Success with African Violets

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African violets are one of those plants that give, give and give. They come in a myriad of colors and styles, are virtually in continuous bloom and spawn plantlets like nobody’s business. You’ll have plants for everybody.

With only a few simple requirements, they will brighten up your home with dazzling color and help you through the winter blues.

Here are a few factoids I’ve discovered for successfully growing African Violets.

Temperature
African violets are most comfortable at room temperature. When you feel comfortable, they feel comfortable. That’s about 70-85F.

Lighting
African violets love lots of bright indirect light. The more light they get, the better blooms they will put out – a multitude of long lasting flowers. They cannot stand direct sunlight, which will scorch the leaves. Near a westward facing window is ideal. Move back and screen from direct sunlight with a curtain or shade.

Feeling Snug
African Violets bloom when they are feeling slightly pot bound. They prefer to be pot-bound. Always opt for the smaller pot when transplanting. They like that cramped feeling. If you transplant to a roomy pot, they will cease blooming until they reach a size where they start feeling cramped.

No wet feet or wet leaves
This is the biggest killer of African Violets. Blot off any water trapped in the leaves or crown to prevent rot.

African Violets are succulents and prefer to be on the dry side. The roots are very fine and need to breathe. Do not let the plant sit in water – drain off any excess water.

Watering and Feeding
Watering/feeding African Violets from the bottom is the way I find easiest. It keeps water off the crown & leaves. Water/Feed together about every 10 days or when the soil is dry to the touch. Here is my technique which has worked for me really well.

Milk Jug
Fill a container with clean water and set it aside for a couple days allowing it to dechlorinate and come to room temperature. You can re-purpose a milk jug. This water will be exclusively for your African Violet.

To the water, add about 10 drops of choice African Violet food.

Time for a bath
Prepare a bath for your African Violet by filling a pot about 1/3 full with the Food/Water solution and letting your plant soak for 1/2 hour. It will take up what it needs.

Drain
After plant has soaked in the food/water solution for 1/2 hour, discard any excess water from the pot and let water drain completely from the plant.

Air Circulation
Be sure water/food had completely drained from the plant and return plant to it’s home location. The plant will be good for at least 10 days. I let my plant sit up on this yellow laundry detergent cap inside a decorative pot. This allows plant to drain and air to circulate completely around the plant.

A little water down at the bottom of the white pot creates a little humidity which the plant also likes.

New Plants
Your African Violet will readily clone itself. You can easily separate the baby plantlettes you see growing in the crown. Remember to transplant to the smallest pot possible so they feel snug and cramped. This will promote flowering.

Propagation
You can also propagate new plants from leaf cuttings. Simply cut off a leaf from the parent plant, and insert it into moist potting mix. Dip the leaf into rooting hormone, but not really necessary. You will have a new flowering plant in about 6 months.

Fulfilling just a few simple requirements, your African Violet will reward you with cheerful colorful blooms all year long.

Bright Indirect Light
Snug as a bug in the rug
Room Temperature
Feed/water every 10 days or when soil is dry
Keep crown/leaves dry
No wet feet or leaves
Good air circulation
Propagate by baby off shoots or leaf cuttings.

• 8 Feb, 2015
• 7 likes

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