Caption
African Violets are delightful houseplants and will brighten up any room with their purple, pink, or white colors.
Photo Credit
Pennsylvania State University
Botanical Name
Streptocarpus (formerly Saintpaulia) ionanthus
Plant Type
Sun Exposure
Soil pH
Bloom Time
Become a better gardener! Discover our new Almanac Garden Planner features for 2022. It’s easy, fun, and free to try!
Subhead
How to Care for African Violets
African violets are small houseplants that produce clusters of white, blue, or purple flowers over fuzzy leaves. Here’s how to care for African violets in your home!
About African Violets
As their name suggests, African violets are native to East Africa, stemming from the tropical rainforests of Tanzania and Kenya. In 1892, German colonial officer Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire identified these plants and sent seeds back to Germany. The genus came to be called Saintpaulia, though the plants have recently been re-categorized into a different genus, Streptocarpus. Despite their common name, they are not a type of violet, but they do produce vivid, violet-colored flowers. Read more about these dainty plants here!
African violets do best and produce the most blooms in bright, indirect light. Though they are generally easy to care for, they can go through fussy spells. Don’t be discouraged!
Planting
How to Plant African Violets
- You can use an actual African violet potting mix or an all-purpose potting soil, as long as it is well-draining. Here’s how to create your own mix.
- Keep African violets planted in small pots and repot every few years to mix in fresh soil. Being a bit pot-bound encourages African violets to bloom more, so don’t be too quick to give them more space.
- The soil should be loose and well-drained, and high organic matter content is a plus. Learn about organic soil amendments.
- When repotting African violets, don’t plant them any deeper than they were already planted and be careful not to bury the crown of the plant. African violets’ stems can be susceptible to rot if kept too moist.
Care
How to Care for African Violets
Watering
- Keep the soil lightly moist, but be careful not to overwater, as African violets’ soft stems are very susceptible to rot.
- Use room-temperature water, as chilled water can leave marks on the leaves.
- Leaves are susceptible to rot and fungal spots if kept in high humidity, so water African violets from the bottom to avoid getting excess water on the foliage.
Lighting
- African violets prefer bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sunlight and keep them at least a few feet away from bright south- or west-facing windows. An east- or north-facing window gives them the best lighting without the risk of burning their sensitive foliage.
- Artificial lighting works well, too. Use fluorescent or LED bulbs to supplement natural lighting.
- Thin, dark green leaves and leggy stems tell you that the plant is getting too little light; light green or bleached leaves indicate too much light.
Fertilizing
- During the active growing season (spring and summer), fertilize every 2 weeks with a high phosphorous plant food. Only start to fertilize when the plant appears to need an extra boost (slow, thin growth; pale or yellowing leaves).
- Over-fertilizing is a more common problem than under-fertilizing, since most soil mixes come infused with plenty of nutrients.
General Care
- Many varieties prefer warm conditions (65°F/18°C or warmer) though some are more tolerant of cooler conditions. In any case, keep them away from drafty windows in winter.
- Plants should be shifted to larger pots as they grow, but keeping African violets slightly root-bound can encourage them to bloom. One sign that your violet needs repotting is wilted leaves.
- The fuzzy leaves have a tendency to collect dust and dirt. Brush them off gently with a small, soft-bristled paintbrush.
- Blooming issues? Check out our tips on how to make sure your African violets flower.
For more information on African violets, visit the website for the African Violet Society of America at www.avsa.org.
Pests/Diseases
- Cyclamen mites can affect African violets. They are nearly impossible to remove completely, so disposal of the infected plant and isolation of nearby plants is recommended.
- Spider mites and can also be an issue.
- Powdery Mildew appears as fuzzy white blotches on stems and leaves.
- Various forms of rot and blight are also common.
Recommended Varieties
There are hundreds of varieties and hybrids, from miniature violets to trailing varieties! They differ mainly in the colors of their flowers, which range from white to purple, though some varieties have variegation in their foliage and flowers as well.
African violets are typically classified by size, based on how wide they grow:
- Miniature: less than 8 inches across
- Standard: 8–16 inches across
- Large: more than 16 inches across
Wit and Wisdom
- Violets (Viola)—though unrelated to African violets—are one of the February birth flowers, so a potted African violet can make a bright gift for a February birthday.
- The violet symbolizes loyalty, devotion, and faithfulness. Find out more flower symbolism here.
My plant is almost 50 years old. From the original plant that I received from a friend, two off-shoots have grown in the same pot. It is a bit crowded, but they all seem healthy and bloom almost constantly. I have also started a couple of new plants from the "cut-leaf" system.
My mom and I both have numerous violets, and they do well! I was surprised nothing was said about propagation - it's so simple! Take a "mama leaf" from the middle ring of leaves and stick it in moist soil. Cover with a small jar to make a green house, and before long, and new plant should grow! One leaf I had grew 6 baby plants all at once! (If you use a "grandma leaf" from the outside edge, it's much slower to grow a new plant, or may do nothing at all.)
Also, I get mine to bloom by watering with eggshell water. Boil eggshells in water for 10 - 20 minutes, then strain and cool. Use the water on your violets. Works amazingly well! My mother in law also says to feed them a bit of sugar.
I received a plant recently, The leaves are drooping over the pot. Doesn't look healthy to me. What should I do?
I have a huge plant. The stem is very thick and is pushing up from the large double pot. It falls over. Can I cut the root shorter? I really no nothing about these plants, it was a gift and it keeps on giving. Just finished flowered the most flowers yet. Probably a good 5 years old.
I have a plant that is two african violets growing in the same pot. There is alot of exposed root. Should I attempt to separate the two or just put in a bigger pot and get as much of the root (where leaves have grown and been pulled off) in the soil. They are growing nicely - but more vertically than horizontally - the plants look like they are back to back.
Comments