2024 was named The Year of the African Violet by the National Garden Bureau and I am so here for it. The cheerful, compact, easy-care African Violet is a plant Ive always had a few of for the last 30+ years. They should come with a warning though. Theyre very addictive!
As well as my many mature African Violets, I have a converted Ikea cabinet with 20 or so variegated and girl leaf propagations growing right now, tucked up nice and warm and humid under grow lights. And no, I did NOT think ahead on what Ill do with them all once they get big, so I guess its African Violets on everyones gift list this year. I love how a simple single-leaf cutting can be popped in some Starter Mix and voila! Hello cute new plant. PS: These mini pots with humidity domes are superb for African Violet propagation and baby plants.
However, these adorable plants seem to be hit-or-miss with plant parents. Either you find them super-easy, or you kill them. There certainly are some African Violet rules that make them MUCH easier to care for once you know what to do (and not to do), and how to read their leaves. Here are the rules, African Violet tips and tricks, the care essentials covering watering, substrate, light, temperature, humidity and more, plus trouble-shooting tips throughout, including how to get your African Violet to flower. Lets jump in…
Amazon links in this post may be affiliate links which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through links (but doesnt change the price you pay). Learn more
African violets are one of the most popular houseplants grown around the world. Their colorful blooms and furry green leaves make them an attractive addition to any indoor space. While caring for African violets is relatively straightforward, it helps to understand their growth cycles and stages. This allows you to provide the right care at the right time to keep your plants healthy and encourage abundant flowering.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through the various growth stages of the African violet life cycle so you can recognize what’s happening with your plant We’ll also provide tips on how to care for your African violet during each phase
Seedling Stage
The African violet life cycle begins with a seed. Seeds can be purchased from reputable online retailers or nurseries. Be aware that seed-grown African violets will not be identical to the parent plant.
Once planted in a porous, peat-based potting mix, African violet seeds take 1 to 9 weeks to germinate. Keep the soil moist but not soggy during this time Newly sprouted seedlings are very tiny and delicate They will have two small seed leaves (cotyledons).
Seedling Care Tips:
- Provide bright, indirect light 12-14 hours per day.
- Keep room temperature around 70°F.
- Water when the top inch of soil is dry.
- High humidity encourages growth. Cover pots with plastic domes or bags.
- Fertilize with a weak African violet fertilizer solution every 2-3 weeks.
- Repot seedlings when the 2nd set of true leaves emerges.
Juvenile Stage
After the seed leaves emerge, the next set of leaves to form are the juvenile leaves These leaves will resemble the mature leaves that develop later, but they will be smaller in size. The juvenile stage lasts around 2-4 months.
Juvenile Care Tips:
- Gradually increase light exposure.
- Provide nighttime temperatures around 65°F.
- Allow soil to dry out slightly between waterings.
- Remove humidity dome once new leaves form.
- Repot into 3-4 inch pots when roots fill container.
Mature Vegetative Stage
Once the African violet has 6-8 full sets of leaves, it enters the mature vegetative phase. This stage is marked by larger leaf size and robust stem and crown growth. Mature African violets will continue growing more leaves and roots indefinitely if cared for properly.
Mature Care Tips:
- Provide very bright, indirect light.
- Water when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry.
- Feed with African violet fertilizer every 2 weeks during spring and summer.
- Repot annually in the spring into a pot one size larger.
- Prune off any damaged, diseased, or dead leaves.
Flowering Stage
Under the right conditions, African violets will start to flower during the mature phase. The first blooms normally appear 6-9 months from seed sowing date. Flower buds will emerge from the center crown of the plant on short stalks.
Flowering Care Tips:
- Increase light exposure to encourage blooming.
- Keep temperatures between 65-75°F during the day and 60-65°F at night.
- Ensure even moisture – never let soil completely dry out.
- Apply fertilizer at full recommended strength when flowering.
- Remove spent blooms promptly to encourage new flowers.
Dormancy
African violets need a period of rest after heavy flowering. During this dormant period, watering and fertilizing should be reduced to allow the plant to recover. Dormancy typically occurs in winter when light levels and temperatures drop. However, excessive summer heat can also cause dormancy.
