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Caring for African Violets
By Brenda Hyde
African violets (Saintpaulia ionantha) have a reputation of being
hard to grow, but if you can meet a few requirements they will
last for years and become one of your favorite plants.
HEAT AND LIGHT: They need a temperature between 60 and
80 degrees. Anything in-between works fine, as long as it's not
above or below. They need a bright light, but not the direct sun.
They grow under artificial light too, which is a big plus. You can
grow a little mini garden under florescent lights if you wish, or
place them here and there where it's a combination of natural
and artificial light. Keep the florescent light about 10-15 inches
from the top of the plant. African violets need about 14 hours of
light and as a general rule at least 8 hours of darkness. This
doesn't have to be exact, but it gives you an idea of what they
need. Also in the winter try to give them more light if possible.
WATER: I had always heard the leaves of African violets should
NEVER get wet. This isn't true-they should never be placed in
direct sunlight when they are damp, but you can wash the leaves
with a soft brush or dip them in tepid water then allow them to dry
away from sunlight. Never allow them to dry out completely-try to
keep them evenly moist but not damp. However, one of mine dried
out for a very short period of time, and it came back just fine after I
soaked it and removed a few leaves.
African violets should never be
watered with water from a softener, or water with a large amount of
chlorine. You can use spring water from the store, or let tap water
sit out overnight before watering. Watering from the bottom is fine-it's
a good practice to keep the crown of the plant from getting wet on a
regular basis. But do water from the top, underneath the leaves, as
well as from the bottom. Simply rotate every few times you water.
Also, don't use cold water-it should be room temperature or warmer.
This all does sound rather complicated, but it's really not! I keep my
violets in the kitchen and bathroom which seems to do the trick for
adding humidity. If your house is extra dry place them on a tray of
pebbles. You can group them together to do this.
MORE TIDBITS: African violets don't like a stuffy room, but at the
same time keep them away from cold drafts. Each plant should
have one crown-where all the leaves meet. If there is more then
one you'll need to cut it away with a very sharp knife and replant
it. See the picture below for the one I divided.
They like being pot bound, and for the most part standard
African violets are happy in a 4 inch pot. Plastic works better than
clay because the "fleshy" leaves may react to the clay after awhile.
Also, don't be afraid to cut the leaves off with a sharp knife if they
yellow or brown. Remove the blooms too when they start turning
brown on the edges. If your African violet leaves become pale or
yellow looking they may not be getting enough light. If you notice
your plant is not blooming very often check each of the requirements
one by one until they all are met. Chances are something is lacking
and once fixed they will begin to bloom!
About The Author
Brenda Hyde is a freelance writer living on ten acres in rural Michigan with her husband and three kids. Stop by and visit her garden blog, Garden of Grace & Whimsy, and her photography blog, A Dance of Words & Photos.
SeptemberLady "Born and have lived in Southern MD most of my life. My husband and I just finished building a new home on the family farm, where I hope to retire in the near future.
My interests: Doll collecting, cookbook collector (especially old ones), antiques, family/friend get-togethers, cooking/baking, flower and vegetable gardening, bird-watching."
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African violets (Saintpaulia ionantha) have a reputation of being
hard to grow, but if you can meet a few requirements they will
last for years and become one of your favorite plants.
Memorial Day: Backyard Grilling
Growing and Using Garlic Chives
The Perfect Porch Swing