How to care for african violets
How often should you water African violets?
once a month
An important point to remember when bottom watering African Violet plants is to top water at least once a month. This way you are flushing out any extra fertilizer salt build up and refreshing the soil/roots from the top too.
How do you take care of a potted African Violet?
- Light. Bright, but not direct sunlight. …
- Soil. A well-drained potting mix is essential. …
- Water. Keep soil moist with warm water and strive for high humidity. …
- Temperature and Humidity. Do not allow to fall below about 60ºF. …
- Fertilizer. Feed with an African violet fertilizer every other week.
Do African violets need direct sunlight?
African violets need indirect sunlight, direct can burn the leaves. Choose a north- or east- facing window for best results. Keep plants away from cold glass and rotate the pot once a week so all leaves receive light. Extend daylight by placing African violets under a grow light during winter months.
Do African violets like to be misted?
African Violets do not enjoy misting, but if you really think you need to mist your African Violets, it’s best to do it rarely and when the humidity is below 30%. Misting frequently or for an extended time can cause leaf damage to the plant, which then has a direct effect on the overall health of the plant.
Where is the best place to put an African violet?
Grow plants in bright, indirect light for the best color and blooms. A plant stand three feet away from a west- or south-facing window is an ideal location. Plants will still grow when situated right beside north- or east-facing windows, but leaves will be thin and spindly, and plants less likely to bloom.
Should you cut dead flowers off African violet?
If you have success getting your African Violet to bloom, be sure to pinch or deadhead spent blooms. This allows the plant to continue to put energy into creating more buds/blooms and beautiful foliage.
Can you touch African violet leaves?
It may be tempting to touch this plant’s alluringly textured foliage, but African Violets do not like to be touched – at all. So don’t do it! Touching the leaves of an african violet can cause damage, stunted growth, and other adverse effects.
How long do African violets live?
50 years
African violets can live a long time, as long as 50 years! To get them there, you need to provide good care which includes repotting African violets. The trick is knowing when to repot an African violet and what soil and container size to use.
When should you repot an African violet?
African violets should be repotted about twice a year, or every 5-6 months. One mature, this simply means repotting the plant with some fresh soil, into the same size pot.
How do I know if my African violet is healthy?
You can tell if your violet has proper sunlight by checking the leaves. In too much sunlight, the leaves turn yellow and the edges burn. In too little sunlight, the leaves will appear to be a healthy green, but there will be no blooms. Check your African violet and adjust its exposure to sunlight accordingly.
Can African violets go outside?
The short answer: Don’t count on it. In most cases, African violets cannot survive outdoors. Although they’re fairly hardy plants, you need to get their conditions just right. And since African violets hail from the rainforests of Tanzania, your backyard probably isn’t up to the challenge.
Is coffee grounds good for African violets?
Yes, coffee grounds are a great homemade fertilizer for African Violets. Make a mixture of dried coffee grounds and dried egg shells, then work the coffee ground mixture into the top of the soil. Replenish every couple of months.
Why are the bottom leaves of my African violet dying?
Over-watering is the most common way that people kill their African violets. Leaf or flower loss, limp plants, and crown and stem rot are all results of too much water. Insufficient watering causes roots to shrivel and die, the plant to lose vigor and color, and then collapse.
How big can African violets get?
Standard African Violet plants:
Standard African violet plants when fully mature range from 8-16 inches (20-40cm) in diameter across a single crown. The flowers on these plants can grow to 2 inches (5cm) across the petals and a single leaf blade can grow to 3 inches (7.5cm) in length.
Can I pour coffee on my plants?
A weak solution of coffee, as shown on the left, is perfect.
Don’t just pour it down the drain — you can use it to fertilize your container-grown plants. Coffee grounds (and brewed coffee) are a source of nitrogen for plants, which is the nutrient that produces healthy green growth and strong stems.
Is Epsom salt good for African violets?
Applied once per month epsom salts will help trigger bloom in your violets and be a good companion to your African violet specialty fertilizer. Dissolve two tablespoons of epsom salts in one gallon of tepid water in a watering can or pitcher. Swish or swirl the salts in the water to dissolve them and combine the two.
Is vinegar good for African violets?
Vinegar’s pH is around 2.5. Soil that is too acidic can prevent African violets from getting the nutrients that they need. You can dilute vinegar (one or two teaspoons of vinegar per gallon of water) and use that to water your African violets to slowly lower the pH level of the potting mix.
Can I water my plants with leftover coffee?
A relatively common question has to do with people wondering if it’s okay to water their plants with leftover coffee or to add coffee grounds to the compost pile. The answer: yes, in some situations this is not only acceptable but a good idea.
Which plants do not like coffee grounds?
Coffee grounds are highly acidic, they note, so they should be reserved for acid-loving plants like azaleas and blueberries. And if your soil is already high in nitrogen, the extra boost from coffee grounds could stunt the growth of fruits and flowers.
What happens if you water your plants with coffee?
The lower the pH, the more acid; in other words, coffee is pretty acidic. Most plants grow best in slightly acid to neutral pH (5.8 to 7). Tap water is slightly alkaline with a pH greater than 7. Therefore, using diluted coffee for plants can increase the acidity of the soil.
Is milk good for plants?
Use it in your garden. The beverage isn’t just good for the human body, but it’s beneficial for plants, too. Milk serves as a fertilizer for your garden to help plants grow, as well as has antifungal and pesticidal attributes.