Q&A for How to Grow African Violets

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Do African violets need direct sunlight?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

Expert Answer

Yes, African Violets grow the best in at least partial sun. The very best violets grow on windowsills or under UV lights in a greenhouse.

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Question

How do you water an African violet?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

Expert Answer

You should water the violets when the soil is dry to the touch. Soil should be moist but never soggy or boggy.

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Question

How long do flowers last on an African violet?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

Expert Answer

How long the flowers last depend on a variety of factors. The varieties that have thick petals and flowers that are tinged with green tend to bloom longer. You can also make blooms last longer by keeping your plant in high humidity and cool temperatures. Removing dead petals can be beneficial as they can shorten the life of adjacent petals. With good, consistent light and proper care, most modern breeds of African violet will bloom almost indefinitely.

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Question

How often do you water African violets?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

Expert Answer

Be extremely cautious when watering your African violets, its very easy to kill them by overwatering them. A great option to monitor the amount of watering you are doing is to use a specialized African violet pot. This pot is specifically designed to keep the violets evenly moist by filling the lower portion of the two part pot with water, then placing the flower in the top portion. Allow the plant to soak in the water for about an hour then be sure to drain any unused water. Only water when the soil is dry to the touch. Do not mist the leaves.

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Question

What can cause an entire Violet plant to wilt?

Community Answer

Many things: too much or not enough water, overfertilization, stem damage, too much or not enough sun, or inhospitable temperatures.

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Question

What should I do when there are too many leaves?

Dvor

Community Answer

They can be pruned off, just make sure that you cut the leaf off at the stem.

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Question

What can I do about this powder that's forming on my violet flowers as they age?

Community Answer

This is most likely powdery mildew or some other form of mildew. It's caused by combination of high humidity and a lack of circulating air. Remove affected leaves and blooms. To prevent powdery mildew, don't get water on the leaves and blooms, improve the circulation around the plant, only water in the morning, and make sure the plant gets lots of filtered sunlight.

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Question

The leaves on my African violet look great, but the flowers and buds have shriveled up. I have followed your directions for watering, temperature, and sun exposure. What should I do?

Community Answer

It sounds like your plants still aren't getting enough light (12 hours/day of natural, fluorescent, or LED light), or your plants are not being fertilized properly. I would recommend playing around with your fertilizer to find one that your plants like as that's more likely to be the issue if you've already adjusted the light.

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Question

How do I start an African violet plant?

Community Answer

They are most easily grown from a leaf cutting. If you place the leaf in a pot of moist soil and loosely cover it with a little tent of Saran Wrap (toothpicks work well to hold it up), the leaf should send out roots and start a new plant. My grandmother grew a huge collection this way.

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Question

Can I grow African violets outside?

Community Answer

African violets are tropical plants that require humidity, the right light, and the right temperature to grow. Because of this, they typically will not survive as outdoor plants in non-tropical climates. However, if you live in a tropical country that would be similar to the natural climate that African violets are used to, you can certainly try to plant them outdoors.

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Question

What do I do when it has outgrown its pot?

Community Answer

You take a pot that is suitable for the outgrown plant (preferably larger than the plant) and plant it in there.

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Question

A leaf from a pink plant has now become a blue flower. How can this happen?

Community Answer

Changing the pH/acidity of the soil they are potted in and also the sunlight/environment.

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Question

Should I trim dead flowers?

Community Answer

If you want seeds to grow new plants, no. However, seeds are difficult for the plant to produce, and if you wish for more flowers, you should cut old flowers off.

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Question

Small brown spots sometimes appear on the leaves of my African Violets. Then they die. Can you help me?

Community Answer

It could be the spot that they're placed in. Maybe that spot is too cold. Try moving the flowers to another location.

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Question

Our plant is growing new green leaves from the center of the plant but the leaves around the outside are yellow. What should I do?

Community Answer

This is a very common phenomenon that happens to old leaves. Just remove them.

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Question

My plants do not have blooms. They have big healthy leaves. How do I get them to bloom?

Community Answer

Provide more light (natural, fluorescent, or LED) for 12 or so hours a day. Also, make sure you are fertilizing them.

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Question

Where can I find soil for African violets?

Community Answer

Your local big box hardware store (i.e. Lowes, Home Depot, Ace, etc.) will have what you need.

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Question

While I was away, a friend cared for my violets. One of the plants has curled leaves, which, according to your information, is caused by cold water chilling the roots. Can this be reversed?

Community Answer

No, it can not be reversed.

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Question

I understand that humidity is important. Does this mean that I can mist my African Violet? But if I do this, won't the water on the leaves damage the plant?

Community Answer

Do not mist! This can cause damage or kill your plant.

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Question

I moved 4 years ago and my violets have not bloomed since. What could be the problem?

Community Answer

Insufficient lighting is the most common reason. If you don’t have a good spot for hours of good, indirect light, then consider using a grow light.

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Question

What happens if water gets on my leaves and won't dry?

Community Answer

Gently dry the leaves yourself with an absorbent towel.

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Question

It seems as though if my violets leaf stems touch the pot rim, they start dying. Why?

Community Answer

This happens with clay pots. Use plastic pots or cover the rim of your pot with tinfoil.

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Question

Should African violets be watered from the bottom?

Kittycat7

Community Answer

Yes. African violets are generally watered from the base of the plant, directly into the soil.

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Question

I have a plant that has too many tight leaves and is very firm, it hasn't bloomed. What should I do?

Community Answer

It is possible that it is getting too much light. My violets have done this. Try moving it to a shadier spot to see if this fixes the problem.

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