Once found only in the coastal woods of east Africa, African violets (Saintpaulia ionantha) are now among the most popular indoor plants. They are easy to grow and offer a wealth of beautiful flowers. African violets are available in a wide range of colors and types.
Flower color varies from blue to violet, lavender, pink, red-violet, blue-violet, lavender-pink and white. Flowers may be single, double, semi-double, star-shaped, fringed or ruffled. Some varieties produce flowers with two or more rows of petals on one color with the rest fringed in a different color.
Fertilizer is an essential part of keeping houseplants happy-and that includes your dainty African violet. Sometimes new growers don’t fully understand the importance of a balanced diet. This leaves them scratching their heads besides lackluster plants. But developing a feeding routine can feel daunting; what’s the best type of fertilizer? This novice-friendly guide to African violet fertilizer will get you up to speed with what it takes to grow a healthy, hearty houseplant.
Like humans, plants convert nutrients into energy to function. But instead of chewing their lunch, they absorb it. Using their roots, plants soak up nutrients in the soil. Indoor plants, however, need a little helping hand. Because they grow in limited soil, and there’s no decaying matter to complete the cycle, they eventually use up all of the nutrients available.
Fertilizer replenishes the nutrients plants use to grow. Total depletion is a slow process; plants can survive for quite some time without a soil refresh. But surviving isn’t thriving, and with flowering plants like the African violet, that usually means no beautiful blooms. That’s because it takes a lot of energy to put on a colorful show. Imagine running a marathon on an empty stomach and no sleep-you might not be up to the challenge.
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There’s a reason you can’t survive on pizza rolls alone. They don’t contain all of the nutrients you need to function. (Shoot!) Your plant needs a balanced diet too. That’s why most commercial fertilizers contain three primary elements: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
The Big Three: N-P-K
Your plant needs a balanced diet too. That’s why most commercial fertilizers contain three primary elements: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
- Plants absorb more nitrogen than any other nutrient. Nitrogen fuels new growth and is essential for plant health.
- Plants need phosphorus to transfer and store energy. This nutrient also aids in photosynthesis.
- Potassium strengthens and fortifies plants, which helps them resist disease and grow strong root systems.
A simplified way to remember what the big three do is: up, down, all around. Nitrogen helps with green vertical growth. Phosphorus helps with roots (and flowers).
Nitrogen is the most needed nutrient for plants. Nitrogen promotes green growth and helps with other biological processes. When a plant is lacking nitrogen symptoms of deficiencies will show up in older leaves first. We will also see poor new growth that will be lighter in color.
Phosphorus is the second most needed nutrient. Phosphorus helps with root development, encourages flowers, and other biological functions. When a plant is deficient in phosphorus we often see leaf tips on older leaves browning following by turning dark green with a purplish hue on the backside of the leaf or the petiole.
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Potassium is the third most needed nutrient for plants. Potassium helps with the overall plant health. It will aid in the movement of water, nutrient flow, carbohydrates, and other biological processes. When a plant is lacking potassium we will see weak stems, yellowing of older leaf tissue (chlorosis) followed by localized death of tissue.
Now that you know why you need fertilizer, let’s talk about how to pick one that works for you. There are about as many fertilizer options as there are species of plants.
Choosing the Right Fertilizer
There are about as many fertilizer options as there are species of plants. First, you’ll decide whether you’ll use fertilizer made from man-made or organic materials. Organic materials like manure, fish, and seaweed return nutrients to the soil the same way as in nature, through decay. Synthetic fertilizers are chemically formulated for a specific balance of the big three.
Synthetic fertilizer is more popular indoors for two reasons: it’s generally odorless, and you can control the dosage, which is important in small containers. We recommend looking for a species-specific product. Fertilizer comes in liquid or solid form. The two most popular types of African violet fertilizer are concentrated liquids and soluble powder. Both are mixed into your plant’s water, delivering a nutrient boost as it takes up water through its roots.
You may also encounter granular or tablet-form fertilizer as you start your search; these are better suited for outdoor plants. Although African violets are easy to please, they can be extremely delicate. When it comes to fertilizer, your biggest risks are burning your plant’s sensitive roots or shocking its system with too much at once. Different plants need different levels of the big three (nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus).
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Fertilizer made specifically for African violets is made with their preferred balance in mind. We recommend avoiding products that contain urea, a synthetic chemical widely used in fertilizers to replenish nitrogen.
