The Riddle Of The African Violet
I’ve had plenty of gardening triumphs over the years but I have always struggled when it comes to growing African Violets. I have visited plenty of friends and family who have beautiful African Violets but I just can’t seem to share in their success. While it does have a reputation for being a fussy plant the blooms are so lovely that it makes growing African Violets worth the challenge.
As their name suggests African Violets are native to East African countries including Kenya and Tanzania. They are outdoor plants in their native environment but in the U.S. they are treated as a houseplant. They are a low growing and compact plant that reaches anywhere from 3 to 16 inches in height. The leaves are typically oval shaped and dark green in color. They are also thick but feel like felt when you touch them. The most common flower color is purple but there are white and blue varieties as well.
Around the world, the African Violet is often associated with Motherhood which makes it is a popular gift for Mother’s Day and similar worldwide celebrations. Another source of its charm is given the right conditions an African Violet can flower almost continuously with short-term breaks between flowering periods. The plant performs best in bright but not direct sunlight. Northern or eastern facing windows where it can get mainly morning sunlight are best particularly during the summer and a sunnier, warmer Southern exposure is beneficial in the winter. African Violets will also flourish under fluorescent lights that provide 12 to 14 hours of light a day and it does best in temperatures that range from 60 degrees overnight to 80 to 85 degrees during the day.
African Violets have really developed their reputation for being finicky due to their watering requirements. They require soil which is quick draining and there are actually specific soil mixes for African Violets. Allowing the plant to dry out will impact its health but too much water can cause the crown of the plant to rot. You also want to avoid watering the leaves which can be easily damaged and African Violets will often develop powdery mildew or other similar problems if the moisture levels are not quite right. They also benefit from consistent humidity so placing the pot on a dish filled with pebbles and water is helpful but you want to avoid having the pot sitting in any standing water.
It is recommended that African Violets be repotted at least annually to prevent the roots from becoming too compacted and to improve the nutrient levels which are quickly used up due to the quick draining nature of the soil mix that the plant requires. They also benefit from the regular feeding of 20-20-20 liquid fertilizer at a strength of 1/8 to ¼ of a teaspoon per gallon. While African Violets do have very exacting requirements the beauty of their flowers makes growing them worthwhile; even if you have to try over and over again like me!
smh1020@frontier.com Feb 17
I have one pot with multi African violets in it they look like they are crowded do I need to separate them into different pots
Yes, if they are crowded they should be split to keep them blooming.
bpowers50@comcast.net Feb 17
My Mother loved African Violets and had many throughout her home. Many of them were in clay pots that would fit into a teacup, which often had an African Violet on the cup and saucer. Mother said the leaves of the African Violet do not like to touch the rim of the pot or container, so she would purchase plastic doilies from the 5 and dime ( variety stores which don’t exist anymore) cut the doily from one outside edge to the center, make a circle cut around the center for the plant to have room to be comfortable, place the doily around the plant with the sliced (cut) part to the back, so the leaves couldn’t touch the rim of the pot or container. The doily also served another purpose, it fancied the plant and container up a bit, as it was very attractive, like a pretty lacy collar around a ladies’ neck. She also used only soil and fertilizer made specifically for African Violets. They were always lovely!
I love how flowers can remind us of special people in our lives. Thank you for sharing your story and your Mom’s tips.