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Helping your African Violets to Bloom

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-Pam Scott-

When I was a small child, my grandmother’s kitchen window was always full of beautifully blooming African Violets. Their ruffled flowers of deep blues, periwinkle, pinks, purples and lavenders made me think of fluffy party dresses. Their velvety leaves always tempted a forbidden touch. These plants were always in glorious full bloom. People marveled at what a “green thumb” my grandmother had, as she seemed to have natural gifts with these fussy little exotic plants. It wasn’t until many years later I was told that as soon as the flowers would start to wane she would throw them in the trash and buy new ones at the grocery store. Apparently getting her African Violets to rebloom was an issue. 

African Violets (Saintpaulia) can seem to be fussy little plants, but by getting to know what they require in their native environment you can learn how easy it is to keep them not only alive, but also consistently blooming throughout the year.

The native habitat of African Violets is the equatorial cloud forests of Tanzania and Kenya. They are found growing in moist, mossy rock crevices where there is always high humidity, moderate temperatures between 65-80 degrees, and 12 hours of bright diffuse daylight year-round. Since African Violets grow naturally in highly humid environments, it makes sense to create an environment with 50-60% humidity for them in your home. One way to do this is to group them close together with your other tropical plants during the dry winter months. This will create a nice humid microclimate for them. Sitting your plants on a tray filled with pebbles and water, keeping the root base above the water, will also create much needed humidity. Do not be tempted to mist your plants, as water collecting in the crown of the plant may lead to crown rot. Potting your African Violets in a soil mix that has good water retention as well as good aeration is essential. The Black Gold African Violet Potting Mix is the perfect blend for repotting your African Violets into.            

Knowing when and how to water your African Violets is of prime importance. The roots of the African Violet need aeration, so keeping them moderately moist but never soggy is the key. Watering from the bottom so they can soak the water up, over an hour or so, will help to keep water out of the crown of the plant. African Violets like warmer water, around 70 degrees. Watering your plants with cold water can damage the roots as well as the leaves. Do not wait until your plants begin to sag to water them, as you will do damage to the roots as well as any emerging flower buds. Using special African Violet self-watering pots is a wonderful way to keep your plants moderately moist, with a dry crown, while creating a consistent supply of humidity. The African Violet pot is a terra cotta pot within a larger glazed pot. Your African Violet is planted in the terra cotta pot which is then slipped into the water filled glazed pot. Water will slowly migrate through the terra cotta, allowing your African Violet the perfect amount of moisture and humidity. All you have to do is check the water level of the glazed pot and clean it occasionally. 

Self-watering African violet pot

Fertilizing your African Violet is essential for keeping it blooming throughout the year. Espoma Organic African Violet Food is a great, gentle nutrient to use for your plants. If using it in the reservoir of a self watering African violet pot, use it at half strength.

The correct intensity of light as well as the number of daylight hours your african Violet receives will affect the blooming as well as the overall health of your plant. Too little light will turn your leaves very dark green, and you won’t get many blooms. With too much light your leaves will turn pale and scorched looking. A test for the correct amount of light is when you can barely see the shadow of your hand on the plant during the brightest part of the day. Ideally your plants should receive 12-16 hours of diffuse daylight and 8 hours of complete darkness per day. Augmenting available natural light with a grow light can help extend the daylight hours if needed to keep your plants in bloom. Be aware of the change of intensity of light on your plants as the sun goes higher in the sky in summer and lower in the sky in winter. You may actually get more intense light coming directly onto your plants in winter but of briefer duration. African Violets being equatorial don’t understand all of that. Do not let your African Violets get warmer than 80 degrees or colder than 60 degrees. Too much heat will affect blooming, and too much cold can create crown rot. 

You can repot your violets once a year, separating any new crown growth to make new plants, although African Violets that are slightly root bound will tend to bloom more. When repotting your African Violets, put them into pots that are more wide and shallow rather than deep, their roots grow out not down. Too much moist soil under their roots can lead to root rot. Remember that in their native home they grow on rocks.

African violets on occasion can get mealy bugs. Remove the white cottony bugs with a Q tip dipped in alcohol as sprays may cause crown rot. Keep your African Violets away from natural gas fireplaces as the fumes can prevent blooming. Make sure your plants have good air circulation but keep them away from cold drafts.

Most varieties of African Violets are easy to propagate from leaf cuttings. Cut leaves from the area close to the center of the crown, with a stem at least 1 ½  long. Take more cuttings than you need, as not all of the cuttings will root. Insert the stem into a loose moist seed starting mix such as Black Gold or Light Warrior, planting it up to the base of the leaf. Cover the cutting with a clear zip lock bag or a propagation dome and put into indirect light. In about 3 to 4 weeks give the leaf a gentle tug to see if it has set roots. Slowly acclimate your rooting plant to a less humid environment, and when the plant shows signs of active growth, transplant it to a small pot with African Violet potting mix. Your new plant may take up to a year to begin blooming. 

