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…
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African violets are stunning flowering houseplants that can bloom beautifully when cared for properly. Like all plants, African violets go through distinct growth stages throughout their life cycle. Understanding these different phases of development is key to growing strong, flowering plants.
In this article we’ll explore the fascinating stages of African violet plant growth and tips for care during each period.
Stage 1: Germination
Germination is the very first stage of growth when seeds sprout and seedlings emerge
To start African violet seeds, use a sterile seed starting mix and plant seeds just below the surface. Keep the soil moist and warm, between 70-75°F. This encourages rapid germination, which takes 10-14 days.
Once sprouted, move seedlings to bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sun to prevent burning tender leaves. Maintain warm temperatures around 70°F for strong growth. Water when the top inch of soil dries out to prevent damping off disease.
Stage 2: Seedling Stage
In this stage, African violet seedlings focus on growing roots and leaves. Proper care now means:
- Bright, filtered light 10-12 hours per day
- Daytime temps of 65-75°F
- Nighttime temps around 60°F
- Even moisture – allow soil to partly dry before watering
- Diluted fertilizer to nourish growth
Give seedlings time to establish before repotting. Wait until they have 3-4 true leaves.
Stage 3: Vegetative Growth
Now the African violet puts energy into vegetative growth, producing more leaves and branching stems. Robust growth requires:
- Bright, indirect light to fuel photosynthesis
- Daytime temperatures of 65-75°F
- Nighttime temps around 60°F
- Weekly watering, allowing soil to partly dry out
- Every-other-week feeding with fertilizer
Rotate plants periodically for even, bushy growth. Pinch back leggy stems to encourage branching.
Stage 4: Flowering
This is when your African violet will be covered in cheerful blooms! To maximize flowers:
- Increase light exposure to 12-14 hours daily
- Maintain daytime temperatures of 65-75°F
- Nighttime temperatures around 60°F
- Consistent soil moisture
- Feed with fertilizer every 2-3 weeks
Remove spent blooms to encourage new flowers. Watch for bud drop, a sign of stress.
Stage 5: Resting Period
After a long flowering period, African violets enter a rest stage. Growth slows as the plant recuperates. Offer less water and fertilizer now. Temperatures can be slightly cooler, around 60-70°F.
This rest before new growth lasts 4-6 weeks. Do not disturb the plant. Once it starts growing, resume normal care.
Stage 6: Propagation
To create new plants from a mature African violet, take 3-4 inch tip cuttings in spring or summer. Remove lower leaves and plant in sterile soil.
Keep cuttings warm and moist until roots form in 4-6 weeks. Transplant into individual pots once rooted.
Another option is dividing overgrown plants. Gently separate and repot divisions.
Common Problems & Solutions
- Leggy growth – Increase light
- Few blooms – Provide bright light & fertilize
- Leaf spots – Improve air circulation
- Wilt – Check for pests, water
- Yellow leaves – Less water, more sun
Caring Through All Stages
To summarize, proper African violet care through each growth stage means:
- Germination – Warm, moist soil
- Seedling – Gentle light, moderate temps
- Vegetative – Bright light, moisture, feeding
- Flowering – Maximize light and nutrients
- Resting – Reduce water and food
- Propagation – Take cuttings or divide plants
Understanding the changes African violets go through allows you to provide the right care at each phase. With a little attention to their growth stage needs, you’ll be rewarded with vibrant flowers and thriving plants!
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How to top water African Violets
Top watering isnt my usual method for African Violets but you absolutely can top water with a little care, plus it has one big benefit the other two methods dont. Top watering is an easier method for African Violets that arent too full, where you can get water directly into the soil, avoiding the foliage altogether. If you have one of those watering bottles with a long spout (like these squeeze watering bottles if youre in New Zealand, or the same bottles here from Amazon), then they do a good job directing the watering safely past full foliage (but do take longer to use, so are better for watering baby plants).
Use room temperature water and water heavily enough so all the substrate ends up fully saturated and water pours out the drainage holes. You want to avoid leaving dry spots in the pot so no roots miss out, which can cause root hairs to dry out and die. Dead roots can also lead to root rot later when you do water again, as the dead roots are unable to absorb water and end up rotting instead.
A handy tip for top watering any plant that prefers not to fully dry out – like African Violets and Peace Lilies – is to double-water. Wait a couple of minutes in-between until most of the water has drained out, then top water again to help you get any dry spots missed. Any water that ends up getting on leaves or stems should be patted dry with a paper towel to avoid common African Violet problems like crown rot and stem rot.
One significant benefit of top watering that wick watering and bottom watering dont offer, is that top watering heavily enough so water pours out the drainage holes, also flushes out any build-up of mineral salts from the substrate, called leaching. Some growers recommend top watering every month for this reason.
Its natural for mineral salts from your water and your fertiliser to build up slowly over time (choosing a reduced-salt fertiliser helps – more about what you feed coming up). Those salts can change the pH of the substrate over time, causing some nutrients to become toxic and others to be locked out, resulting in deficiencies. The excess salts can also damage roots and increase the risk of root rot and fertiliser burn. Another way to avoid that happening over time is to repot at least once a year into fresh substrate.
What materials can be used to make wicks for a self-watering pot?
For the wick, a thin stripe of fabric such as felt, or ribbon, rope, twine or shoelace can all do the job nicely. They do need replacing over time so check on them at least once a month to make sure theyre still doing their job. I like using braided cotton rope for my plants. Macrame cord works well too (available at craft stores). You can buy purpose-made capillary wick rope from Amazon also.
How to care for African violets and why you should grow them | Discovery | Gardening Australia
How long does it take to grow African violets?
Germination is the first stage in the life cycle of an African violet plant. This stage begins with the planting of seeds in a suitable potting mix. The germination process can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the quality of the seeds and the environmental conditions.
How do you propagate African violets?
There are two easy ways to propagate an African violet. Pinch out a leaf close to the middle of the rosette, leaving some of the leaf stem attached. Prepare a small 1- to 2-inch container with some African violet soil. Bonus step: Dip the leaf stem in some rooting hormone. Insert the leaf stem into the soil pointing downward.
How do rosette African violets grow?
Rosette African violets are single-crown plants with leaves that grow outwards from a central stalk in a circular pattern. The leaves stay close to the surface of the soil and flowers grow within the center of the plant. Trailing African violets are multi-crown plants with multiple stems that grow sideways and have a cascading growth habit.
What does a trailing African violet plant look like?
The leaves stay close to the surface of the soil and flowers grow within the center of the plant. Trailing African violets are multi-crown plants with multiple stems that grow sideways and have a cascading growth habit. Stems are longer than on rosette types, and flowers grow from each crown, giving the plant a bushy appearance.