The beautiful, flowering African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha), a member of the Gesneriaceae family, is well-loved for its colorful blossoms and symmetrical form. Discovered in Tanzania in 1892 by Baron Walter von Saint Paul, African violets have since become popular houseplants, known for their delicate blooms and relatively easy care.
Understanding African Violet Needs
To ensure your African violet thrives, it's essential to understand its environmental preferences. Key factors include temperature, humidity, light, and watering practices.
Temperature
African violets prefer a consistent temperature range. They grow best in temperatures between 65°F and 80°F (18°C and 27°C). During summer, they can tolerate temperatures above 75°F, but growth may cease if temperatures approach 90°F (32°C). It is important to avoid temperature and humidity fluctuations, including sudden drafts.
Ideal Temperature Range: 65-75°F (18-24°C)
What to do if temperatures drop: Get your African violet somewhere warm as quickly as you can. Monitor it for any signs of rot that may occur over the next couple of days. If your plant is showing signs of root rot (dark, unsightly tissue), remove any rot you see. Next, take a plastic bag and cover your African violet with it, making sure the leaves are not touching the bag. After the bag is over your African violet, blow inside the bag and seal it. This will trap extra warmth and humidity in the plant. Finally, wait at 5-8 days before opening the bag to give your African violet the best chance to recover. There is no need to water your plant during its time inside the bag.
Read also: Experience Fad's Fine African Cuisine
Humidity
African violets thrive in high humidity environments. A relative humidity above 50% is preferred to successfully maintain flower production. Aim for 30-60% humidity to encourage flower development.
Ideal Humidity Range: 40-60%
Signs of low humidity include:
- Old looking leaves that look wrinkled and dry.
- Flower buds that are simply not opening.
How to increase humidity:
- Use a humidity tray by filling a shallow tray with water and setting the pot with the African violet on top, making sure the water doesn't touch the bottom of the pot.
- Mist the plant with water often, especially when the weather is hot and dry.
- Use a humidifier to help control the humidity in a room.
Light
African violets need bright, indirect light. They prefer to be within 24 inches of a bright window. Their leaves can get hurt by direct sunlight. They do best in windows that face east or north, where they can get bright, filtered light without being directly hit by the sun's rays.
Read also: The Story Behind Cachapas
Ideal Light Conditions: Bright, indirect light
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.
Watering
African violets require consistently moist but not waterlogged soil, so avoid letting the soil dry out completely between waterings. Water the soil directly and allow the plant to absorb the moisture from the bottom. Use room temperature water to prevent shock to the plant's roots.
Watering Tips:
- Water until water comes out of drainage holes.
- Allow top 2 inches of soil to completely dry between waterings.
- Avoid getting water on the leaves.
- Use room temperature water.
For watering African violets, there are three ways:
Read also: Techniques of African Jewellery
- Water from the bottom: Place the pot in a saucer filled with water for 15 to 30 minutes, allowing the soil to absorb water through the pot's drain hole.
- Water from the top: Use a baster, syringe or bottle with a narrow spout. Carefully water just the potting mix.
- Wicking system: Thread a length of wet string or yarn (nylon or polyester) through a bottom hole in your empty pot. Allow about 6 inches to hang out the bottom of the pot. Fill the pot to the top with potting mix. Make a hole in the mix and insert your African violet plant. Gently push the potting mix up to the plant crown. Cut a hole into the cover of a plastic container of water and mild fertilizer (about ⅛ recommended strength) and feed the wick into a reservoir. Set the pot above the reservoir in a bright window. Replenish the water as needed and avoid letting the wick dry out.
Soil and Potting
African violets need soil that drains well, so it's important to pick a pot with holes in it. African violets prefer to be slightly rootbound. The diameter of the container should measure no more than one-third the width of the plant’s leaf span.
Ideal Soil Composition: A mixture of equal parts peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite.
It is recommended to re-pot African violets once a year to help deliver new nutrients to the plants and remove salt buildup.
4 Key Tips for Growing Healthy African Violets | Easy Care Guide
Additional Care Tips
- Fertilizing: Use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer with a higher concentration of phosphorus. Apply the fertilizer every two to four weeks during the growing season.
- Pruning: Remove any dead or yellowing leaves to maintain the plant's overall health and appearance. Trim off the individual flowers as they fade, and when the entire cluster is gone, remove the flower stem by rocking it from side to side until it comes loose from the main stem.
- Grooming: Remove leaves which are damaged and any that are fading on the lower rows.
- Cleaning: For more general cleaning, many growers brush debris away with soft brushes such as those used for makeup or painting.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Buds Wilting and Dying
If your African violet is producing buds that wilt and die before blooming, low humidity can be a factor. Similarly, buds may collapse if the African violet potting mix gets too dry. Powdery mildew is a fungal disease and looks like white powder. If it should happen to grow on bud stems, it could cause the buds to fail.
Wilting Leaves
Wilting leaves can indicate that the plant is too dry and needs water. On the other hand, wilting African violet leaves may also be a sign of overwatering, especially if the plant is in a plastic pot.
Stunted Growth
Stunt is actually just a symptom of a disease, pest, or cultural condition which has stopped the growth of the crown at its center. The most common disease causing stunt is INSV. The most common pest causing stunt is cyclamen mite.
By maintaining the correct temperature, humidity, light, and watering practices, you can ensure your African violet thrives and rewards you with beautiful blooms throughout the year.
