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Do you remember the African Violet care your granny gave the plants sitting on her kitchen windowsill ? Do n’t feel bad I do n’t either .
I do recollect they always had flowers and Grandma never seemed to pass any time give care for her African violets .
Photo Credit: Instagram @noelle1969
Though miniature African violet varieties exist , Grandma did n’t mature any . Read more below about grow African violets , these beautiful flowering houseplant grandma loved !
African Violets Not A Violet At All
Where do African violets develop from ? Originating in East Africa the “ Saintpaulia ” actually is n’t a violet at all but belong to to the family of Gesneriaceae like theEpiscia plant .
The vulgar name arrive from the primary flower color – reddish blue .
The botanical name “ Saintpaulia ” honour Baron Walter von Saint Paul who first discovered them and contribute the plant back to Europe in 1893 .
They conform almost perfectly to indoor living as houseplant and they blossom almost continually . And we all knowyou can not have too many houseplant !
This low - growing , hairy - flick plant prevail dark light-green leave roughly oval in shape .
Today the amount of Saintpaulia varieties phone number into the grand . prime colors graze from pink to mauve to disconsolate to violet .
The blossom bring forth sometimes get as large as an in and a half across but usually small , some miniature mixed bag also be .
How To Care For African Violets Indoors
Overall African violets likezamioculcas zamiifoliaadapt very well to grow indoors but African reddish blue plant life charge is still significant .
They will thrive in an environment of 70 ° to 75 ° degrees temperatures during the day and at nighttime temperatures not below 60 ° degrees Fahrenheit .
They prefer a high humidness environment so low humidity conditions can induce the plant some issues .
During winter if temperatures get down much below 60 ° degrees Fahrenheit move plants by from windows for the night .
In nature , they hold up in a moist , African jungle with in high spirits humidity , and need even more humidifying than most plants .
“ produce ” this humid growing condition by setting plants in a mysterious genus Pan or saucer on an column inch layer of pebbles fill up with water to just below the crapper .
How To Water African Violets?
Part of the care of African Violets involve watering . One “ best practice ” many adopt in water their violet incorporate theuse of self - watering African violet potsthat “ water ” from below .
However , many indoor growers weewee from above with awatering can and a long spout .
The retentive spout let you reach inside the foliage and wet the soil without splashing the leave .
One of the major troubles the home nurseryman lead into with Saintpaulia is the problem of ashen spots forming on the leaves .
The white leaf spots ordinarily come from cold water sprinkle on the leave .
Always use room temperature water or heater . Using awick - case watering systemhelps puzzle out the problem .
What Is The Best Light For African Violets Care
Their low prerequisite of the sun are one reason these little works have enjoyed so many decade of success indoors .
An east or west window is in effect , although many beautiful plant grow well in a northerly exposure but usually only in the summertime .
Keep the leaves free of dust by cleaning them with a cushy light touch – a small soft paintbrush will do the joke .
Africa Violet Soil
Most garden inwardness extend specially designed and invent African violet potting mixlike this one at Amazon .
These commercially packaged dirt or potting premix are scientifically prepared to exact specification for maximal growth .
Make your own special African violetpotting soil mixusing equal part peat moss , vermiculite , and perlite .
When potting or transplanting , do not pile the soil too tightly as African reddish blue like well - aerated moist soil and thrive in a more roomy pot .
African Violet Fertilizer
Just like soil mixes created specifically for African violets suppliers also make metier African reddish blue plant foodlike this – ordinarily in liquid form .
Look for names like :
… to name a few
Apply the African reddish blue solid food periodically in sum specialise on the label and when repotting , transplanting , or starting unexampled works from cuttings .
Propagating African Violets
The most coarse way to propagate African violets is from leaf cuttings , preferably in the spring .
This way new plants can benefit from summer weather to grow .
It will generally take about ten or twelve weeks for the first novel leaves to seem .
A successful fresh plant life will flower after four to six months .
That ’s why you set out the propagating process betimes in the bounce and should have a grown and flowering plant by decline .
Read The staring Article onPropagating African Violets From Leaf Cuttings and partition
Saintpaulia Pests and Diseases
African Violets are open toattacks of mealy bugsand red spider mites .
If you have an epidemic of these piffling animate being , utilise only insecticides labeled to control them . We care to expend constituent insecticidal liquid ecstasy ornatural Neem oil for master plague .
Look for a born insecticide for controlling pests on your plants as an option .
Leaf Edges Yellowing and Scorching
During the summertime month , the leaf edges can turn yellow and become char when flora grow overexposed to too much lineal sunlight .
Move the plant to an collateral light location or filtrate the Christ Within with a curtain or sheer .
Yellowing Foliage
foliation on African violet can yellow for a diversity of reason .
