Dec 19, 2018 african violets saintpaulia ionantha are adaptable, but even the hardiest plants can start to wilt if conditions arent right. Leaves are susceptible to rot if kept in high humidity, so water african violets from the bottom to avoid getting excess water on the leaves. While african violets are relatively easy to grow, they do require consistent care and attention to light, temperature, watering, and fertilization. Such is explained by the numerous amounts of leaves and blooms possibilities due to those multiple crowns. African violet plants are super fun to grow mainly because they do very well indoors and add a pop of color to your space. Also use plastic pots to wick which slow the rate of evaporation from the soil clay pots do not work well for wick.
African violet care indiana yard and garden purdue consumer horticulture a purdue extension service for home gardeners purdue university, west lafayette, indiana. Excess light, even for a short duration, can actually burn both flowers and leaves. Most of them prefer to grow in welldrained soil, and they prefer light that is filtered a bit, which means that they prefer the shade of growing indoors instead of. How to grow african violets from leaf cuttings empress of dirt. Or use a selfwatering african violet pot that essentially does the job for you. They are one of the most popular indoor flowering plants. They are easy to grow for the beginning gardener, but offer a wide range of cultivars to satisfy the serious grower or collector. African violet care indiana yard and garden purdue. Growing african violets from leaves or cuttings is a simple propagation method for new plants. Leaves that are thin and deep green and which appear to be.
For best results, use violet plant food as directed. I made a short video showing how its done and there is a stepbystep tutorial below as well. African violets need to be watered around once a week and they prefer distilled water or water that has sat out on the counter for 24 hours and is lukewarm. So add a bunch of crunchy perlite to your soil for good aeration and drainage. Fertilizing trailing violets may require a more frequent fertilizer intake than other african violet hybrids. The genus has about 20 species and thousands of varieties. Basic african violet care for beginners many excellent books have been written over the years about african violets, and i do hope you will take the time to find and read them if you really want to grow these plants well. An introductory guide to the wild world of african violets. I even let my violets sit for an hour within their own water just to make certain they were full replenished. If your plants are overgrown and have too many leaves, see. African violet care african violets are lovely indoor plants that require little care. Taking care of african violets can seem intimidating for some since they require a rather specific type of care compared to other plants. Often, simple fixes or changes in plant care restore plant health.
Place plants away from floor vents, fans, or entrance doors to avoid air drafts and bursts of cold air. Although african violets saintpaulia ionantha hail from africa, lots of people in the united states grow them as indoor plants. African violets exploded in popularity in the united states in the 1920s, when a california grower began marketing a slew of hybrids. All potted plants should be planted in containers with adequate holes for drainage, and african violets are no exception. Typically the african violet is a common household indoor plant but can also be an outdoor plant. The african violet, known botanically as saintpaulia, is one of the most popular flowering houseplants. African violets adapt well to typical growing conditions found in the average home. How to fix a droopy african violet home guides sf gate. Check out our step by step guide on how you repot an african violet.
African violet, genus saintpaulia, any of the six species of flowering plants in the genus saintpaulia family gesneriaceae. Since the new pot is not much bigger, you wont have to add too much growing mix. Basic care for african violets african violets by jean marie ross. However, there are some giant african violets out there, with diameters well over a foot. African violets are a favorite among garden enthusiasts. When potting african violets, take care to set the plant so that the bottom set of leaves is just above the surface and the soil. African violet rooted in raleigh since 1967 care q light. The southern living garden book recommends watering from below, to do this, set the pot in a saucer filled with water as long as it takes the soil to become fully moist, and then dump the remaining water from the saucer. Unlike other houseplants, african violets look more like something youd plant outdoors, but these beautiful flowers tolerate the indoors just as well. Water, water, water, water your violets under the water drains through many times. African violets can tolerate a wide range of lighting, however, they do not do well in hot, direct sunlight. You should then loosen the root ball of your african violet, fill the remaining space and press lightly around the plant. When watering from the top, saturate the soil, and then allow excess water to. They are easy to care for, they bloom all year long, they thrive in moderate light, the diversity in colors, shapes, foliage and bloom types is breathtaking.