Dormancy Care Tips:
- Reduce watering frequency, allow soil to dry out more between waterings.
- Discontinue fertilizing.
- Move plant to cooler location, around 60-65°F.
- Cut back on light exposure to about 8-10 hours daily.
- Remove any flowers or buds.
- Resume normal care when new growth appears.
Propagation Stage
Once a mature African violet plant is established, new plants can be propagated during the growth phase. African violets are commonly propagated by taking leaf cuttings. Select a healthy leaf, cut the petiole, and root in water or soil. The new plant will pass through all the growth stages described above.
Understanding the different phases of the African violet life cycle allows you to identify where your plant is at and modify care accordingly. With the right light, water, temperature, and fertilizer at each stage, you can enjoy endless flowers and foliage from these popular houseplants.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/grow-african-violets-indoors-1902733-02-ae7c409a65ba4b949cb33518c37dd90e.jpg)
Best temperature for African Violets
Maintaining an average of around 21 degrees Celsius (around 70 degrees Fahrenheit), is ideal for African Violets. Its best to avoid below 15 C (60 F), or going above 26 C (80 F). They dont love sudden or big temperature swings, so if you can avoid day and night being more than 5 degrees different thats ideal, although not always realistic! Being too cold tends to cause more harm than too warm.
As temperatures get cooler, you might notice no flowers, no or slow growth, and theres an increased risk of rot. You might also have leaves wilt, turn soft, brown and almost see-through. Curling leaf edges is another sign. Flowers may also wilt or turn brown. If theres been a more sudden temperature drop, such as leaving a plant outside overnight or in the path of the air conditioning or a cold draft from a window, it can take 1 to 2 days before an African Violet shows the signs of cold shock.
When to water African Violets
If you prefer top watering or bottom watering, instead of wick watering (more about all three coming up), youll need to keep an eye on your African Violets to know when to water again. With wick watering you dont need to worry about when to water as the substrate will suck up more water as it dries out, providing your wick is still working and you keep the water reservoir topped up.
Since African Violets prefer to stay lightly, evenly moist at all times (but never water-logged or soggy), the first sign you need to water is when the top few cms or inch of substrate is dry. Dont let your African Violet fully dry out as their fine, delicate roots can dry out and die, risking root rot when you do water again.
If your plants pot isnt too full of foliage, you can stick a finger down into the substrate to check if the top couple of cms / or half inch are dry, otherwise a slim water meter designed for smaller, shallower pots is a great way to check without getting your fingernails full of soil or disrupting the foliage. Ive found the 3 in 1 type meters (the ones with long metal probes), dont work well in smaller pots.
If you prefer a budget-friendly water meter solution, go for a Soil Sensor as you only need one for all your smaller plants. Thats the type you slide in to check the moisture level, but cannot leave in the plant. It has a very slim, shorter probe, and when you press the sensor on top it changes colour according to how damp the soil is at the tip of the probe.
Otherwise, have a look at Sustee water meters. They are superb if you prefer leaving a water meter in the plant. Sustee change colour as the substrate dries out so you can tell when to water again at a glance. If youre outside of New Zealand, you can get Sustee from Amazon also.
Another way I judge when to water is the pot weight. Once you get used to the wet weight of a pot, its surprisingly easy to know when it needs watering just by picking it up because the pot is lighter than it should be. If you gently squeeze the pot you might also notice an air space has formed between the substrate inside and the sides of the pot, telling you the soils dried out and drawn inwards.
Foliage also gives you a clue, although by the time you notice a change in foliage you may be going a little too long between watering. Most African Violets have firm, rigid leaves. Left dry too long, the leaves will start to wilt, droop down and become soft, which happens in the bottom leaves first (thats because the plant sucks the moisture it cant get from the roots, out of the bottom leaves to direct it to its newer top leaves).
PS: I have to give a shout out to clear pots too. I love being able to judge how moist the soil is by just looking directly at the substrate through the pot!
AFRICAN VIOLETS THE COMPLETE GUIDE
FAQ
What is the growth pattern of African violets?
What is the life cycle of an African Violet?
What is the secret to growing African violets?
Should you let African Violet soil dry out?