Caption
African Violets are delightful houseplants and will brighten up any room with their purple, pink, or white colors.
Image Credit:
Ludmila Kapustkina/Shutterstock
Botanical Name
Streptocarpus (formerly Saintpaulia) ionanthus
Sun Exposure
Bloom Time
Plant Type
Planting
How to Plant African Violets
- You can use an African violet–specific potting mix or an all-purpose potting mix, 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 in fresh potting mix. Being a bit pot-bound encourages African violets to bloom more, so don’t be too quick to give them more space.
- The potting mix should be loose and well-draining; 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 planted previously, and be careful not to bury the crown. African violets‘ stems can be susceptible to rot if kept too moist.
Growing
How to Care for African Violets
- According to Julie Weisenhorn, an Extension educator at the University of Minnesota, “If you are comfortable, your African violet is comfortable.” Optimal room temperature for growing African violets is between 60° and 80°F and ideally 70°F.” However, 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.
For more information on African violets, visit the website of the African Violet Society of America.
African Violet Troubleshooting Chart
| Problem | Likely Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| No flowers | Too little light; too much nitrogen; plant too cold | Move to bright, indirect light; switch to a bloom-boosting fertilizer; keep temps 65°–75°F |
| Leaves turning yellow | Overwatering; poor drainage; old leaves | Allow soil to dry slightly between waterings; use a pot with drainage; remove aging outer leaves |
| Wilting leaves | Root rot or underwatering | Check soil moisture; trim rotted roots and repot in fresh mix; water consistently |
| Mushy or collapsing crown | Crown rot from cold water or water sitting on leaves | Water from the bottom; avoid splashing leaves; keep water lukewarm |
| Brown leaf spots | Cold water; sun scorch | Use room-temperature water; keep out of direct sunlight |
| Pale or stretched leaves | Insufficient light | Move plant closer to a bright window or use grow lights |
| Curled or brittle leaves | Low humidity; cold drafts | Increase humidity with a tray or humidifier; move away from vents |
| White crust on soil | Salt buildup from fertilizer or hard water | Flush soil monthly with distilled water; fertilize lightly |
| Slow growth | Root-bound plant; nutrient deficiency | Repot every 6–12 months; fertilize regularly at low strength |
| Flowers fade quickly | Heat stress; dry air | Keep temperatures moderate; increase humidity |
Water
Keep the potting mix lightly moist, but be careful not to overwater, as African violets' soft stems are very susceptible to rot. Learn more about proper watering and care.
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.
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.
Light
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 the plant is getting too little light; light green or bleached leaves indicate too much light.
Artificial lighting works well, too. Use fluorescent or LED bulbs to supplement natural lighting.
Thin, dark green leaves and leggy stems tell you the plant is getting too little light; light green or bleached leaves indicate too much light.
Fertilizer
During the active growing season (spring and summer), fertilize every 2 weeks with a high-phosphorous plant food. Only start fertilizing when the plant appears to need an extra boost (slow, thin growth; pale or yellowing leaves).
Overfertilizing is a more common problem than underfertilizing since most potting mixes come infused with plenty of nutrients.
Overfertilizing is a more common problem than underfertilizing since most potting mixes come infused with plenty of nutrients.
Types
Hundreds of varieties and hybrids exist, from miniature violets to trailing varieties! They differ mainly in the colors of their flowers, which range from white to purple, though some varieties also have variegation in their foliage and flowers.
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
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Comments
I have an AV plant looking strange. Looked under the leaves and found a small single plant..not much of a root just a nub..I barely scraped nub as to take scab off..took plastic wrap and made a small covering several layers... filled wine glass with water, covered top with plastic cover tightly, poked a hole in middle big enough that the nub fits and set plant on it...keep water level up. After a weekish I had a long root, planted it and plant is doing fantastic..I looked just the other day and there were 2 more small plants.. they are on wine glass now..what size pots for the small ones? Won't they grow somewhat? Thank you for reading my story/question!
I have a healthy looking AV, but it’s soil has white mold growing on it. I keep the soil moist. What should I do about the mold?
I have a 2 year old AV (not re-potted) who is NOT happy. New growth around center starts then dies. Water which drains off is BROWN. Keep indoors year round and use a grow light. What is wrong with my plant?
It sounds like your plant has crown and root rot; it could be planted too deeply, too wet (a common cause), or have poor drainage, which doesn't sound like your plant. But too wet does sound right. The plant may be too far gone, but if it's not--and you'll know when you tranplant it-- repot in sterilzed soil. AVs can be very finicky even though it seems like everybody else has such an easy time with them.
The leaves on my african violet get almost clear in the stem and then the leaves seem to die and stem gets limp and whole thing drops off. I water from the bottom when soil is dry.Not showing any blooms
My violets, about five and ten years old, bloom fully and beautifully but the leaves have become very long and large. Should I repot? Are large leaves normal?
I’m having trouble with my violets having two plants come up side by side. Why is that and how can I just have one
My plant has grown nicely & has a large clump of flowers, but there is hardly any roots. The plant top is heavy and leans. What should I do to get the roots to grow deeper?
Encourage the roots to grow deeper by water from the bottom of the pot rather than the top. Set the pot in the a saucer (if it isn't already) and put water in the saucer; the soil will soak it up. Remember to dump out any excess water from the saucer after the soil is sufficiently moist.
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Lack of flowering usually results from a problem with either watering or lighting (or both). First try moving the plant to a brighter location. They prefer bright, indirect light, but may be scorched by direct sunlight, so keep them out of south-facing windows.
If it's still not blooming, consider fertilizing it with an African violet fertilizer. That may stimulate it to produce flowers!