African Violet Plant Care
Common Name: African Violet
Scientific Name: Saintpaulia ionantha
Lighting: Moderate to Bright
Watering: Moderate
The African Violet is an extremely common houseplant. The African Violet is characterized by low-growing, heart shaped hairy leafed foliage remaining fairly oval in overall shape. African Violets are available in many varieties with flowers ranging from pink to blue to the traditional violet. Foliage can range from dark green to variegated.
African Violets prefer moderate to bright indirect sunlight. Keep them near an east or west window for best results. Aim to provide your African Violet with at least 8 hours of sunlight a day. If your African Violets foliage begins to yellow and the plant seems to be reaching, it is probably not getting enough light. On the reverse side, if the foliage begins to have brown spots or the foliage curls, the plant may be receiving too much light.
African Violets prefer their soil semi-moist. Allow the soil to slightly dry out in-between watering for best results. One trick with watering African Violets is you want to avoid getting water on the foliage. Water either from the bottom, such as a water tray in which the water can be seeped up or directly on the dirt. Either way the goal is to avoid getting the foliage wet. If water does get on the leaves it will usually leave white spots. Be sure to try and use room temperature or warm water instead of cold.
African Violets prefer higher humidity levels and usually do well in temperatures between 62° and 75°. Try not to let the temperature drop below 60°. Also, as with most houseplants, keep them away from vents and entry ways.
This houseplant also prefers its own special soil mix. Most garden centers have African Violet soil mixtures already pre-packaged for you. This houseplant also prefers some root for its roots, so make sure it has enough space to prevent becoming root bound.
As like their soil, there are also special fertilizer and plant food mixtures for this plant. I have always just used my normal Miracle Gro houseplant food but that's just me.
To encourage new blooms, pinch off dead blossoms and their stems.
This houseplant is known to have some pest problems. Mealybugs and red spiders are the most common pests. If you begin to see a problem on your plant, I would suggest using specific insecticides labeled for African Violets. I personally haven’t had a pest problem with this plant so I cannot say if my homemade soapy dishwater mixture works or not. If you have solutions, please post comments below and share with other readers.
A collection of comments and tips have been combined over on the African Violets FAQ page.
Happy Growing!!!
Labels: bathroom houseplants, Flowering Houseplants
posted by drayas @ 9:31 AM
16 Comments:
Hi,
less than a year ago I bought a very pretty african violet with dark purple flowers with a white edge. When it first flowered, I noticed that just under the wilting flowers, on the same stalk a pair of leaves was developing. After asking a friend, I cut the whole stalk off and put it into a yogurt pot with some soil. Miraculously the plant has grown a bit bigger and is having its first flowers! I was wondering whether there is an easier or more efficent way to make them multiply.
Please help!
Hi, new reader here. Love it!!!
I have a couple of African Violets, which I regularly water mixed with Peter's AV fertilizer. They get about 8hrs of sunlight everyday - 5hrs in an east window and 3hrs in west window. They flowered recently but now they look "tired". The leaves are dark green and dull. Am I doing anything wrong? Or is it just a phase? :-)
I am having a problem with white mold or fungus growing on top of the soil of my african violet plants. I try to let them dry out some in between waterings. Any suggestions on what is wrong?
My mom has a 17 year old african violet. She transplanted it a while ago and it almost died now its smaller than the yonger ones we have. And we want to transplant it agin. Since its its so old and not so herdy any more. I'm worried that it will completly die this time. I love these plants!!
So plese help me!!!!
Hello,
The mold or fungus is usually because you are over watering the plant or the soil is not draining properly. Did you use soil specifically for African Violets? If not you may want to try repotting the plant in specialized soil.
Thanks,
drayas
Hello,
Why do you want to try repotting the plant again? If it's not in good shape, you're right that repotting may kill it. I would wait until it gets back to a good healthy state.
Keep us posted.
Thanks,
drayas
hi i have 3 african violets and they are healthy but it looks like too much leaves and no room for flowers how do you care for these ?please help
Hello,
Do you pinch off the dead blossoms and their stems? This usually helps to encourage new blooms.
Thanks,
drayas
After years of pest free violets, I had aphids pop up on two of them. I read online somewhere to spray them with a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water, and that you would need to do this many times. I did it once, and it worked, but it killed the crown of both plants. Which meant that it grew many new crowns, which I let grow for a couple months, and then separated and planted to make new plants, throwing the base plant out.
Thought I'd share my limited pest experience.
Hey. I had an african violet for a few years with no problems. I've now bought two more. One of the new ones is doing beautifully with new blooms. However, the other new one....all the old blooms have wilted and nothing new. They're receiving the same care. Any suggestions?
Thanks for helping me with my homework. I love all my plants and now I realize i need a larger house with more windows. I spend alot of time moving plants back and forth to allow them all enough time in our wonderful sun.
it took me years to gain success in growing African Violets but now I find them very easy to grow. First thing I learned is that they do not like to be moved and when you place them in a new location it takes a while for them to bloom. I water them by soaking and then letting them dry out completely. However you must be consistent with watering especially when they are blooming or their flowers won't last long. When moisture is consistent the flowers can last a long time. i have fertilized them with the fertilizer sticks you can buy. I always place them near a lamp because they seem to like the artificial light. I have had great success with this and not having any direct sunlight at all. Hope this helps. Lynn
Hi All. I have an AF that I have had for many years. It is very happy and blooms constantly, has been in the same window all this time. It is about 12-14 inches across now and I had it in a 8 inch in diameter, 3 inch deep pot. However, this pot had begun to disintegrate and there was a mildewy odor to the soil. I have repotted in another 8 inch pot slightly taller. However, I see now they like smaller pots. Did I go too big? It was not at all root bound in the old pot...
A friend gave me her 3 African Violets when she moved. They are 7 yrs. old and appear to be in need of repotting. Each plant's stem is about 3 inches long. Any suggestions on the proper care would be very appreciated! Thank you in advance.
Peter asks a similar question re: re-potting an old violet (I have several like this)with a stem 3-5 inches long growing out of the pot i.e.hanging over the edge! Do you air layer the stem to get new roots? I have grown a leaf into a new plant but that takes too long & I want to save the ones I have. The leaves remain small, they flower from time to time..they have an eastern exposure. Need Help!! Thanks
when you spray an african violet for bug control, how do you not kill the leaves?
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