The African Violet Society of America (AVSA) is an international society of plant enthusiasts dedicated to promoting the cultivation of African violets (Streptocarpus sect. Saintpaulia species and cultivars) as houseplants. It was organized on November 8, 1946, and incorporated on June 30, 1947. Since then, it has grown to be the largest society devoted to a single indoor plant in the world. AVSA membership includes both amateur and commercial growers and spans the globe.
The AVSA, known as the African Violet Society of America, is an official association for African Violet indoor houseplants. There are national groups in many countries of the world. The purposes of AVSA are carried out, in part, by a strong network of affiliate clubs, state and regional societies, councils of societies, and judges councils.
AVSA is the International Cultivar Registration Authority for the former genus Saintpaulia (now Streptocarpus sect. Saintpaulia) and its cultivars. This registry is available to the public with the purchase of updatable software.
4 Key Tips for Growing Healthy African Violets | Easy Care Guide
Membership Benefits
Becoming a member of the AVSA automatically guarantees you access to their bi-monthly magazine (6 issues a year). AVSA membership, which includes both amateur and commercial growers, spans the globe. It also includes beautiful pictures of African Violet plants and guest articles written by hybridizers and hobby growers.
African Violet Shows and Sales
This interest of African Violet plants is shared by clubs with others during their annual or bi-annual African Violet shows or sales. Usually shows are organized in April-May and again in Sept-October depending upon the location of the club. At these shows, members will display the beautiful violets they have grown which are then merit-judged by AVSA judges. The AVSA sponsors African violet shows staged at the AVSA conventions and by AVSA affiliates.
Read also: Experience Fad's Fine African Cuisine
Identifying African Violets
It is almost impossible to accurately identify an African violet that doesn’t have a name tag or other type of identification (a NOID, or a plant with no ID). This term is commonly applied in social media to describe a violet which has been separated from its identity and name. Once lost, it is extremely difficult to restore the proper name.
The African Violet Master List of Species and Cultivars (AVML) and the First Class computer program lists more than 16,000 different named African violets and their descriptions. Depending on your NOID, you could find a few dozen that match the characteristics. You might even be able to narrow it down to four or five. But then you would need to choose one of them, and it would be highly unlikely that you would choose the correct name.
Besides that, the AVML has less than half of the named African violets. Even if you found a photo that matched your plant exactly, the odds are great that it is not your plant. So many African violets look the same, and they all grow differently under different growing conditions. It is definitely a mistake to try to identify a NOID in this manner. There are already far too many misidentified African violets out there now.
Many violets sold in large retail stores will be NOIDs primarily because unlabeled hybrids are easier to produce and may be sold at a more competitive price. NOIDs may not be entered into AVSA shows, but otherwise they are enjoyable violets to grow.
Care Tips for African Violets
Light
African violets prefer to be within 12 inches of a bright window. If windows aren’t available, fluorescent light or LED lights may be used to supplement. Depending on the lighting product, violets should be positioned 10-30 inches away from the light unit, and the light should be turned on for 6-12 hours a day. Violets receiving adequate light grow with a flat horizontal wheel of leaves.
Read also: The Story Behind Cachapas
Potting and Blooming
African violets bloom best when in small pots, ideally only one-third the diameter of their leaf span. They also bloom best when the roots are well-developed. The best roots form in very porous potting mix which is kept evenly moist at all times-never saturated and never bone dry.
Humidity
If the air is very dry, the flower buds may be drying off before they are even visible. Humidity levels of 40% are ideal. African violets can tolerate humidity as low as 10%, but that is so dry that tiny buds rarely survive to open as flowers. To encourage flower development, it is best to aim for 30-60%.
Fertilizing
African violets must be fertilized regularly with a balanced mix for African violets. There are many good brands. The best fertilizer for you will depend on the source of the water you are using and what is or isn’t in the water as well as the pH of your water. Almost all fertilizers offer the basic three “macro-nutrients” of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium which are needed in ample supply for healthy plant growth.
A few also include the “macros” of calcium and magnesium. Since these two latter “macros” are found in many city water supplies, most growers will get enough calcium and magnesium from their water. If you use rain, distilled or reverse osmosis water, be aware that you need a fertilizer that contains both, or you will need a supplement (commonly called Cal/Mag) to supply them.
Many fertilizer brands also have and list “micro-nutrients” which are needed for healthy growth, but in very small amounts. Choosing a fertilizer according to the source of the nutrients is also wise. Fertilizers listing their source as urea nitrogen are often the cheapest and also the least desirable.
Read also: Techniques of African Jewellery
Fertilizers currently (2020) being mentioned by many growers in social media (especially to use with rain, distilled or reverse osmosis water) include either DynaGro Grow 7-9-5 or Feed Me MSU fertilizer for African violets (from repotme.com). Also recommended is Better Gro Orchid Plus 20-14-13 without urea, which is also preferred by many growers of other Gesneriads. Jack’s Classic formulations generally lack sulphur and may be useful for growers with acid growing conditions.
Other Tips
- Repotting: Some African violets become vegetative, meaning they are so comfortable that they only grow leaves. To convert them to being reproductive, you must give them a little scare. Repotting is one method. It also works to tap the pot firmly on a hard surface or squeeze the pot to create a minor earthquake.
- Pruning: Pruning in African violets is not done in the same way, generally, as it is for other plants. It is more common that violet growers groom plants by removing any individual flowers as they fade and entire blossom stems when the last flower is fading. Grooming also includes removing leaves which are damaged and any that are fading on the lower rows. Pruning techniques would include removing secondary crowns (suckers) either to propagate or to discard. If a secondary crown has been allowed to grow to a mature size, then the plant needs to be divided by cutting between the two crowns and potting each into its own pot. Pruning also occurs when shaping trailers to achieve a beautiful form.
- Cleaning: If it is only a tiny bit of debris, it may be removed by blowing. For more general cleaning, many growers brush debris away with soft brushes such as those used for makeup or painting. Violets may also be washed at the faucet using a gentle flow of mildly warm (tepid) water. After all leaves have been rinsed, you should blot excess water off the leaves (especially any in the center) with a soft sponge, paper towel or cloth. Several growers in social media have reported using lint-remover rollers with replaceable sticky paper. They gently roll across the leaf from stem toward the tip.
Common Issues and Solutions
Here's a table summarizing common issues and potential solutions for African violet care:
| Issue | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| No blooms | Inadequate light, improper pot size, lack of nutrients | Increase light exposure, repot in a smaller pot, fertilize regularly |
| Buds wilting/dying | Low humidity, dry potting mix, powdery mildew, cyclamen mites | Increase humidity, keep potting mix evenly moist, treat for powdery mildew or mites |
| Powdery mildew | Humid conditions, temperature variations, poor air circulation | Improve air circulation, maintain stable temperatures, treat with fungicide |
| Soft, limp leaves | Overwatering | Allow the violet to dry out |
| Stunted growth | Disease (INSV), pests (cyclamen mite) | Identify and treat the underlying cause |
Chimera African Violets
Chimera hybrids contain two separate sets of DNA, which makes them an unusual type of African violet which may only be reproduced by suckers or by blossom-stem propagation. Chimera African violets are prone to sport which means that they mutate easily back to a hybrid with only one of the sets of DNA. Stress factors such as uneven cultural conditions, age, or even electrical currents seem to result in sporting.
Occasionally, just a single leaf on the chimera plant will sport and throw a solid blossom, while other leaves will continue to bloom true. When that happens, it is wise to take a blossom stem to propagate so that you can keep the original chimera traits.
Affiliate Programs
Our Affiliate Programs: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
