Care Tips for African violet plant

African violet plant are among the most widely grown indoor plants in the world, with good reason. These low-growing, compact plants have a wide variety of leaf shapes and colors and bloom multiple times a year. African violet plants can be identified by their dense rosette of fuzzy leaves and the violet-like blossoms that appear just above the evergreen foliage.Refrain from letting their reputation for being challenging deter you; as long as you adhere to a few basic guidelines, African violets should flourish inside. These slowly growing plants can be kept in bloom almost the entire year and grown to the size of dinner plates with a bit of practice.

How to Plant African Violet Plant ?

1. You can use African violet potting mix or soil for all plants as long as it drains well. Here’s how to make a mix of your own for houseplants and herbs.
2. Plant African violets in small pots and move them every few years to give the soil a fresh start. African violets bloom more when they are cramped in their pots, so take your time giving them more room.
3. The soil should be loose and have good drainage. A high amount of organic matter is also a good thing. Find out about organic ways to improve the soil.
4. When repotting African violets, only plant them as deep as they were before, and be careful not to bury the plant’s crown. The stems of African violets can rot if they are kept too wet.

Care Tips For African Violet Plant

Watering

• Keep the soil just a little bit damp, but don’t overwater, because the African violet plant’s soft stems are very likely to rot if they get too much water.
• Use water at room temperature because too cold water can leave marks on the leaves.
• If you keep your African violet plant in a place with a lot of humidity, the leaves may rot and get spots from fungi. To avoid this, water them from the bottom.

Lighting

• African violet plant are like bright, indirect light. Keep them away from direct sunlight and at least a few feet away from bright windows that face south or west. The best light for them comes from an east- or north-facing window, which won’t burn their delicate leaves.
• Artificial lights also work well. Use fluorescent or LED bulbs to add to the light from the sun.
• If the plant has thin, dark green leaves and skinny stems, it needs to get more light. If the leaves are light green or bleached, it means it’s getting too much light.

Fertilizing

• During the growing season (spring and summer), fertilize the plants every two weeks with plant food that is high in phosphorus. Start fertilizing only when the plant looks like it needs a boost (slow, thin growth; pale or yellowing leaves).
• Since most soil mixes already have a lot of nutrients that include nitrogen, it is more common to over-fertilize than to under-fertilize. You can read about simple one-ingredient DIY fertilizers in our blog.

General Care for African violet Plant

• Many types do better in warm temperatures (65°F/18°C or higher), but some do better in cooler temperatures. Keep them away from drafty windows in the winter, no matter what.
• As African violet plants grow, you should move them to bigger pots, but African violets are more likely to bloom if their roots are slightly crowded. Wilted leaves are a sign that your violet needs a new pot.
• The fuzzy leaves tend to get dust and dirt on them. Use a small paintbrush with soft bristles to gently brush them off.

Pruning, Propagating and Repotting African Violet Plant

Pruning

African violet plant don’t need much pruning. All you need to do is remove any dead leaves and cut off the spent flowers to keep the plant healthy and help it bloom again.

Propagating African Violet Plant

African violets can be grown from leaf cuttings or new plants that grow from the roots. It is easy to start a new plant from a leaf from an old one. This is how:

• Choose a healthy green leaf at the bottom of the plant and cut it off at the base of the plant with scissors.
• Cut the leaf stem at an angle of 45 degrees to a length of 1/2 inch.
• Put the cutting in a small pot with a mixture of vermiculite and peat, then add water.
• Cover the pot with a plastic bag and put it where it will get bright light from the side.
• In about 12 weeks, you should see new plants coming up. Wait until they get bigger, pull them off the leaf, and put them in a new spot.
• Adult African violet plant sometimes sends out small shoots or plantlets from the side. Take these out and cook them on their own. Getting rid of them also makes the parent plant bloom better.

Potting and Repotting African Violet Plant

African violets do better when their pots are a bit too small. When repotting, use an all-purpose potting soil or African violet potting mix and a one-size bigger pot. To report these plants, pick up the whole plant, lift it, and put it in a bigger pot, careful not to hurt the roots. Please don’t cover the crown of the African violet plant and only plant up to where it was initially planted.

Some of the most common signs that a plant is stressed and needs to be repotted are falling leaves, being too crowded, and roots that stick out of the soil. Keep an eye out, and if you think it will help, repot the plant.

Common Pests and Diseases in African Violet Plant

African violets can get pests and diseases just like any other plant. Spider mites, mealy bugs, and cyclamen mites are common pests. Once you see them, you can eliminate them with neem oil or an insecticide. Fungi like botrytis blight, crown rot, and root rot are types of diseases. To keep your plant from getting these diseases, don’t overwater it, and ensure it has enough light, fertilizer, and airflow.

How to Make African Violet Plant Flower ?

If you take care of these plants well, they can bloom all year long if you let them. If you give it the right amount of light, water, humidity, fertilizer, and soil and keep pests and diseases away, the plant will be happy and healthy.

African violet plant like to be snug in their pots, but not so much that their roots are crowded. This is when they start to bloom and keep doing so for more extended periods. Make sure to cut off the flowers when they’re done blooming. This will encourage the plant to flower more; you should see new flowers in about six weeks.

If your African violet doesn’t bloom, it’s because it doesn’t get enough light or because the temperature and humidity are wrong. Ensure the room is at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit and give the plant bright, indirect light or fluorescent lighting.

Conclusion

When it’s mostly brown and bare outside, and you know how to grow African violet plants, you can bring a few of them inside to brighten up rooms with cheerful flowers. African violets don’t need much room to grow indoors. Grow African violet plant in small pots together for a pretty display. Try growing African violets indoors now that you know a few things about how to do it. There are many cultivars available at garden centers near you or online.

Bonus Section

If you are fond of bringing colorful blooms indoors, we have a list of colorful indoor hanging flowers.
If you want to go a step ahead and take on a challenge, you can grow lotus flowers indoors.
You can begin with  low-maintenance colorful plants if you are little overwhelmed with care of flowering plants.