QA

Question: When Are African Violets Available

Are African violets in season?

A: African violets are capable of blooming year-round in the home, but they won’t bloom reliably if one or more of their basic needs are not being met. The most likely reason African violets stop blooming is because they’re in too little light.

What is the growing season for African violets?

Make no mistake — African violets need plentiful light to bloom. As a rule, give them full sun in winter, and bright light in summer. From October through April, I grow them in the sunny east window of my upstairs bath (above).

In what month do violets appear?

Like most violas, violets have the potential to bloom from late winter or spring all the way through the summer. Typically, though, they stop blooming in late spring or summer when temperatures begin to get hot.

How many times a year do African violets bloom?

How Often Do African Violets Bloom? One of the reasons African violets are so well-loved is that they can bloom nearly year-round with the right care. Each healthy flower will last two or three weeks. A happy plant can continue producing new blossoms regularly for 10 to 12 months out of the year.

Why has my African violet stopped 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.

Is Miracle Grow good for African violets?

African violets grow best in well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Miracle-Gro® Indoor Potting Mix is specially formulated to provide indoor plants like African violets with just the right growing environment. Growing plants in these pots will provide the proper amount of continuous moisture to the plants.

What window is best for African violets?

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.

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.

What color grow light is best for African violets?

For African Violets it is common to use a combination of one cool white bulb and one warm white bulb. This provides African Violet plants with a good balance of color temperature. Personally, I have only used cool white bulbs for my plants and they seem to work well.

How do you force an African violet to bloom?

Humid conditions encourage an African violet to bloom. African violets grow and flower best in high humidity. Place a shallow tray of gravel, small pebbles, perlite or sand under the plant’s container and fill the tray with water. The humidity in the air around the plant increases as the water evaporates.

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.

Do violets like shade or sun?

Although violets tolerate of a variety of light conditions, most will grow best in full sun to partial shade. Some woodland species tolerate more shade; in fact they can be planted in areas considered to be full shade.

Should you cut dead flowers off African violet?

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.

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.

Can you repot African violets when they are blooming?

Can you repot an African violet when it’s blooming? Moving is stressful enough! We recommend waiting for a lull in blooming before you repot. That said, if your plant is tightly root-bound or at risk of toppling over, it’s okay to repot while flowering.

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.

How cold can African violets get?

Keep Violets as close to 70 degrees F as possible. In all cases, avoid prolonged exposure to temperatures below 60 degrees. Be aware of cold drafts coming through windows, and keep your Violets insulated from them. For more about proper temperature and other factors of air quality, see “Caring for African Violets.”.

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.