets prefer temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep African violets away from heat sources and chilly drafts during the winter.
How do I determine the health of my African violet?
African violets (Saintpaulia) have a long history in the United States dating back to the turn of the century, but according to the Sunset book How to Grow African Violets, the violet only gained popularity in this country in 1927 after Armacost & Royston Inc., a Los Angeles nursery company, imported seeds from an English seed house.
The cheap, variety of colors, foliage varieties, and flowering styles of African violets continue to make them particularly popular in this region. Despite having an exotic appearance, the plants also have the advantage of not needing strange temperatures. The flowers are the ideal indoor flower since they flourish at the same humidity and temperature that people want.
Even if the maturity and variety of the plant dictate the freedom of flowering of your violet, there are a few cultural recommendations you should abide by to provide your plant the best possible care.
Light:
In the spring, fall, and winter, a western exposure is ideal for your violet, and during these seasons, it should receive as much sunlight as possible. The sun may be too hot for the plant in the summer and could burn the foliage. In terms of sunshine, a happy medium is ideal for the plants.
By examining the leaves, you may determine whether your violet receives enough sunshine. The edges scorch and the leaves turn yellow in excessive sunshine. The leaves will look to be a healthy green with too little sunshine, but there won’t be any blossoms. Check your African violet and change the amount of sunshine it receives as necessary.
A window with textured glass or one with sunlight that is filtered by tree branches is an excellent place for the plants.
If you set your violets in a south-facing window, Susan Noll of Jan Ferguson Inc. in Annapolis advises placing a sheer drape between the window and the plants in the late spring and summer.
Noll advises turning the plant 360 degrees every month, or a quarter rotation every week, to ensure a reasonably balanced, healthy plant. This will provide the violet with constant sunshine. If the leaves aren’t moved, they will grow toward the light, making the leaves on the side that receives shadow considerably shorter and smaller than those on the side that receives light.
If you’re growing violets under artificial light, position the fluorescent fixture about 10 inches above the plants. Another 8 to 10 inches above the plants, plant growing lights should be placed.
It will take some trial and error to find what works best for your plant, but a minimum of 10 hours (or eight hours on warmer days) per day of exposure is advised. To determine what works best, gradually experiment with the illumination schedule (up to 16 hours per day).
Ventilation and temperature:
African violets can tolerate temperatures as low as 65 degrees at night and between 72 and 75 degrees during the day. To keep plants above 55 degrees in the winter, keep them away from windowpanes.
Saintpaulian requires good airflow to grow. Avoid enclosed spaces with stagnant air, but keep the plant away from strong air currents. Opening a window in the adjacent room or, in the winter, using a small electric fan to keep the air circulating are the best ways to ventilate the plant. Plants can be grouped together, but don’t crowd them. Allow space around each plant so that air can circulate.
For your violets, a humidity range of 40 to 60 percent is ideal. Some methods for providing humidity include grouping, electric humidifiers, and placing plants on gravel trays filled with water (be careful of algae).
Watering:
When to water a plant depends on its size, the weather, and the plant itself.
You can water the plant from the top or bottom, depending on your preference, but when watering from the top, you must use water that is at least room temperature and preferably warm. The plants will be shocked by the cold water, which will stop them from forming buds and leaf spots. To bring the water to the same temperature as the room, draw some from the faucet and leave it overnight.
The simplest technique is to moisten the bottom. Placing a pot with a drainage hole in a saucer of room-temperature water is all that is necessary. Through capillary action, the plant will draw the water upward.
Bottom-watered African violets can occasionally require top watering because salts from the water will build up in the soil and harm the roots. The salts will be washed out of the bottom by top watering. Once each month, water the tops of the violets, being careful not to damp the crowns since this will make them rot.
This makes frequent top watering more delicate because you have to be careful not to soak the plant’s tops. For maximum precision, use a pitcher with a long spout.
Fertilizing:
The soil must occasionally be fertilized to keep the balance of nutrients since roots deplete the earth of its nutrients. Choose a fertilizer with a moderate strength (about a 10-10-5), and follow the instructions on the packaging only half the time.
In the spring, summer, and fall, apply the fertilizer once a month. When the violet produces a great bloom of flowers or throughout the winter, avoid fertilizing the plants. Make sure the soil is moist before applying the fertilizer whenever you fertilize. Never fertilize sick or newly potted plants.
By following these straightforward instructions, you should end up with a gorgeous, robust indoor plant that will bloom all year long and give you years of gardening enjoyment.