African Violets are delightful houseplants and will brighten up any room with their purple, pink, or white colors.
Pennsylvania State UniversityAfrican 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!
African violets will bloom with lower light, though medium to bright indirect light is best. They can be a bit fussy, so check out more tips on how to make sure your African violets bloom.
For more information on African violets, visit the website for the African Violet Society of America at www.avsa.org.
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:
| Botanical Name | Saintpaulia |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Houseplant |
| Sun Exposure | Part Sun |
| Soil Type | |
| Soil pH | Slightly Acidic to Neutral |
| Bloom Time | |
| Flower Color | Blue, Pink, Purple, Red, White |
| Hardiness Zones | |
| Special Features |
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Reader Comments
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Pots for African Violets
Is there a certain pot that African likes best.. Glass, plastic, clay, ceramic?
Odd violet growth
I'm fairly new to growing violets. I have four (one I propagated myself, YAY!) and they've all done reasonably well. However on two of them, the central "crown" of leaves are growing in a tight clump, rather like a cabbage or something. It looks to me like there are far too many leaves on each plant, too. Weirdest thing. I've watered more, watered less, fertilized, not fertilized, turned, changed the location and lighting, all to no avail. Oh, and they've stopped blooming, too. I'd appreciate any help you could give me at all! Thanks in advance.
African Violets
It’s normal for violets to grow with a tight crown that spreads out over time, but it sounds like your plants’ new growth could be stunted, which would cause a “traffic jam” of sorts in the center of the plant. Stunted growth can be caused by a number of things, but because you’ve tried adjusting your care in multiple ways already, you may want to try treating the plants for pests, specifically cyclamen mites. Cyclamen mites are tiny, nearly-invisible mites that attack new growth and can cause stunted growth if their numbers get out of control. Other symptoms of mites include grayish leaves and twisted leaves in the center of the plant.
First, you should isolate the affected plants away from other plants, then try a few rounds of treatment with an insecticidal soap spray, which you can find in most garden or hardware stores. Make sure it’s meant for mites and other houseplant pests. Before you treat the whole plant, try the pesticide on a leaf or two, then wait about a day to make sure that there is no adverse reaction.
African violets
My grandma could grow the most beautiful violets ! Me not so much.She had up to 30 different plants in her east window seat turned violet heaven.
Violets
Can u plant violets outside in shade. Very little sun
1 yr old African violet
The outer leaves are turning light brown and there are tiny, tiny white powder-like on a few green leaves. Are these mites? They are heavy on one leaf and sparse on another, The plant is still blooming. I have other plants and don't want my other plants to get anything. I will appreciated your advise on this, please.
Pests
It sounds like you could be describing mealybugs or spider mites. Spider mites create thin webbing on the plant, while mealybugs look like tiny white, cottony spots. In either case, the first thing you should do is separate the infected plant away from others and check the plants around it for signs of the pest. They like to hang out on the undersides on leaves and in the center of the plant, where they feed on new growth. They both spread by crawling from plant to plant, so ensure that the infected plant is sufficiently far from other houseplants.
The pests can be wiped off or squished with a paper towel (or your fingers), but there are likely more than just the ones you are seeing. Try treating the plant with horticultural soap or neem oil. These can be bought at most garden centers or hardware stores, and are organic pesticides. It’s important to test the pesticide on a single leaf and wait 24 hours before using it on the rest of the plant, just to make sure that the plant won’t react negatively to it.
If this doesn’t improve the situation, you may need to dispose of the plant, unfortunately. But preventing a larger infestation should be the #1 priority!
How long do African Violets live?
I'm seeing comments that some African Violets are quite old. With proper care, how long can I expect my violet to live?
African Violet life span
I have an African Violet that is 25 years old and doing well.
African violet
African violet. After rooting a single leaf and planting it the plant has started, do I remove the single leaf? Can I root the single leaf again?