Mixing plant food into water is a common and efficient method. It’s important, however, however, to make sure you choose a product that is 100% water-soluble.
You can purchase fertilizers formulated specifically for African violets. You should always use a balanced fertilizer that contains all of the major plant nutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). These major nutrients are represented on the fertilizer label by numbers known as the analysis. Typically, fertilizers for flowering plants contain more phosphorus than nitrogen, perhaps an analysis of 8-14-9.
The African Violet Society of America recommends choosing a fertilizer that does not use urea as the nitrogen source because African violets are sensitive to it and it can burn their roots. You can determine if a fertilizer contains urea by looking at the Guaranteed Analysis on the label. It lists the source of the nutrients it contains.
When choosing a Violet Food, make sure that it is 100 percent water soluble. This is important for two reasons.
- its elements.
- you cannot use it in a self-watering device.
Different plants need different levels of the big three (nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus). Fertilizer made specifically for African violets is made with their preferred balance in mind.
Note, too, that excess fertilizer can result in symptoms that sometimes mimic deficiencies. African violets are very sensitive to a build-up of soluble salt which can damage plant roots. Many indoor gardeners get the best results using one-third to one-half the recommended amount of fertilizer; however, too little fertilizer may cause a slow-down in growth and/other deficiency symptoms.
How to Force African Violets to Bloom Better and Fuller
Fertilizing Schedule and Tips
There are two routes you can take: fertilize your plant at regular intervals, or every time you water. With the former, the rule of thumb is to fertilize during the growing season. Follow the product instructions (you’ll usually apply between every four to six weeks) and stay on schedule!
You can also opt for a more continuous option. Adding a gentle liquid plant food every time you water or change the reservoir provides a gentle, steady dose of energy to your plant.
The best time for fertilizing African violets is in spring when the plant is actively growing. Avoid feeding African violets in winter.
These little plants need feeding every 4 to 6 weeks during their growing period. Prior to feeding, moisten the soil well. Use a liquid or soluble powder formula that will provide instant delivery. If you are using a concentrated liquid, follow manufacturer’s instructions for dilution.
Municipal water supplies can contain chlorine and should be allowed to sit for 24 hours before preparing African violet fertilizer. Excess chlorine is toxic to the plants. For a more organic route, you can also use worm castings, diluted compost tea or fish emulsion.
Finally, if you have recently repotted your African violet into a larger pot, the pot may be too big. African violets prefer to be root-bound to bloom well. It is good practice to periodically repot houseplants because the soil should be refreshed periodically. You can often repot the plant into the same pot after cleaning it well, using fresh potting mix.
Other Important Factors for African Violet Care
African violets are one of the most charming blooming houseplants available. They have a sweet, old-fashioned innocence that appeals to everyone. There are just a few straightforward rules for growing African violets. Water and light needs are two of these, but just as important is how to feed African violet plants. The type of food is crucial when feeding African violets because some sources say nutrients can actually harm the plant.
Here are the main points to consider for the successful cultivation of African Violets:
- Light: Intensities of 1,000 foot-candles of light for 6 to 8 hours per day give good results. South or west windows offer the best light in winter. Insufficient light is probably the most common reason for failure of African violets to flower. Violets exposed to too much sunlight will have pale yellow-green leaves.
- Artificial Light: African violets can be easily grown using artificial light. An intensity of approximately 600 foot-candles for 14 to 16 hours per day is recommended. The tubes should be 12 to 15 inches above the tops of the plants.
- Temperature: The most attractive violets are grown at a nighttime temperature of 65° to 70°F and a daytime temperature of 70° to 90°F. Plants grown at temperatures below 60°F will be deformed.
- Humidity: The most successful plants are grown in a higher humidity. Where a few plants are concerned, humidity may be increased by setting the pots in watertight metal or plastic trays filled with water and gravel or pebbles. Maintain a shallow level of water in the tray.
- Watering: Soil moisture and proper watering are critical to your success in growing African violets. Plants can die from too much or too little water. Many violet growers prefer to water from the bottom rather than the top of the pot. Cold water (55°F or below) splashed on the leaves causes light green, discolored areas called ring spot.
- Soil: Gardeners get the best results with well drained, well aerated soil that contains a high percentage of humus or organic matter. A mixture may consist of equal parts of soil, peat moss and horticultural perlite.