Read on for information on managing african violet insects, including tips for african violet aphid control. The african violet is one of the most popular flowering house plants from the saintpaulia genus. Before you begin wickwatering you must be certain that you have the correct pot and potting mix, or you may end up with rotted plants which were too wet. Dana the african violet, known botanically as saintpaulia, is one of the most popular flowering houseplants. Saintpaulia, commonly known as african violet, is a genus of 620 species of herbaceous perennial flowering plants in the family gesneriaceae, native to tanzania and adjacent southeastern kenya in eastern tropical africa. Water african violet plants are picky about water, so take extra care of african violets when watering. Proper drainage is essential in order to prevent root rot, so if you cant live without a holeless ceramic pot, put the plant in a plastic container with drainage holes and place that container inside the ceramic one. Visit fresh violet alerts, retail store locatorusa, all optimara variety names in searchable database, free guide to african violet types pdf, easycare tips, blooming tips and artificial light, user photo gallerysubmit your optimara potos information on future varieties. Keep soil moist to dry, and allow soil around roots to dry out before watering to encourage blooming. The florida connection janfeb march 2001 volume 24, number 1 water in general, african violets need just enough water to keep the soil moist, but never soggy. African violet house plant care pictures saintpaulia.
Perfect for anyone new to violets and handy for those whove grown for years. If youre interested in learning how to care for african violets, keep reading our easy to follow gardening guide below. African violets are easy to grow for the beginning gardener, yet offer a wide range of cultivars to satisfy the serious grower. With reasonable care, you can water your african violets soil from its top or its bottom without harming the plant. Keep your african violets in perfect health and constant bloom with this simple set of guidelines. Try to give it either morning or evening sunlight or keep it in indirect light. Characteristics of a typical african violet are that it is a tropical, herbaceous perennial. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned grower, african violets are a joy to work with and look at. Water from the bottom with room temperature water by placing the plastic growers pot in water, and allowing the plant to absorb the water not more than 30 minutes. While you should give preference to any instructions accompanying your particular grow light, grow lights should generally be mounted 18 to 20 inches above the tops of standard african. For best results, repot your african violet every six months to a year in fresh mix. Humidity at 4060% will help african violets thrive. They are easy to care for, they bloom all year long.
And, in the right conditions, these plants may bloom all year round. Basic care for african violets african violet society. Use a fast draining african violet soil or make your own by combining equal parts potting soil, peat moss, and perlite or vermiculite. Otherwise, put a layer of gravel in a tray, nestle the african violets planters among the rocks, and pour water into the tray to a depth of half an inch. The exotic little plants were a hit, and soon african violets were a must for plant lovers all over europe. Known botanically as saintpaulia, the african violet is one of the most popular flowering houseplants. To grow african violets, start them from seed or plant a leaf from a mature african violet.
Jul 03, 2018 african violet plants are super fun to grow mainly because they do very well indoors and add a pop of color to your space. Once you get in a regular routine of taking care of african violets. African violets grow best when potted in a welldrained, soilless potting mix or prepackaged african violet mix. Dec 30, 2005 here you will find a list of member contributed and compiled information and internet links pertaining to african violets, their care, culture and much more.
This thread is for everyone who whishes to know more about african violets. Proper watering is an important aspect of learning how to. Originating from tropical africa, these beauties have made their way over into gardeners hearts. Then, put your plants in a warm, humid spot that gets lots of indirect sunlight. Optimal room temperature for growing african violets is between 60 and 80 f and ideally 70 f. Download information to help you grow and show beautiful flowers. Laura from garden answer shows you how to care for african violets. African violet leaves have tiny hairs and a lush green appearance.
You have probably seen this done in water but you can also root them directly in potting mix. Cultural guidelines for commercial production of african. Wickwatering african violets wicking is a great way to water violets. African violet plants do have a few quirks, but learning about them and the proper care of african violets can make growing the plants less intimidating. How to restore an overwatered african violet home guides. Dec 10, 2018 remove the african violet from the pot if the soil surface is damp. For more care tips visit and use our free doctor optimara care tool to diagnose any problem. I am very capable of growing lovely flowering and fruiting plants in a variety of.
Drainage is one of the most important considerations in preparing a soil mixture. Keep the soil lightly moist and use roomtemperature water. Watering, fertilizing, and repotting must be done regularly and faithfully for. African violet saintpaulia t he african violet has become the most popular member of the gesnariad family because of its ease of culture, continuous flowering habit, variety of blossom forms, range of colors, and leaf patterns. When you plant your violets, use a welldraining soil thats slightly acidic and choose small pots. African violets are among the easiest of all houseplants to grow and are probably the easiest flowering houseplant to care for. Though these fuzzy plants have a reputation for being finicky, theyre actually not difficult to grow once you know how to follow some basic rules for their care. I immediately drained the plant and put it on an absorbent paper towel to dry it out. African violets isu extension store iowa state university. I got an african violet to take care of while my parents traveled, but when i received it and had the chance to unpack it from the box the plant was soaked, and the leaves browning and limp. Mold, decay, and bugs can start to destroy the once healthy living environment your african violet thrived in. Propagation propagation of your trailing african violet can be done the same way as. African violets are extremely susceptible to crown rots, which can rapidly kill the plants.
