Caring for African Violets
- 1 Place the pot in an area that receives 8 hours of filtered or indirect light per day. Indirect sunlight is best for potted violets because it encourages growth without drying out the plant. ...
- 2 Water African violets only when the top of the soil is dry. ...
- 3 Fertilize the violets every 6-8 weeks with a 20-20-20 fertilizer. ...
- 4 Repot African violets every 6-12 months. ...
What is the best light for African violets?
What conditions do African violets like?
- Good lighting but not direct sunlight is needed for these plants to thrive.
- African Violets like a warm semi-humid climate.
- The soil for African Violets should be kept moist.
- Pests and Diseases.
- Some other problems that can occur with African Violets include Botrytis cenerea and powdery mildew.
- "Space Violets"
How to grow beautiful African violets?
Method 1 Method 1 of 3: Planting the Violets Download Article
- Buy pre-rooted African violets at a nursery, greenhouse or retail store. Because many houseplant enthusiasts grow African violets as part of their collection, they are usually easy to find.
- Pick a pot that is 2 times the diameter of the plant. Violets do well in small pots, but do need some space to grow.
- Make a soilless mix for the potting medium. ...
How to grow and Bloom African violets at home?
Prevention
- Use sterilized potting mix and clean pots.
- If you want to reuse pots from discarded plants, clean them thoroughly by soaking them in 1 part household bleach and nine parts water for 30 minutes.
- Do not plant your African Violets too deeply.
- Only water the plant when the top-soil is dry.
How much light does my African violet need?
How much sun do African Violets need? African Violets require at least 8hrs of light per day and at least 8hrs of darkness per night to thrive. For long lasting blooms, 12hrs a day of natural sunlight is ideal. African Violets need bright light during the day. During hot afternoons of spring, summer and fall its best to provide filtered bright light by using shades or sheer curtains.
What type of grow light is best for African violets?
African Violets require 8 hours of light per day to grow flowers. However, you'll get extra-lively flowering if you can bump that up to 12-16 hours. The best brightness for African Violets is between 10k and 20k lux. Use only fluorescent or LED grow lamps, and be sure not to place them too close to your plant.
How many hours of artificial light do African violets need?
A fluorescent light fixture suspended 8 to 10 inches above plants and left on for 12 to 16 hours per day should provide sufficient light for African violets.
What is the secret to growing African violets?
African violets prefer bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sunlight and keep them at least a few feet away from bright south- or west-facing windows. An east- or north-facing window gives them the best lighting without the risk of burning their sensitive foliage. Artificial lighting works well, too.
Are LED lights good for African violets?
A full spectrum LED light strip can also work for African Violet plants, especially those with a higher ratio of red/blue wavelengths mixed in with green and yellow wavelengths. These strips can provide a balanced mixture of lights.
Where is the best place to put an African violet?
African violets are strictly indoor plants in North America, largely because their leaves need to stay dry. 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.
Can you put African violets under a grow light?
For best flowering and growth, many African violet aficionados grow their plants under grow lights. Set the bulbs about 12" to 15" above the tops of the plants, depending on the strength of the bulbs and size of the plants. Use a timer set to 14 hours of light and 10 hours of dark each day.
Should you mist African violets?
African violets tolerate average indoor HUMIDITY; 40-60% is best. If your house is very dry, mist your violets lightly with room temperature water on a daily basis, but never late in the day or at night.
How often should you water African violets?
“How often to water African violets?” is perhaps the most pondered African violet dilemma. The best guide is to feel the top of the soil: if it is dry to the touch, then it is time to water. African violets should be allowed to dry out between each watering for best results. Overwatering can kill a plant.
What pots are best for African violets?
Best Pots for African VioletsClay Pots – These are not the best looking pots, but they are very porous, which can be good for you African violets to drain the water.Plastic Pots – Most of these pots, but especially the ones that have saucer bottoms, are well-draining pots that your African violets will love.More items...
How often does an African violet bloom?
10-12 months each yearAfrican violets can bloom nearly year-round. If you are able to provide the correct conditions, expect your African violets to bloom 10-12 months each year. Each bloom lasts for about 2-3 weeks.
How much natural light do African violets need?
