Table of Contents
African Violet Care Light. Bright, but not direct sunlight. Soil. A well-drained potting mix is essential. Water. Keep soil moist with warm water and strive for high humidity. Temperature and Humidity. Do not allow to fall below about 60ºF. Fertilizer. Feed with an African violet fertilizer every other week.
How often do you water an African Violet?
An important point to remember when bottom watering African Violet plants is to top water at least once a month. This way you are flushing out any extra fertilizer salt build up and refreshing the soil/roots from the top too.
Do African violets need direct sunlight?
African violets need indirect sunlight, direct can burn the leaves. Choose a north- or east- facing window for best results. Keep plants away from cold glass and rotate the pot once a week so all leaves receive light. Extend daylight by placing African violets under a grow light during winter months.
Where is the best place to put an African Violet?
Grow plants in bright, indirect light for the best color and blooms. A plant stand three feet away from a west- or south-facing window is an ideal location. Plants will still grow when situated right beside north- or east-facing windows, but leaves will be thin and spindly, and plants less likely to bloom.
How do you take care of a potted violet?
Care of Violets in Containers Place the containers in a sunny area when the weather is still cool and then move the plants to a semi-shady area when temperatures begin to rise. Feed potted violet plants in spring and fall, using an all-purpose garden fertilizer.
Should you deadhead African violets?
Deadheading. If you have success getting your African Violet to bloom, be sure to pinch or deadhead spent blooms. This allows the plant to continue to put energy into creating more buds/blooms and beautiful foliage.
Should African violets be watered from the top or bottom?
The roots of the African Violet need aeration, so keeping them moderately moist but never soggy is the key. Watering from the bottom so they can soak the water up, over an hour or so, will help to keep water out of the crown of the plant. African Violets like warmer water, around 70 degrees.
Do African violets prefer morning or afternoon sun?
Violets require 2 to 4 hours of morning or afternoon sunlight. If they don’t receive enough light, they will not bloom. They will look like a healthy plant with dark green leaves but no flowers. Too much direct sun will give the appearance of reddish yellow leaves and spindly flowers.
Is coffee grounds good for African violets?
Is Coffee Grounds Good for African Violets? Yes, coffee grounds are a great homemade fertilizer for African Violets. Make a mixture of dried coffee grounds and dried egg shells, then work the coffee ground mixture into the top of the soil. Replenish every couple of months.
How do you get African violets to flower?
8 Ways to Get Your African Violet to Bloom Again. Let There Be Light. Turn Up the Humidity. Replenish Essential Nutrients. Keep it Pleasant. Choose the Right Soil. Protect From Pests & Disease. Constrict the Roots.
When should I repot my African violet?
African violets need to be repotted about once a year to keep them growing big and beautiful. It is best to inspect them first to see if their leaves and roots are healthy.
Do African violets like to be misted?
African Violets do not enjoy misting, but if you really think you need to mist your African Violets, it’s best to do it rarely and when the humidity is below 30%. Misting frequently or for an extended time can cause leaf damage to the plant, which then has a direct effect on the overall health of the plant.
How long do African violets live?
Repotting these blooms is so important due to their long lifespan. “Remember that African violets have a very long lifespan and have been said to last up to 50 years,” says Ryan McEnaney, public relations and communications specialist for Bailey Nurseries.
How do you bring an African violet back to life?
If a majority of the roots are still white or light-colored, prune off the rotted roots, and re-pot the plant in soil for African violets in a container with several drainage holes. You can water from top or bottom with water at room temperature or slightly warmer.
Why are my African violet leaves growing straight up?
African Violet leaves curl or reach upwards when the light they receive is too low. The stems start growing longer in size and growing upwards as if they are reaching for the light. This causes the plant to become top heavy full of leaves and just long stems at the bottom.
How big can African violets get?
African violets are typically classified by size, based on how wide they grow: Miniature: less than 8 inches across. Standard: 8–16 inches across. Large: more than 16 inches across.
How do you keep violets blooming?
Too little light can cause of African violets not to bloom well. They prefer bright, indirect sun. Too little sunlight causes them to stretch for the light and produce few or no flowers; too much sun can burn the leaves. An east-facing window is ideal, especially with a sheer curtain to block the sun’s harshest rays.
Do African violets need to be pruned?
How to Prune an African Violet. In order to keep the plant at its healthiest, remove three or more bottom leaves every month. The plant produces leaves regularly, and this will help balance the appearance of the violet while allowing old leaves to make room for new.
Why do African violets limp?
If your African Violet plant has been over-watered, the soil will retain too much water. This retention of water will cause the leaves and /or leaf stems to turn soft, limp or mushy. The roots absorb so much water, that they can no longer hold onto so much water and eventually rot.
Can you water African violets with ice cubes?
Can I use ice cubes to water African violets? No, only use room temperature water to avoid damaging your plants. While ice cubes slowly melt and add moisture to the soil, the cold water makes your violets more susceptible to discoloration.
How do you save an overwatered African Violet?
To save an overwatered African Violet, carefully remove the plant from its pot and put it on several layers of paper towels or newspaper. Dry the roots and remove any decaying roots and leaves. Clean the roots of any soil carefully as the roots of African violets tend to break easily.
