African Violets: Complete Care And Growing Guide

With their diminutive size, colorful blooms, and attractive foliage, African violets are popular houseplants. Originating in East Africa, they now come in a variety of leaf and flower colors. Caring for an African violet requires a good balance of light, water and food, which will reward you with blooms all year long.

Quick Facts

• Botanical name: Saintpaulia ionantha
• Height: 6 to 9 inches (15 to 23 cm)
• Spread: 6 to 9 inches (15 to 23 cm)
• Sun exposure: Bright, indirect
• Soil requirements: Soilless mix
• Hardiness zones: 11 to 12
• When to plant: Any time indoors

How to Care for an African Violet

African violet care can be a little finicky, but they are generally easy to grow once you know what they need.

Light

One of the reasons people enjoy African violets so much is that they can be coaxed into flowering repeatedly throughout the year. Light is one of the most important conditions for flowering. They require bright but indirect light for 12 to 16 hours per day. A north or east-facing window is best. You can also use fluorescent or LED lights.

Water

African violets can be a little bit finicky about watering. They need well-drained, consistently moist soil to grow well. Contact with cold water, especially in winter, can be damaging to the leaves. To get around this issue, you can let the container with drainage holes sit in a saucer of water.

Another option is to top water but with room temperature water. Use a thin-spouted watering can to avoid getting the leaves wet.

Temperature & Humidity

The ideal temperature range for African violets is 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 26 Celsius). They prefer humid conditions, which you can achieve by setting pots on a pebble tray with water or by growing in a terrarium.

Soil

Soil for African violets must drain very well. The fine roots will rot quickly in standing water or soggy soil. High-quality soilless potting mix is a good choice.

Fertilizer

African violets benefit from diluted fertilizer at every watering. Use a balanced product and dilute to one-quarter strength, or use a product formulated specifically for African violets.

Problems, Pests & Diseases

Lack of flowers is a common issue with African violets. It often indicates the plant needs more light. They will also stop blooming if the temperature is too or too cold or if they get too much or too little fertilizer. Balance is essential.

Rot and mildew are also issues but are easy to avoid. Don’t let the roots get soggy and make sure the leaves stay dry and have good air flow. Pests that can trouble African violets include mealybugs, mites, aphids, and thrips.

How to Plant African Violets

The most important consideration before you plant African violet is the choice of container. Good drainage is essential. The pot you choose should have multiple drainage holes. Use a light soil or soilless mix that will drain easily.

How to Make an African Violet Flower

If all the conditions are right, your African violet should bloom over and over again. If it stops blooming, consider light first. It needs at least 12 hours of light per day and 8 hours of darkness.

It could be too cold or too hot, both of which can stop blooms from developing. Be sure you’re not overwatering and use an African violet fertilizer regularly. Finally, the issue could be the pot size. African violets prefer to be slightly root-bound. If the pot is too big, it might not bloom.

Pruning

All you need to do to prune your African violet is remove the outer ring of older leaves as they fade or turn brown. You can also snip off flowers as they fade.

African Violet Propagation

African violets are easy to propagate by leaf cuttings. Trim off a healthy, mature leaf with one inch (2.5 cm) of stem. Place the cut stem into a good rooting mix, like a soilless potting mix. Place it deep enough that part of the leaf is touching the mix. This is where new leaves will form. Once you have four to six leaflets, you can remove them from the mother flower and pot them.

Varieties

You can find hundreds of African violet varieties in garden centers and online. They come in several flower colors, including white, pink, deep purple, maroon, and blue. The flowers can be single, double, ruffled, and star or wasp shaped.

Leaves of different varieties are usually fuzzy or velvety but may be round, oval, or heart-shaped. The colors range from dark green to bright green, silvery green, or variegated.

Frequently Asked Questions