Darkness promotes blooms in African violets, so it's crucial to make sure your plant gets some reprieve from sunlight and grow lights. Professional Tip: For long-lasting, healthy blooms, provide your plant with at least 12 hours of sunlight and at least 8 hours of nighttime darkness.
How do you get African violets to bloom?
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.More items...•
How do I know if my African violet is getting too much light?
Doctor Optimara: Sunlight - Too Much. African Violets need plenty of sunlight, but only indirect sunlight. If Violets get more than this, they will begin to show signs of scorching on the leaves and flowers. In some cases, too much sunlight will turn variegated leaf varieties entirely green.
How do I know when my African violet needs more light?
Yellowing leaves are a telltale sign that your African violet is not receiving enough light. Another sign, usually accompanying the yellowing of leaves, is that your African violet will simply stop producing flowers. If one or both symptoms are occurring, consider moving your African violet into a brighter location.
Why are my African violet leaves turning light green?
Too much light can be harmful to African Violets however, it can cause slowed growth the plants leaves will turn to a pale green due to chlorophyll destruction and the flowering will decrease.
How do you fix droopy African violets?
First, trim off any dead, droopy, or mushy foliage. These leaves won't recover; removing them frees up energy for your plant to heal. Next, remove your African violet from its pot and gently brush the soil from the roots. Remove any black or mushy root segments and apply root rot treatment if the damage is severe.
Do African violets need direct sunlight?
Yes, African Violets grow the best in at least partial sun. The very best violets grow on windowsills or under UV lights in a greenhouse.
How do you water an African violet?
You should water the violets when the soil is dry to the touch. Soil should be moist but never soggy or boggy.
How long do flowers last on an African violet?
How long the flowers last depend on a variety of factors. The varieties that have thick petals and flowers that are tinged with green tend to bloom...
How to grow African violets?
African violets will thrive in bright, warm and humid conditions. Keep water from touching their leaves or it will leave brown spots. Remove dead flowers and leaves as soon as you see them to encourage a healthier plant. Regularly check the soil and plant to make sure there is no accumulation of dead leaves. This will encourage rot. Growing these houseplants is really a matter of balance; you have to make sure that the different factors that go into their cultivation all are weighted against each other. They should be kept in moist enough conditions that they don't dry out, yet still exposed to a fresh breeze to avoid letting them get too stuffy, and exposed to sunlight without damaging their leaf tips. Don't be discouraged if your African violets suffer some damage—it's all part of the process.
How often do African violets bloom?
African violets are one of the world's most popular houseplants and for good reason. These compact, low-growing plants flower several times a year, and they are available in a multitude of leaf forms and colors.
When were African violets first introduced?
The original plants, the S. ionantha, were introduced in Germany in 1893. Two years later, the S. confusa were introduced. Since then, thousands of varieties have been produced. Today, African violets are available in single and double flowers, in all different colors, and with widely varied leaf shapes. Gloxinia is sometimes mistaken for a type of African violet. If you like African Violets, you might also enjoy their cousin, the Goldfish Plant .
What is the best way to keep a plant from falling off?
Soil. A well-drained potting mix is essential. Poor drainage can cause root rot, in which the plant becomes waterlogged and its leaves begin to fall, so make sure that the plant is never allowed to be exposed to standing water for an extended period of time.
Do African violets need to be kept in moist conditions?
They should be kept in moist enough conditions that they don't dry out, yet still exposed to a fresh breeze to avoid letting them get too stuffy, and exposed to sunlight without damaging their leaf tips. Don't be discouraged if your African violets suffer some damage—it's all part of the process. 2:43.
How to grow African violets in water?
The most common way to grow new African violets is to propagate them from the leaves of existing plants. Once you do this, you can sprout the cutting in water. To propagate a new African violet in water, you'll need a sterilized cutting tool, a thin-necked bottle ( such as a sterilized beer bottle), and a plastic bag or wrap.
How to cut an African violet?
Select a large and healthy leaf from a healthy African violet. Include 2 inches (5 cm) of stem and cut the leaf from the plant on a 45-degree angle. The cut side of the angle should be on the top of the leaf. Fill the bottle with lukewarm water.
What kind of pots do violets like?
You can use either plastic or terracotta pots for your violets. Plastic pots require less watering, but terracotta pots provide more air flow.
How to grow violets from cuttings?
