Choose a small-size pot that is just wider than the root ball of your plant. Now that you’ve learned a few tips about growing African violets, give them a try for indoor growing. And, in the right conditions, these plants may bloom all year round. African violet is also among the common violet type in our country. 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. These pots are ideal for plants that require moist conditions, for example, african violets. For seedlings, wait until the seedlings have leaves that reach 2 inches (5 cm) in width. The type called glass violet is known for layered structure and two-color flower. Before repotting, water the plant well from under the leaves or put the container on a saucer of water for an hour. While they may handle slightly tight quarters for a while, eventually they will become root bound. Just started again for my father-in-law's church. African violet plants with dark green foliage usually need somewhat higher light levels than those with pale or medium green foliage. Once you’ve mastered how to water African violets, half of your work is done. Approved. The size of the pot is measured in diameter, so 2″ means 2″ diameter of the pot. Rotate the plant regularly to ensure every part is evenly exposed to the light. Most garden and home stores will sell a medium specifically designed for African violets. They are in the center of where the bloom used to be. Do I remove the stem or just the dried up flower? This article received 13 testimonials and 94% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. ", "Temperature, humidity, which window, and undersized pots was good info. Because this is my favorite aspect of our hobby, I’ve had a lot of practice to show you to grow an African violet from a leaf. Watch out, though, once you get the hang of growing these widely-available beauties, you might find yourself with a large collection in no time. But after some time, the blooms wither, and the plant doesn't produce flowers again. I hope you found this post on how to care for African Violet useful. Regularly check the soil and plant to make sure there is no accumulation of dead leaves. Remember that violets don’t particularly like to be placed in very large pots, they prefer snug quarters. You don't want the plant to sit in water because that will cause the roots to rot and eventually, the African violet … African violets are very easily propagated from leaf. If your African Violet is not thriving, here is a special plant food for African Violets and other blooming plants. Fill pots with free draining compost such as seed and cutting compost or mix equal quantities of multipurpose compost and sharp sand or perlite. You can also … Press the cut stem a half-inch (1.3 cm) into the soil. Fertilizer – Fertilize African violet plants with special African violet food or a food with a higher phosphorus number — the middle number in the NPK fertilizer ratio, as 15-30-15. African violets are tropical plants that require humidity, the right light, and the right temperature to grow. Violets that don’t get enough humidity will grow slowly, and while they will produce flower buds, they likely won’t bloom. "As the plants grow, they can be repotted into larger pots so that they don't get too root-bound." Keeping them a little root bound will encourage them to bloom. ", "The pictures and explanations were very helpful.". Did you know you can read expert answers for this article? If this happens, the leaves or flowers may start to curl. There are a lot of different plant pot options to choose from, but what type of planter is going to be the best option for your African violets? ", "Will let you know when I try it, so far good directions. A good fertilizer would be a 20-20-20, which means it has equal quantities of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. African violets are making a comeback! Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 243,599 times. What can cause an entire Violet plant to wilt? Make sure your plant is within a temperature of approximately 70°F (21°C), though they will stand temperatures as low as 60°F (15°C). Why? Choose and prepare the pot. Soil – Pot the plant into the right soil for easiest African violet care. Never let growing African violets stand in water or completely dry out. Don’t get water on the leaves or flowers, as this can lead to rings or spots forming on the plant. Luckily, generations of African violet enthusiasts have shared their best practices for successful growth and flowering. If this light cannot be maintained for eight hours, consider supplementing with fluorescent lights. Water the medium and allow it to dry out so it’s moist. During the winter, your plant will have a resting period and will need to be allowed to dry down to the top 1 inch (2.5 cm) of soil before watering it again. The suckers can be removed carefully with small scissors or tweezers and repotted to grow new plants. Why are the outside leave turning light green while the inside leaves remain dark green? Fill the white pot around 1 or 2 inches with water every week and when you return to top off, you will see that the dirt is still visibly wet. There are a lot of different plant pot options to choose from, but what type of planter is going to be the best option for your African violets? Propagation from Seeds. As with most plants, African Violets bloom best when they have a little nutritional boost. Best Soil For African Violets The Propagation Process in Photos Place the leaves in small bottles or other containers filled with water. They remove a lot of the guesswork for you and can be a great tool if you are worried about inconsistent watering. Simply immerse the tip of a leaf from a healthy plant in water, pr… This article was co-authored by Maggie Moran. Many Modern African Violets are a result of the hybridization of two species. ", "I did not realize the temperature of the water was quite so critical. Follow the given steps: Take a fresh leaf from a healthy plant with the leaf stem attached to it. Watering: Keep soil moist to dry, and allow soil around roots to dry out before watering to encourage blooming.Water from the bottom with room temperature water by placing the plastic grower's pot in water, and allowing the plant to absorb the water ( not more than 30 minutes ). How to Grow and Split African Violets. African Violet Care: Basic Summary Light: Moderate to bright, indirect, indoor light. Loosely cover the roots with extra medium. Things You'll Need. ", "Told me what I didn't know. Cover the top of the pot with a clear plastic cover or wrap. African violets put out suckers to propagate new plants, but if you don't remove them the mother plant will become misshapen and won't flower. Overwatering can kill a plant. Many things: too much or not enough water, overfertilization, stem damage, too much or not enough sun, or inhospitable temperatures. Make sure all the leaves and stems are above the soil. ", "Good to know why mine wasn't blooming! When you’ve located all the babies, carefully trim each one from the parent using a sterilized cutting tool. Seeds are another way to propagate African violets. Violet care is effortless and easy; often just watering is enough. Plant the seeds in a small pot with soil. African violets are easy to propagate from leaf cuttings. Sign up for our newsletter. 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. Here are two good options: • Cut a leaf with about an inch-long stem attached. First, get your supplies together. This is more important with clay or ceramic pots. unlocking this expert answer. For plants like African violets, it means you are not permitted to take cuttings to propagate new plants. 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. Otherwise, make sure you have 2 appropriately-sized pots. Unlike other houseplants, African violets look more like something you'd plant outdoors, but these beautiful flowers tolerate the indoors just as well. Choose leaves that are almost full size and remove from the plant with the stalk attached. Watering: Keep soil moist to dry, and allow soil around roots to dry out before watering to encourage blooming.Water from the bottom with room temperature water by placing the plastic grower's pot in water, and allowing the plant to absorb the water ( not more than 30 minutes ). In winter, the plants will do best near a window that faces south or west in the Northern Hemisphere, or north or east in the Southern Hemisphere. References Another method of propagating African violet is through growing leaf in a water. Find out 18 awesome houseplants that grow from division here. If your African violet plant is grown too large for their pots, you can use each part to form a new plant by planting them in a potting mix. Proper drainage is essential in order to prevent root rot, so if you can’t live without a hole-less ceramic pot, put the plant in a plastic container with drainage holes and place that container inside the ceramic one. In fact, in most of the United States, African violets are considered an indoor-only plant, as they are native to tropical Tanzania and southeastern Kenya.Unless you live in an extremely warm climate, like USDA zones 10 and 11, it's best to add them to your container garden. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/99\/Grow-African-Violets-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-African-Violets-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/99\/Grow-African-Violets-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid27753-v4-728px-Grow-African-Violets-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"