You will find that, following these few simple guidelines, African Violets are not fussy plants at all. You can indeed enjoy healthy blooming African Violets year round. We just have to try to recreate the environment they thrive in, and that is true for all plants. Visit Fifth Season Gardening in person or online for all of your plants’ needs!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Thank you so much. I just rescued 4 AV from a home depot. All 4 shoved into one round pot crowded and on their way out. Store said they were GB oing to throw them out, I said I’d take it. Now I’m nursing them and getting them ready for each in their own pot.

  4. One of my African Violets has gotten very long stems. What is causing this?

  5. Hi Courtney,
    This could be a sign that the plant needs repotting. It could also be a plea for a bit more light. — Pam at FSG

  6. My African Violet seems to be blooming non stop and is very healthy. There are new plants growing beneath the canopy of leaves. Impossible to take these off without lifting the plant out of its pot. Is it safe to do this and then replace back into the same pot?

  7. Hi Barbara,
    Yes, you should be able to separate out the new plants and then re-pot your original violet back in its original pot. You might see some transplant shock for a bit, but it should bounce back no problem with regular care.

  8. I have tried to join the African violet club but not heard back wondering if you are the club I live in New Zealand regards Dorothy Robinson

  10. Hi Dorothy, We are a gardening store in North Carolina, USA. I do hope you are able to get in touch with the African violet club! Regards, Ashley at FSG

  11. Had an African Violet (a gift) for about 10 years – lost it (long story). Just bought 4new ones in 4″ pots (each). How long should I wait to repot them? And should I use the same size pot?

  12. Hi Frances,
    There is no need to up pot them into a larger pot unless the base is splitting into 2 plants or the pot is really too small. Too large a pot will hold too much water and may rot the roots. They do like to be a bit snug in their pots.
    Hope that helps! Pam at FSG

  13. I saw a AV a rust color. Never seen that color before. Went back to get it and it was gone.
    Any chance where I could get one?

    Thanks for a reply

  14. Hi Mary,

    Sorry you didn’t get to get that unusual violet. Off-hand, I am not sure where you could find that color. We order by assortments from our suppliers, so we don’t know exactly which specific colors they send. Sorry not to be of more help!

  15. Hi Ashley,
    I love Avs, thank you so much for the information it will help me to give a better care to the 3 that I have.

  16. My Aunt sent me home from a visit in Feb 2020 with an African Violet she started from my grandmothers plant. In Feb 2021 I started one from that plant. I used African Violet planting dirt and change it every 6 months. . They bloom so beautiful.

  17. My av is thick with leaves. Before that it used to flower all the time. Do cut some of the leaves to thin it out? Hope you can help. MARLENE

  18. Hi Marlene, we wouldn’t take off leaves. New green growth is a sign of a healthy plant, and violets do go in and out of flower. If you are fertilizing with a nitrogen-heavy fertilizer, however, we would suggest changing over to one that promotes flowering instead of just green growth. To spur flowering, you can use a fertilizer (like the Espoma Violet Fertilizer) that is formulated for flower formation. You can also spur flowering by letting your violet get a bit dry and then watering well. A bit of stress can kick off the flowering cycle. Hope this helps!

  19. I have an African Violet that will NOT bloom appears to be healthy. What should I do?

  20. Hi Catherine, if your plant has bloomed before in the spot where you have it, it could need to be fed more; or it could need to be re-potted (although violets like some snug-ness). If your violet has never bloomed, then you should try moving its location so it gets nice morning light. Some violets are genetically more floriferous than others, so if you have never seen it bloom, it may not be a highly-flowering plant no matter what you do.

  21. Have enjoyed reading this information of AV,s very much,,would love more of this knowledge in caring for them and would appreciate some pamphlet and literature such as this,,,Thank you very much

  22. Purchased 2 AVs from a Walmart. Brought them home and placed in my bathroom no one hardly use but has great light. Now all the leaves and starter blooms are dying. New foliage is showing however. What happened? Why did dying take place?

  23. Hi Audrey,
    It sounds like they were maybe too dry or too wet. If it’s great light, maybe it was too direct. If no one uses the room maybe you don’t notice if at certain times of year the sun might come directly in the window. Mine start to loose leaves this time of year because they get too hot in our non air conditioned house. –Pam at FSG

  24. My grandmother use to have windows full of AV that were always blooming. Thanks to your information, I’m hoping the ones I have now will grow healthier and bloom on a regular basis.
    Thank you!

  26. I have enjoyed growing AV for a long time. Starting new ones is fun and easy, I now have 20 plants of various sizes and many more leaf cuttings started. I like reading everyone’s stories here too! btw my grandma also had them. : )

  27. I recently saw a huge (12 ” diameter) African Violet that the elderly lady said she received from a elderly man who’d had it for ten years and she’s had it for 40 years!! A 50 year old African Violet!!!! It was glorious with flowers. I took a picture of it as I’ve never seen a more beautiful one before. She said she does nothing to it but water from below and occasionally fertilizes it.

  29. Wonderful article. I have 11 Acts and they are like my children. They bloom continuously. I wick them in Dandy Pots, I learned from a gentleman in Florida who had an amazing collection of AVa.