2. Plant a leaf right in the soil. Alternatively, you can also plant that same cutting directly into soil rather than sprouting it in water. To do this you'll need your healthy leaf and 2 inches (5 cm) of stem cut from a healthy violet, a small pot of clear plastic, potting soil, and a plastic cover or wrap.
How to grow a sage plant from a stem?
Fill the pot with loose potting soil. Press the cut stem a half-inch (1.3 cm) into the soil. Cover the top of the pot with a clear plastic cover or wrap. Place the cutting somewhere warm where it will get lots of filtered sun. You probably won’t need to water as long as the plastic keeps in the moisture. ...
How long does it take for a seedling to grow?
For seedlings, wait until the seedlings have leaves that reach 2 inches (5 cm) in width. For cuttings, the babies should be ready in about eight to 10 weeks, once new leaves are roughly the size of a dime. ...
Where do African violets grow?
African violets are a group of flowering perennial plants that are native to Tanzania, Kenya, and other areas of East Africa. Growing these violets at home is quite easy, but they need the right medium, nutrients, and environment to thrive. But as long as they get everything they require, African violets will bloom their beautiful purple flowers ...
How to keep violets moist?
The trays in the violet stand should be kept moist for extra humidity and this can be done by putting 15 mm to 22 mm of gravel in the trays and this kept moist. You can obtain stands that have egg crate plastic in the trays so that you can put water in the trays and the pots won't stand in water or you can use flat trays with small river gravel ...
How long do violets need to bloom?
Violets need a minimum of 10 hours of good light each day to flower. 12 hours is better and lights may be left on for 14 hours or up to 16 hours a day when you need lots of blooms for a special occasion. Lights can be turned on during the day because violets must have at least 8 hours of darkness each day.
How many fluorescent tubes do violets need?
Violets need two fluorescent tubes placed 10 to 15 cm apart and approximately 20 cm to 25 cm above the top of your foliage. Most African violet light stands use 40 watt tubes, larger tubes are much dearer and 20 watt tubes are not so economical considering the cost of making a stand and the diminishing light at the ends of the tubes.
Why do violets turn on and off?
Lights can be turned on during the day because violets must have at least 8 hours of darkness each day. Timer switches are available that switch the lights on and off to suit you and this eliminates the trouble of remembering to switch lights on and off at a regular time each day.
How wide should a violet tray be?
The tray to hold the plants under the lights can be up to 600 mm in width and the length of your tubes. Even under lights it is necessary to turn your violets at intervals so that each side of your plant gets its fair share of light, otherwise they will lean towards the light.
Can African violets grow under artificial light?
African Violets under grow lights. Violets need similar conditions to us. You automatically have your home to suit you and that is just fine for violets. The extremes of temperature close to a window can be rather uncomfortable for our violets and the use of artificial light means that you can put your violets in any position in your home ...
Do African violets need light?
African violets need a reasonable amount of light to flower and if you don't have a suitable window area on which to grow them , you may need.
What kind of light do African violets need?
The traditional form of artificial lighting for African violets and other house plants are fluorescent bulb lights. Time and time again I’ve seen growers successfully grow plants without the use of specific grow light bulbs, but traditional fluorescent lights like you would buy at a big box store.
Why do I need a dimmer for my African violets?
The dimmers are required to adjust the light because full-strength is too high for African violets. The tops of my plants are 10 inches from the lights. There’s only one negative I have found to horticultural led grow lights with a dimmer.
What Kind of LED Lights Grow Plants?
I use LED light tape which is sold on a long roll with an adhesive backing. On the tape, there are marks every couple inches where you can cut the tape to customize the length for your shelf.
How much does it cost to light a 4 shelf plant stand?
The cost to light my 4-shelf plant stand was just under $70 which included 4 power adapters, 4 dimmers and 2 spools of light tape.
What shelf should I put my plants on?
As the floor is always the coolest part of any room, I put them on the bottom two shelves. Also, plants that need more variegation go to the bottom shelf. Lots of my Buckeyes and Cajun’s are on the second (330 fc) shelf as they need more light.
Where to move a plant on a 330 fc shelf?
If a plant on the 260 fc shelf is reaching up, I send it to the middle of it’s current shelf or to a 330 fc shelf. This gives me a lot of options to ensure plants are getting the correct amount of light.