Related : Why Are My African Violet Leaves turn Yellow ?
Crown Rot And Root Rot
Allowing water to collect in the crown of the plant may also wrick leave brown . Water straight off and invalidate bewilder piddle on the muzzy leaf .
Be certain not to overwater . This make etymon systems to asphyxiate and kick the bucket to bring out crown putrefaction and/or root - rot .
Always apply plant food to well - moistened soil . Applying plant food to dry soil may burn the feeder radical , causing the leaf to droop suggesting crown rot .
Powdery Mildew
Gray or White Coating on Foliage , Leaves shrivel and Curl – The case Powdery Mildew
Plants growing in country with very high humidity leave powdery mildew to form which blocks the light resulting in leaves shriveling up and loop .
Provide good ventilation for control . Remove leaves on plants severely unnatural .
How To Care For An African Violet & Get It To Bloom?
The proposition below were post in byBG Butterfield . Enjoy !
If your African violet care grows effective plants and you still have trouble getting your plants to bloom , try these suggestions .
“ Move them to where they will get mess of shining light . Two or three minute of shining or filtrate sunlight through a drapery will not wound them . No verbatim sunlight ! Reflected sunshine is also good .
Mix 1/2 teaspoon ofgood all - purpose plant life solid food like this one in one - half congius of water – rainwaterwhen possible or use distill . ward off chlorinated piss .
dilute a piece of credit card or wax paper larger than the top of the peak grass ; cut a hollow in the kernel and slit from side to center .
Put the credit card over the throne , under the leaves , and around the stem and concord itin place to keep the soil from falling out .
Usea large pipe bowl with the water and plant life food mixture . Dip the leaves in the water , dowse it over them , washing the leaves , and at the same time giving them a foliar feeding .
put the plants in a shady spot to dry . reduplicate once a calendar week for three or four weeks . The reward will not only be flowers , but more beautiful foliage , and young plants will flower much before . “
Thanks , BG for communion … It ’s always corking when users share their experiences !
More onother types of indoor works for your home .
Other African Violet Relatives you may wish :
Miniature African Violets Little Plants With Huge Appeal
Among African violet fanciers , a illumination does not grow larger than six column inch across , from foliage tip to leaf tip .
Flowers also change considerably in size and may be pocket-sized or normal .
Another course of study , difficult to distinguish from illumination , is the semi - miniature .
Although a miniature must measure less than six inches across , if it develop larger to eight column inch , it is classed as a semi - miniature . Culturally , both are regale as a exclusive group .
Good Blooming Miniatures
miniature are good blooper that compete with regular kind ( like your nanna grow ) .
Because of their size of it , several can grow in position of one large specimen . On a few glass shelves , a twelve or more can spring up in one window .
acquire large flowers , or small ace if you prefer , colors admit royal purpleness , thick blues , rosy pinks , pastel lavender and orchidaceous plant , and vivid plum red . White brings out the intensity of the other coloration .
The “Girlie” Miniatures
The leaves of miniature variegate in shape and color .
The first “ girl leaf ” find years ago , was call Blue Girl . Now varieties with leaves of this type are often referred to as simply fille leave-taking .
The leafage , whether bare or girl , alter in people of color from chartreuse through medium green to deep leafy vegetable .
The undersides of some leave are ruby red , and on others , all degree of red seem . Often the leaves are as attractive as the flush .
Miniature Blooms
Some miniatures video display frilled and fringe blossom , cup like a odoriferous - pea or doubled like a gardenia or rose .
You ’ll find hearty colour or combinations of purplish and white , gentle and white-hot , and tone of lavender or orchid .
Origins Of Miniature African Violets
Part of learning African violet care , is discovering where the illumination get along from ?
The “ miniature ” originate from two sources . When propagating stock varieties , some small plant pass up to uprise . If sick , plants are destroyed .
If they refuse to farm and not blossom the midget plant are usually toss out . The remaining few are normal in all esteem , except for miniature size of it .
The second source is from seedling . With seedlings , the same occurs .
Some healthy plant uprise more tardily than others , and when they bloom they are replicas , in miniature , of larger varieties .
These are then named and sold as illumination . Since illumination in one surface area will grow larger than in another , we are always searching for plants that continue minuscule .
Types of Easy To Grow Miniatures
What type of miniature are sluttish to rise ?
Miniatures grow as easily as the larger kind . However , with smaller pots and instrument , everything was scaled down . plant take less water but use the same soil as the larger types . I prefer the bagged African violet mixes .
toy also postulate the same amount of light . Perhaps they need more light , and we feel that sunlight will bring about better plants , and more flowers , than under a fluorescent develop light-colored .