African Violet Leaf
It’s not necessary to remove the old leaf, but in theory you could use the same leaf again if you carefully separated it from the new plant. Depending on how young the new plant is, the old leaf may still be supporting it, so it would be wise to wait until the new plant is well rooted and is big enough to sustain itself.
African violets
I have one violet that has a growth like thing in the middle of my violet. Originally the violet was full of leaves but they are turning brown at the base,getting soft and die. My violets are in a east window about 24 inches from window and gets no direct hot sun. I water mostly from base but occasionally will water from top if they appear really dry. Never had this before so don’t know what to do or what is causing the growth.
leaves turning brown
We can’t explain the “growth like thing”—at least sight unseen. However, wet leaves or too much water can lead to the brown-edged leaves and softness you describe. It may be that the soil is not draining. The African Violet Society (linked above) may have more detail about these specific conditions here on its “101” pages: http://www.avsa.org/learning
Unusual growth on african violet
I have an african violet that is several years old and has always done well. Recently I noticed two brain like growths at the base. I haven't been able to find any information about a growth like that so I am not sure if it needs to be treated or how to treat it. The plant seems to be starting to suffer. Can you provide any information about growths like this?
Violets
I have large violets and on one violet plant, there are two stems with flowers. On a couple of the flowers are green-like pod. Are these the seeds of the flowers or what might they be? Can I repost those pods like seeds or??
African violet seeds
Yes, it does sound like the green pods that you are seeing are actually the seedpods of the African violet. These form once the flower is fertilized and the petals fade. Pods may contain 200 to 300 seeds, or some might contain few or none. The seeds are extremely tiny. A seedpod must remain on the plant to mature, which takes about 3 to 6 months. The bright green pod will eventually dry and brown, and the stem will shrivel. Once this happens, you can harvest the pod (be sure to harvest before the pod splits open) and let it sit in a cool, dry place for a week or two before sowing the seeds or storing the pod in an airtight container. The seeds, once planted, will probably not produce the same characteristics as the parents. To sow them, open the pod and scatter the seeds on moist growing medium, such as peat moss mixed with vermiculite and perlite. Cover the growing medium with plastic wrap; place in light, such as by a window with indirect light or about 10 inches under fluorescent lights for around 10 or 12 hours. Keep warm, about 75F. Keep moist by misting with water every so often. Germination, which depends on several factors, may be between 1 and 4 weeks, or even more.
Blooms
My blooms died off and I snipped them, will the new blooms sprout from those same stems, or will new ones pop up? This is my first African violet.
African Violet Blooms
New flowers will not emerge from an old stem, so you may snip the flower stem back to its base once all the buds have opened and faded. This will help to encourage the plant to send up new stems with new blooms.
Here are a few more tips that might help your African violets bloom.
African. Violet
How do you take care of African. Violet
African violet care
The tips on how to care for an African Violet are on this very page! if you have further questions, please let us know.
African violet in the Photo
Where can I get an African violet exactly like the one pictured here please?
Should Be Easy
Hi, Dayshauna: Just check with your local nursery or florist… they’ll know! Thanks for asking!
leaves growing over blooms
How do I get the leaves to stop growing over the blooms? The leaves are growing straight up.
African violets
How do I stop the leaves from growing straight up over blooms?
I just love all the
I just love all the information you have. Just from reading old questions and answers I have solved so many problems with my violets and other plants. Thank you.
You are ...
… very, very welcome!
wilted leaves
I have a medium-sized African violet that blooms with trailing flowers but the leaves turn brown and wilted-looking. The stems of these leaves are solid. What is wrong with this plant?
Make sure that you don’t
Make sure that you don’t overwater and that the soil drains well. If you have the African violet in a bright window move it to a spot with indirect sunlight for a while. If you are using tap water for watering you may want to switch to bottled water and see if that helps. Many public water supplier use chloramine to treat the water and there are concerns that chloramine may cause African violets not to thrive and leaves turn yellow or brown.
Special African violets pots
I have 6 African Violets plants and they are in special pots. It's easier to keep watered and keeps me from getting water on their leaves
I would love more information
I would love more information on African violets
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