  30. I have had AV for years but I never had them very long, the ones I have seemed to have become moldy on the dirt. Should I change dirt & replant them in different pots? Thx

  31. Hi Beverly,
    Yes, if you see any kind of soil pathogen it is best to use completely new soil and clean your pot out before replanting into it as well.

  35. Loved your article. And I have problem with flowers and buds dying before opening fully. The plant looks green and healthy, but the flowers are not.

  36. Hi Elaine,
    It could be that it needs bloom nutrients (see a couple of recommendations in the response to the question just before yours) . I also find that temperature makes a difference; mine bloom better in the cooler months and really suffer in our hot back room in the summer. Also quality of light may pray a role, so try to pump up the intensity of the light a bit and that may help. Regards – Pam at FSG

  37. Loved your info. My old av has long stem where leaves begins. Blooms regularly. Does it need bigger pot because stem is so long?

  38. Hi Merry Jean, If your African Violet stem is getting long and leggy it is time to repot it. You can repot it and bury the stem up to the crown base of the plant or you can try cutting the plant off at the soil line and try rerooting it. The second option is a little riskier and takes longer for the plant to rebound but the result is a healthier plant root mass. –Pam at Fifth Season

  39. I have 3 AVs that were blooming prolifically for a few months. Slowly diminished to zero blooms for several months. Fertilize ‘& water by the book. Thought I had perfect spot for filtered afternoon light but we live among many trees. I read about the long green leaves reaching for the sky- need more light. It’s fall/winter & less light available. What kind of light can I provide artificially that will make them happy? Does it need to be over them? How close to the plants is optimum?

  40. How often should I fertilized my AV? It’s about 6″ wide. It went through a blooming cycle ad now it’s started another cycle. 2 new blossoms.

  41. Hi Peggy, I would suggest a t5 fluorescent regular grow bulb about 30 inches off the top of the plant. Make sure to have it on a timer, as the plant needs its rest time in addition to time under light. Cheers! — Pam at Fifth Season

  42. Hi Vonda,
    Your fertilizing schedule is going to depend on the fertilizer you are using. An organic fertilizer is going to be slower acting, and a lower dose (N-P-K level) could be used at every watering. A non-organic product may act more quickly and may not be recommended with every watering. I recommend getting a fertilizer specifically for African Violets and follow their prescribed dosage. I fertilize mine with a low dosage every watering year-round. Hope that helps! — Pam at Fifth Season

  43. I enjoyed reading the article and the exchange of tips in growing AVs!

    AVs changed my daily routine and I’m loving it -so much so that I intend my place to be surrounded with more AVs when I retire.

    Please recommend a good AV organization or society. Thanks and take care.

  44. Hi Ma-an, I belong to the African Violet society of America. They have great weekly news letters on line with great articles and resources. You should check them out — Pam at Fifth Season Gardening

  45. Hi. My grandmother died last year and my grandfather let me take one of her many African violets home to Colorado. It was having a few issues so I basically ended up removing most of the leaves. And has since done much better and is starting to grow more leaves. How often do I water it? It’s in one of those plastic green pots that’s in another pot. Is it safe to put the “two pot” pot into another slightly larger pot that is more decorative? It’s so special to me and I’m afraid it will never bloom again

  46. Hi Lauren,
    With my AVs I have them in just a pot with drainage where they get almost completely dry before watering. I dont think a decorative pot cover will be a problem as long as the root ball isn’t sitting in water, making the roots susceptible to rot.

    If you want to plant it into a self watering pot with African Violet soil, that will keep it adequately moist but still give the roots enough oxygen to remain healthy. Either method works well. — Pam at Fifth Season Gardening

  47. Would love your ideas on presenting a program on AV to my garden circle on April 4th.
    What books, articles just a few things but not over load as all may not want the same amount of info.
    Thanks,
    Pam Dade City Garden Club, Dade city, FL

  48. Hi Pam,
    The best resource I can point you to is the African violet Society – they have a bunch of great resources online for we African-violet lovers! Cheers — Pam at Fifth Season Gardening

  49. Hello,
    I have my first AV. I have it in my bathroom with a couple of other plants in a northwest window. It gets very nice bright light, not direct sunlight. It seems to be doing…ok…I have been watering from the bottom, as directed, and testing the soil for dryness first….but some of the leaves are turning white, looking dry around the edges? Why is that happening?
    Also, should I pinch off the dead flwoers to encourage more on each little stem?

    Thank you,
    Linda Jackson, Middlesex, VT

  50. Hi Linda, Welcome to the wonderful world of African violets! We would recommend always pinching off the dead blooms, as this will make the plant more attractive as well as encourage new blooming and improve the health of the plant. The white leaves may be an indication of over fertilization. If you have just purchased the plant it probably has time-release nutrients in the soil from the grower, I would wait until the fertilizer flushes out, maybe 2-3 months, before fertilizing. Cheers — Pam at Fifth Season Gardening

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