African violets were the first houseplants I remember growing as a child. Walk into any garden center or supermarket floral section these days and you are liable to see a nice display of African violets. These traditional flowering houseplants not only make a great Holiday gift idea for the gardener, but also have a place in every home. These plants do well in low light, (even artificial light), and come in a wide variety of flower colors and leaf style and texture.
So, you bring your African violet home and wonder where to place it so that it gets the correct amount of light. These plants will do best with indirect light. African violets will tell you if they are getting enough light. Too low of a light intensity, and the African violet will not flower well. Too much light will result in leaves that are pale or yellowish green. To bloom, African violets need eight to twelve hours of light and eight hours of darkness per day. Artificial light using “grow lights” – including compact fluorescent lights and LED – can supply the proper amount of light needed by African violets if no other source is available.
Hand-in-hand with light requirements is making sure your plants receive the proper temperature. Try to keep your night to day temperatures between seventy to eighty degrees F. Temperatures over eighty degrees F can affect growth and flowering. Air conditioning can help provide an even temperature. In association with temperature of course is humidity. Humidity can be maintained by placing pots on pebble-filled trays of water. Make sure that the pots do not touch the water directly.
Ready-to-use African violet potting soils are usually available at any retail garden center. The soil medium is generally made up of peat and perlite (volcanic material) which provides water retention and good drainage. Water African violets from the top or the bottom with room temperature or warm water. Once in a while make sure to water from the top to flush excess fertilizer salts away. Using a good liquid fertilizer at intervals recommended on the package label will ensure good growth and frequent flowering. Good leaf color and normal flowering are signs that your feeding program is working.
Even novice gardeners will find that African violets are very easy to propagate. In as little as six months you can grow a new plant ready to flower! Leaf cuttings (with the petiole – leaf stem attached) are made by snapping or cutting a leave from the original plant. Make sure that the stem is about one- and one-half inches long. Insert the leaf stem into a sterile potting medium. Insert this leaf into a pre-dug hole made with a pencil and firm the medium gently around the cutting. Expect roots in three to four weeks and leaves in about another month.
Pest control will include monitoring your plants for pests and always quarantining new plants to prevent introducing infestations. Cold water can cause spotting on leaves – use warm water as mentioned earlier.
African violets are real gems of the houseplant world – give one as a gift this season! For more information on all types of houseplants, or to ask a question, you can also call the Master Gardener Volunteer Helpdesk on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1 to 4 pm at 764-4340 for gardening help and insight into their role as an Extension volunteer. Ralph E. Mitchell is the Director/Horticulture Agent for UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County. He can be reached at 941-764-4344 or ralph.mitchell@charlottecountyfl.gov. Connect with us on social media. Like us on Facebook @CharlotteCountyExtension and follow us on Instagram @ifascharco.
Resource: Park Brown S. (2024) African Violets, The University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service, IFAS.
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