African violets, with their fuzzy leaves and dainty white, purple, and blue flowers, are attractive houseplants. This guide will show you exactly how to keep your favorite houseplant thriving with African violet care tips that really work. Plus, learn how to propagate plants.
African violets are known as the friendship plant and are often used as a symbol of loyalty, devotion, and fidelity. For this reason, it has been popular as a gift for a long time! Whether you purchased these vigorous plants or received them as gifts, this guide will help you make them thrive.
Here’s how to care for African violets and some breeding tips to get lots of blooms. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving.
With proper care, African violets can produce almost continuous blooms with rainbow colors and leaf shapes. Flower size, petal type, and color vary widely, but plants generally grow 4 to 7 inches tall with hairy leaves and tightly clustered flowers.
African violets belong to the Saintpauliaceae family and are native to Africa. They are one of the most popular cultivated houseplants in the world today and are particularly well suited to home environments. Thousands of varieties now exist, and new hybrids are developed almost every day.
So without further ado, here is a guide to caring for African violets.
Basics of African Violet Care
African violets are hardy little plants, but they still require their own care. Follow these steps and you’ll have a happy little plant that wants to bloom for you.
Moisture absorbing African violets for better water supply
Proper watering is essential when caring for African violets. In fact, these plants often require watering to keep them healthy. The most common way to kill African violets is by overwatering them. There are several things you can do to properly water your violets.
Be sure to water the base of the plant and avoid getting water on the leaves. If the leaves are too wet, they will rot easily. Also, be sure to water only with room temperature water, as cold water can cool the roots and cause the leaves to curl downwards. Water only once a week and wait until the plant is completely dry before watering.
One creative way to avoid overwatering your African violets is to set up a moisture absorption system. To do this, pull three strings from different points around the base of the plant into the soil and out through the holes in the bottom of the pot. Use a marble or small stone to lift the pot at least half an inch above the drip tray. Fix the string under the stone layer.
When the tray is filled with water, the water is drawn up through the strings into the planting area, providing safe access for the roots. This method of watering allows the plant to receive a regular source of moisture, but the roots are not left submerged in water.
The best soil for African violets
To thrive, African violets require a special soil consisting of two parts peat moss substitute, one part perlite, and one part standard potting mix. This will improve soil aeration. The soil should be loose and well-drained. You can also add organic matter to the mixture if desired.
When choosing a pot, the smaller the better! African violets grow well in small pots and do not necessarily need to be repotted often. Repot it into a slightly larger pot once a year, but if the roots are established, it will grow thicker and produce more flowers.
African Violet Care – Keeping it Healthy
African violets are very hardy and grow best in indirect or filtered sunlight. Too much light can cause brown spots to form on the plant. Conversely, violets that don’t receive enough light will produce thin, dark leaves and leggy stems. Other indicators include yellowing leaves and failure to bloom.
To ensure your plants receive the same amount of light, try rotating the pot each time you water. Otherwise, you may notice your plants reaching for the light. This isn’t just for violets, it’s actually a good routine to follow for most houseplants.
In the spring-summer season, it is recommended to fertilize violets every two weeks. They also need acidic fertilizers designed specifically for them. You can fertilize with certain African violet feeds or fertilizers with high phosphorus concentrations. I make my own fertilizer and use it on all my houseplants. If you notice fewer flowers and pale leaves, your violets may not be getting enough fertilizer.
When it comes to temperature, African violets follow. If you feel comfortable, African violets will be comfortable too. They also really like humidity, so if you like it too, you’ll have even more in common.
Temperature requirements are not important when storing inside the house, but if the temperature outside is near or about to drop below freezing, it should be stored well away from windows.
Promote further flowering
Most people buy African violets to admire the flowers. When the flowers don’t bloom, or they barely bloom, we start to worry. If the flowers aren’t blooming, your plant may not be getting enough light. Violets also need at least eight hours of darkness to bloom, which can be a problem if you use grow lights.
Another reason could be that there are actually too many leaves. One round flower blooms per rosette of leaves. Cutting off the outermost layer of leaves will encourage more purple flowers to bloom.
As mentioned earlier, keeping violets tied to their roots will encourage flowering. Finally, always remove spent flowers and leaves to encourage your violets to produce more flowers. Take a look at your violets to see if any of these are the reason they don’t bloom at all.
propagation of african violets
Who wouldn’t want lots of tiny little African violets? African violets are very beautiful in clusters, so I like to propagate them often. Be sure to start with more cuttings than you think you will need, as not all will be successful.
Whether you want more or want to grow more for gifts, this is my surefire way to grow violets.
Choose healthy leaves from the center of the plant, as outer leaves are too old and inner leaves are too young. Make a cut at the base of the stem, but be careful not to leave the stem in the host as it will rot. Shorten cuttings to 1 inch. Water the soil and place it in a small container. Stick a pencil into the soil to create space for the stem to grow. option. Lightly dip the stems in rooting hormone and tap off the excess. This will encourage leaf root growth. Place the stem in the soil so that the tips of the leaves just touch the soil surface. Press the soil firmly. Place a support behind the leaf to support it. option. Place the pot in a temporary greenhouse, such as an empty salad container. This will help maintain humidity and keep the temperature warm. Place the cutting in a bright, well-lit area that won’t get too hot. Wait and be patient! Transplant when the leaves have a strong root system and a few small leaves have grown.
African Violet Care Frequently Asked Questions
Most people choose to propagate African violets from cuttings or divisions, but they can also be grown from seeds. However, two plants must be cross-pollinated for the plant to produce seeds, and the resulting seeds may not be the same type of African violet as the parent.
For this reason, it is best to purchase seeds from a trusted seller rather than trying to save them yourself. I have never personally grown African violets from seed, but other sources say they are very easy to start from seed.
Flowers may vary depending on growing conditions. Since it is grown in greenhouses under optimal conditions, it may have large flowers when first acquired. In the case of your home, there may be less sunlight and fertilizer than before, so the small flowers will bloom. Under favorable conditions, larger flowers will bloom.
With proper care, African violets can bloom all year round. To encourage more flowers, be sure to deadhead any spent flowers by cutting them with sterile scissors. The right light is also important.
I hope that African violets are now a little less intimidating than they used to be. With a little planning and understanding, African violets can beautify your home and are fun and easy to grow.
Other helpful care tips