Do African violets need dimmers?
Experiment with your plants to see how they react to different light strengths but do not put the lights on full-strengths. The dimmers are required to adjust the light because full-strength is too high for African violets.
Where do African violets come from?
As their name suggests, African violets are native to East Africa, stemming from the tropical rainforests of Tanzania and Kenya . In 1892, German colonial officer Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire identified these plants and sent seeds back to Germany. The genus came to be called Saintpaulia, though the plants have recently been re-categorized into a different genus, Streptocarpus. Despite their common name, they are not a type of violet, but they do produce vivid, violet-colored flowers. Read more about these dainty plants here!
What color are African violets?
African Violets are delightful houseplants and will brighten up any room with their purple, pink, or white colors.
How to tell if violet needs repotting?
One sign that your violet needs repotting is wilted leaves.
What does violet symbolize?
Find out more about these dainty flowers here. The violet symbolizes loyalty, devotion, and faithfulness. Find out more flower symbolism here.
Why are my African violets turning green?
Plants should be shifted to larger pots as they grow, but keeping African violets slightly root-bound can encourage them to bloom.
What kind of light bulbs are used to supplement natural light?
Artificial lighting works well, too. Use fluorescent or LED bulbs to supplement natural lighting.
Can Cyclamen mites kill African violets?
Cyclamen mites can affect African violets. They are nearly impossible to remove completely, so disposal of the infected plant and isolation of nearby plants is recommended.
What temperature should I keep my African Violets in?
African Violets enjoy growing in temperatures ranging from 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. When in doubt, it is safer to be warm then cool when it comes to these plants. For more information on climate control for your African Violets, click here.
How much light/darkness does my African Violet need?
Typically, we want our African Violets to get a full day (11-14 hours) of indirect sunlight . Recall, indirect sunlight is not the same thing is direct sunlight. Indirect sunlight refers to placing your African Violet in a bright windowsill or somewhere else where the sun won’t be beaming down on it directly.
What is an African Violet?
African Violet (Saintpaulia) plants are a popular species of houseplant, native to East Africa. Known for their striking resemblance to violets, African Violets have become a household favorite due to their resilience and easiness to grow. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned grower, African Violets are a joy to work with and look at.
How long do African Violets typically live?
Theoretically, African Violets can live indefinitely. In practice, if well cared for, African Violets can easily live for decades. It all depends on how well they are taken care of. The reason African Violets decline is usually due to grower error, not because of the plant itself.
Can I really grow a new plant from an existing leaf?
Yes you can! This method is called propagation by leaf, and we have a guide on it here. Creating new violets from leaves is a great way to expand your collection without the need to buy more plants. Plus, it’s just a fun hobby!
Should I fertilize my African Violets?
Much like with Orchids, we recommend that you fertilize your African Violet regularly. Fertilizer helps deliver important nutrients that are essential for strong root growth, healthy leaves, and beautiful blooms. We carry a popular, balanced, 20-20-20 fertilizer, as well as a phosphorus rich (encourages more flowers) 12-36-14 fertilizer for African Violets.
Why are African violets dying?
The reason African Violets decline is usually due to grower error, not because of the plant itself . To ensure that your African Violet lives a long and healthy life, it is important to learn the necessary care information for these wonderful plants.
How much light does an African violet need?
Does my African violet still need light at night? It’s important that your African violet receives anywhere from 8-9 hours minimum of time in the dark each day. So essentially, by around 10 o’clock at night, make sure your African violets are no longer receiving light.
Why is indirect sunlight important for African violets?
Getting a healthy dose of indirect sunlight is important for photosynthesis and the overall health of the African violet.
What about the signs/symptoms that my African violet is getting too much light?
The presence of too much sunlight produces “sun spots” on your leaves and/or blooms. These spots are brown and should stand out when inspecting potential affected areas. Curling leaves are also something to watch out for. Leaf curling can also be a sign of mites, so be sure to check the underside of your leaves to rule out that possibility
What does it mean when your African violet leaves turn yellow?
Another sign, usually accompanying the yellowing of leaves, is that your African violet will simply stop producing flowers. If one or both symptoms are occurring, consider moving your African violet into a brighter location.
