How To Grow African Violets
Tips and Tricks For Keeping This Flowering Houseplant Healthy
African violets are the most popular houseplant in America. If you follow a few simple rules, growing this colorful, flowering houseplant is fun and easy.
With proper care, African violets can provide almost continuous blooms in a rainbow of colors and leaf shapes. Although flower size, petal type, and color vary widely, plants generally grow from four to seven inches tall, with hairy leaves and tightly grouped clusters of flowers.
The African violet belongs to the family Saintpaulia and is native to Africa. They are one of the most popular cultivated houseplants in the world today, and are particularly well suited to the home environment. There are now thousands of varieties in existence, with new hybrids being developed almost daily.
Basic of African Violet Care
African violets are very hardy and do best in indirect or filtered sunlight. They should be watered no more than once a week, and be allowed to dry out between waterings. Roots should never sit in water, and only warm water should be applied to the leaves.
Soil for African Violets
For African violets to flourish, they require a special soil composed of two parts peat moss, one part perlite, and one part standard potting mix. This keeps the soil well aerated. They also need an acidic fertilizer specially designed for them. Although their temperature requirements are not critical if they are maintained in the home, they should be kept well back from the window if temperatures outside are going to be near or below freezing.
Keeping African Violets Healthy
Keeping African violets healthy often comes down to watering. By far, the most common way to kill an African violet is to over water it. One ingenious way of making sure your African violets are never over watered is by setting up a wicking system.
Wicking African Violets For Better Water Delivery
Draw three lengths of string from different points at the base of the plant down through the planting medium and out the hole at the bottom of the pot. With marbles or small stones, raise the pot off the drip tray by at least half an inch. Secure the strings under the layer of stones. When you place water in the tray, it is drawn up through the strings into the planting medium where the roots have safe access to it. This method of watering ensures that the plant receives a regular source of moisture but is never left with its roots sitting in water.
Propagating African Violets
You can propagate African violets by taking healthy leaves and making a sharp cut to remove the stem end, leaving about two thirds of the leaf. Place the cut leaf, cut side down, in a starter pot or clear plastic bag filled with African violet soil. Transplant when the leaf has sprouted a good root system and grown a few small leaflets.
With a little planning and understanding, African violets can beautify your home and be fun and easy to grow.