They grow good in east or north window . Sometimes a tenuous curtain helps protect plant during the summer months . When placing works in the west or Confederacy - facing windows , utilise curtains to regulate the amounts of collateral sunlight .
Although many grow miniatures under born “ sunlight ” , plants are grown under a grow light scheme localise up in a basement give up in force resultant role .
The40 - watt fluorescent grows lightness fixtureis the easiest to hold .
Using a single tube fixing and place the fluorescent tube 6″ to 12″ inches above the leaves .
Nine to 12″ inch seems to suit more plant than the 6″ inch aloofness .
Lights burn from breakfast until bedtime . Do not keep lights on 24 hours a mean solar day .
Watering Miniature African Violets
Anyone can easily learn the art of water miniature African violets properly . Remember , smaller plant and pocket-size great deal sizes do not require as much body of water as larger African reddish blue .
Although you ’ll employ less weewee , you ’ll need to irrigate more often . surround vary , and each grower must learn by trial and erroneousness how much to urine . Any method acting that produces suitable results is right for you !
The size of pots , and the type , are both authoritative . Most prefer to start planting young plant in 2 1/4″-inch and then shift to 2 1/2″-inch pots .
A mature plant requires a 3 - inch toilet . In the past times , everything rise in clay pots , today most grow in charge card sight . However , I still love the spirit of the simpleterra cotta clay pot .
waterproofed plastic pots do not mislay water as chop-chop as clay pots . Thus African reddish blue will not need tearing as often , or as much .
Soil also remain moist longer , and plants grow more uniformly . However , beware of excess water supply . you could easy over plants develop plastic pots !
Reduce watering even more with toy in pliant container .
Some growers love to plant their miniatures in teacup and cafe noir cups . Take additional care not to overwater since these “ cups ” have no drainage hollow .
relate : Growing African Violets My fashion !
Growing A Mini African Violet From Leaves
African reddish blue multiplication is no differenton “ minis ” or the larger character . However , the little leaves sometimes require toothpicks to support and hold the leaf upright until rooted .
With so many “ miniature ” African violets useable to farm and revel . Why wait ? It ’s time to go mini !
African Violet Problems
Question : Does an African violet bloom more if kept ascendant - stick to ?
serve : Though manycommon houseplants , such asgeraniums ( Pelargonium ) , flower more freely if kept tooth root - leap , African reddish blue flower well if somewhat overpotted . vernal efflorescence plant do well in 3 , 4 , or 5 - inch spate .
Question : Although I ’ve had achiever in starting African violet plants , this wintertime many of the leaves developed faint markings like those on columbine leavescaused by leaf miners . Nothing else appears wrong with them . Is the condition have by pests , too much light , or too little light?SJH , New Hampshire
Answer : I have see African violet with leafage as you describe . The grounds ? My guess – too much sun or sunshine striking leaves when wet . Perhaps a shift in emplacement will puzzle out your problem as the plants seem salubrious otherwise .
doubt : I have several African violet which are thrive attractively but never flower . I have followed all directions cautiously but get only an abundance of intelligent leaves . Any Ideas?LV , New York
Answer : There are many variations of the African violet plant . I have observed several vigorous plants that were slow to bloom but did finally . A different window might help .
Question : To my dismay , I find some whitish spot on the petal of my lovely African violet . What get them?OW , Ontario
Answer : I am not familiar with anything that attack the flowers of African violets . The damage you depict make me think ofthrips as a potential cause . try out a flower under a magnifying glass to see if the tissue has been rasped . prove standing plant in dish antenna with naphthalene flakes spread over the bottom .
dubiousness : What make African violets to die in the spunk of the plant life ? The new growing is swelled , twisted , twisted , and stems hard and brittle . LL , Illinois
resolution : Cyclamen mite is belike the culprit . Mites are too small to be seen by the naked eye . One souse of the dirt with a systemic miticide will give several months’protection from cyclamen mites .
There are two other possible cause for the condition of your African reddish blue . Fertilizer burnis sometimes confused with damage get by cyclamen tinge . If you think you might have over - fertilized , drench the well - drained stain with plain piss .
Withhold fertilizer until the flora appear normal , then swimming provender at half - strength not more often than once a calendar month .
If you growAfrican violets under grow lightsand sometimes draw a blank to turn over off the lights at night , repeated forgetfulness may induce bunched - up center growth .
Since you know the care your violet receive , you will be capable to diagnose which of these is your problem .
Question : Are credit card pots respectable for African violets?SW , Pennsylvania .
Answer : Yes – they are good for all potted plants . Contrasted with the Great Compromiser raft , those made of plastic do not absorb wet from the soil in them .
Therefore , plants grow in charge card pots do not ask as frequent lacrimation as do those growing in clay pots under the same conditions .
