African Violets are delightful houseplants and will brighten up any room with their purple, pink, or white colors.
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Growing African Violet Plants: Watering, Light, Repotting, and Pests
Planting
How to Plant African Violets
- You can use an actual African violet potting mix or an all-purpose potting soil, as long as it is well-draining. Here鈥檚 how to create your own mix.
- Keep African violets planted in small pots and repot every few years to mix in fresh soil. Being a bit pot-bound encourages African violets to bloom more, so don鈥檛 be too quick to give them more space.
- The soil should be loose and well-drained; high organic matter content is a plus. Learn about organic soil amendments.
- When repotting African violets, don鈥檛 plant them any deeper than they were already planted, and be careful not to bury the crown. African violets鈥 stems can be susceptible to rot if kept too moist.
Growing
How to Care for African Violets
Watering
- Keep the soil lightly moist, but be careful not to overwater, as African violets鈥 soft stems are very susceptible to rot. Learn more about proper watering and care.
- Use room-temperature water, as chilled water can leave marks on the leaves.
- Leaves are susceptible to rot and fungal spots if kept in high humidity, so water African violets from the bottom to avoid getting excess water on the foliage.
Lighting
- 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. Use fluorescent or LED bulbs to supplement natural lighting.
- Thin, dark green leaves and leggy stems tell you the plant is getting too little light; light green or bleached leaves indicate too much light.
Fertilizing
- During the active growing season (spring and summer), fertilize every 2 weeks with a high-phosphorous plant food. Only start fertilizing when the plant appears to need an extra boost (slow, thin growth; pale or yellowing leaves).
- Over-fertilizing is a more common problem than under-fertilizing since most soil mixes come infused with plenty of nutrients.
General African Violet Care
- According to Julie Weisenhorn, an Extension educator at the , 鈥淚f you are comfortable, your African violet is comfortable. Optimal room temperature for growing African violets is between 60掳F and 80掳F and ideally 70掳F.鈥 However, some are more tolerant of cooler conditions. In any case, keep them away from drafty windows in winter.
- Plants should be shifted to larger pots as they grow, but keeping African violets slightly root-bound can encourage them to bloom. One sign that your violet needs repotting is wilted leaves.
- The fuzzy leaves have a tendency to collect dust and dirt. Brush them off gently with a small, soft-bristled paintbrush.
- Blooming issues? Check out our tips on how to make sure your African violets flower.
For more information on African violets, visit the website of the .
Catherine Boeckmann
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I have had my grandmother African violet for at least 30 years. I have not idea how long she has had it. Tried to split one time and last one of the two splits. It is growing out of the pot now and working toward the top. The route is thick and crooked. What do I do with it. I am attached to this plant.
I pulled some unhealthy-looking leaves from my African violet plant and placed the stems in water, not touching the leaves, with the hope they may root. And indeed they did! There are now roots and tiny leaves appearing in the water.
QUESTION: When/how do I transplant these new shoots into soil?
When I repotted my violet, I must have planted it too deep because now the leaves are lying on the dirt. It is very hard to water because there鈥檚 only one small opening where I can get water in without touching the leaves. The plant is blooming beautifully so I鈥檓 afraid to touch it. Wondering if I should cut off lower leaves to expose base of plant. I use African violet plant food every couple of weeks or when I think it looks like it needs a boost. Lighting is perfect - East window. I rotate the plant every couple of days so all sides get the sun. Still the newest center leaves point straight up. Should I trim lower leaves?
If the leaves still look deep green and healthy, there’s no reason to trim them off! As long as the leaves are allowed to air-dry and aren’t kepy continuously moist, there shouldn’t be an issue with getting a bit of water on them. If the leaves start to 鈥渕elt鈥 or discolor, then you can consider pruning the plant.
I just received two African violets and I have several questions:
-does the pot need to have a hole on the bottom?
-the violets were during winter so the flowers are a bit brown and droopy, how does one give them a boost ?
-I have a self watering bulb, would you recommend using it or not?
Thank you
1. Yes, the pot should have a drainage hole in the bottom to allow excess water to drain away, helping to prevent root rot.
2. If the flowers themselves are brown and droopy, the flowers have already started to die, which is entirely natural. Snip off the dead flowers and care for the plants according to the advice above; they should eventually bloom again.
3. During winter, houseplants should generally be watered less often, so it’s advised to allow them to dry out a bit between waterings. Come spring, when the plants will be in active growth, a self-watering bulb could be useful for keeping the soil moist. African violets are quite susceptible to rot, however, so if your home is particularly humid, you may not want to use the bulb.
I would like to know how many African Violets are produced every year or how many sale in the market in USA.
We would suggest that you contact Holtkamp Greenhouses Inc., the largest producer of African violets in the world. They are a private company based our of Nashville. Suffice it say, it’s a multi-million dollar business.
Is there a certain pot that African likes best.. Glass, plastic, clay, ceramic?
According to the African Violet Society, plastic pots are preferred by growers. Clay pots allow too much evaporation adn the soil will go dry at the top, probably because the moisture is evaporating out the sides. Select pots which were designed with rolled edges. That said, there are times when a clay pot is desirable— most especially in hot climates or greenhouse growing. The evaporation from the clay works as a cooling device and actually keeps the roots cooler. Since many growers are in climate-controlled environments, this feature seems to be less important these days.
