African Violets

Growing African Violets

African violets are popular houseplants because they give us something blooming to look at in winter. Because they are small potted plants they fit easily into most living arrangements and one can have several plants on a windowsill. African violets are generally inexpensive to buy, although for serious collectors some varieties can get quite pricy.

African violets have the reputation of being difficult as a houseplant but new varieties are much easier to grow. While they don’t thrive on neglect as some houseplants do, with a little attention to their needs African violets will reward you with beautiful blooms in a wide range of colors.

Light and temperature

If you turn down the heat at night your African violets will be happy-unless it gets below 60 degrees. African violets like the temperature at night to be 60-65 degrees F and the day temperatures to be 70-80 degrees F.  Don’t let the leaves of African violets touch cold window glass. If your window sill gets very cold at night in the winter you may want to move the plants out of it at night.

African violets like bright light but direct sunlight shining through a window may burn the leaves. A north or east facing window is best in the summer. If you have gloomy winters the African violet can do well in a west window or even a south window if set back from the window a few inches.

African violets can grow and even bloom in artificial light. You can use grow lights suspended over them but some plants will do just fine in a brightly lighted room, especially if the walls are light colored to reflect light.

You’ll know if your African violets are getting too much light if the leaves turn reddish, get thick and wrinkled looking, with new leaves being smaller and having short leaf stems. If they are in hot, direct sun the leaves will turn yellow, and the edges will turn dry and look scorched. Too little light will cause the leaves to be large, thin, and light green with long floppy stems. Plants with too little light will not bloom.

If they get strong enough light African violets will bloom with 8-10 hours of daylight but a goal would be to provide 12-14 hours of daylight.  They should have at least 8 hours of darkness to do well.

Be sure to dust the hairy leaves of your African violets from time to time with a soft toothbrush and gentle strokes. This allows the maximum amount of light to reach the leaf surface.

Soil and fertilizer

There are special mixes sold for potting African violets but any good soil-less potting mix will work. Soil-less mixes are composed of peat, vermiculite and shredded bark. They are light weight and drain well. Don’t use garden soil for African violets or buy cheap, heavy potting soil.

The pot you use for your African violet can be clay, ceramic or plastic but it must have good drainage. Don’t use too large of a pot as large pots cause watering problems. Small plants will grow well in 4-5 inch pots, as the plant increases in size it can be transplanted into 6-8 inch pots.

African violets should be fertilized from March to September. If the potting soil you used had fertilizer mixed into it, (check the label), you will not need fertilizer for several months. Use a special African violet fertilizer or a houseplant fertilizer and carefully follow directions. Too much fertilizer will cause more problems than too little. If the plant has dark green healthy looking leaves and blooms regularly it is getting enough fertilizer.

Water and humidity

Most older books call for African violets to be watered by pouring water in a saucer and setting the pot in it so it draws water up. With modern, well draining potting soils you can just as safely water from the top. Just make sure to keep water off the leaves or it will spot them.

Don’t water on a schedule, water when the pot feels dry to the touch. Use distilled water or rainwater for best results. If you use chlorinated water let it sit a day or so for the chlorine to dissipate. Use mildly warm water to avoid shocking the plant roots.

Both hard and softened water may cause a build up of mineral salts in the soil. If you use either, watch for yellow-white crusts on the top of the soil or sides of the pot. You should re-pot the plant in new soil if this happens.

African violets are jungle plants and appreciate high humidity, which most homes don’t have, especially in the winter. If your home doesn’t have a humidifier you can sit your African violet pots on a tray filled with marbles or decorative stones and some water. The stones or marbles should hold the pot bottom out of the water, so the pot isn’t continually soggy, which would kill the plant. Do not mist your African violets, water will spot the leaves.

Flowering

African violets flower in repeated cycles if they have all their needs met. That is they will flower for a month to 6 weeks and then rest before repeating bloom. Some varieties are more free blooming than others. Remove dead flowers to make the plant look nicer and encourage more blooming.

African violets come in many colors from white to pink to deep purple. Some are bi-color. There are double flowered African violets, fringed and star shaped blooms and a whole range of leaf shapes and sizes. African violet growers often enter their plant pets in shows and get involved in developing new varieties. For more information on types of African violets you can go to the website of the African violet society of America at http://www.avsa.org/Home.html