African violet propagation horticulture 202 plant propagation. Water at the base and never splash the foliage with water. African violets are easy to grow for the beginning. African violets are trulv the houseplant ofthe future. Native to higher elevations in tropical eastern africa, african violets are widely grown horticulturally, especially s. Unfairly maligned as a finicky houseplant, saintpaulias are actually reliable winter bloomers if you treat them with the consideration due a tropical flowering.
African violets appreciate moist soil, but they have a serious aversion to soggy soil. Unlike most houseplants, the flowers are the stars of the show with african violets. Simply place the african violet in a larger dish and let. If your plant isnt flowering it could either need more light, or more darkness.
Wiggle the plant loose from the pot and set it aside. While photosynthesis is most often associated with a plants green leaves and stems, its most vital function is to convert carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in. May 06, 2019 growing african violets from leaves or cuttings is a simple propagation method for new plants. Water with lukewarm or tepid water that was allowed to stand for 48 hours. They are put into four different size categories based on diameter. Fill the pot with good quality potting mix, specifically formulated for african violets. If youre interested in learning how to care for african violets, keep reading our easy to follow. How to repot african violets with pictures wikihow. African violets are the worlds most popular houseplant. Sponsored listings african violet5 leaf sets my choice. Care must be taken to avoid placing pots directly in water to prevent root damage. The species name, ionantha, greek for resembling a violet, is in reference to the flower. African violet care known botanically as saintpaulia, the african violet is one of the most popular flowering houseplants. In return they will cheer and brighten up any indoor tabletop or windowsill yearround.
Then you have to water, but make sure not to water on top of the leaves. The genus name saintpaulia was named after the baron. They may be small, but they are strong and can be forgiving of environment conditions. Cultural guidelines for commercial production of african violets saintpaulia ionantha 3 plants that receive too much light will be generally stunted, producing brittle leaves, shortened petioles and bleached foliage. Choose a spot indoors that is well lit, but away from direct sunlight, like a windowsill behind a sheer curtain or on a coffee table. When to water african violets and tips on how to learn to easily recongnize when a plant is thirsty duration. Too much water will leave your african violets susceptible to root rot and crown rot.
A north or east facing window is typically ideal, or about 3 feet from a southeast or west window. Mar 26, 2020 to grow african violets, start them from seed or plant a leaf from a mature african violet. The african violet has become popular because of its ease of culture, continuous flowering habit and blossom forms, range of colors, and leaf patterns. If the african violet is too close to the grow light, it will begin to develop symptoms similar to those resulting from too much sunlight, i. Remove the african violet from the pot if the soil surface is damp. If you are comfortable, your african violet is comfortable. Which reminds me, always make sure theres a drain hole. African violet corsage, faux flower corsage, shoulder corsage, fancy, sparkly purple ribbon and pearl accents, violets, on hand and custom. To prevent crown rots, avoid overwatering, avoid watering directly into the crown, and avoid watering at night. Generally, african violets will grow anywhere from 2 to 6 tall and 2 to 12 wide.
Selfwatering clear reservoirs for african violets, 14 colors. The amount of light that an african violet receives is important for its health and overall performance. The african violet society of america avsa say that they are actually quite versatile and can adapt to every kind of environment, making it easier for indoor gardeners to grow them in their households some things to keep in mind when caring for. African violet guide african violet saintpaulia ionantha african violets are the worlds most popular houseplant. African violets are easy to propagate by rooting a leaf cutting in water or vermiculite. Keep it blooming groom as needed by removing wilted or dead outer leaves.
Grasp the plant at the base, near the soil line and invert the pot. How to grow african violets from leaf cuttings empress. Tips for african violet care when you learn how to grow african violets, you can add several to indoor spaces for bright and cheerful blooms when the outdoor landscape is mostly brown and bare. When you find african violet pests attacking your favorite potted plants, you need to take appropriate action. Pinch off spent blossoms and blossom stems to encourage development of new blooms. Plants with multiple crowns can be divided, giving you more plants to enjoy or share with friends. Leaves that are thin and deep green and which appear to be reaching upward indicate too little light. Weve received a few requests for information on violet parts, terms and types, so we created this short reference booklet. I like to think that the purpose of the african violet plant is to bolster my ego. Read on to learn how to grow african violets in your digs.
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