the benefits of growing african violet plant in your garden a natural solution

The Marvelous African Violet: A Natural Addition to Any Garden

African violets are one of the most popular and beautiful flowering houseplants, known for their colorful blooms and velvety foliage. But did you know that these stunning plants can also thrive when grown outdoors in the garden? Adding African violets to your garden provides numerous benefits beyond their ornamental beauty. In this article, we’ll explore why African violets make an excellent natural solution for gardens everywhere.

Outdoor Growth Habits

While we commonly think of African violets as houseplants, they can adapt surprisingly well to outdoor garden conditions. Native to Tanzania, these plants evolve to thrive in partial shade and indirect sunlight. When provided the right growing environment, African violets will grace your garden with months of continuous colorful blooms. Their relatively compact size, often less than 12 inches wide, makes them great for smaller garden beds and containers. With just a bit of care, African violets can transform into spectacular garden performers.

Improves Air Quality

One of the most compelling reasons to add African violets to your garden is their ability to purify indoor and outdoor air. As a flowering plant, African violets participate in photosynthesis by taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen This makes them natural air cleaners, filtering out harmful pollutants and providing you with fresher, cleaner air to breathe African violets remove toxins like benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from the environment. What better way to clean the air than by cultivating beautiful flowers?

Provides Soothing Scents

In addition to cleaning the air, African violets release a light, sweet fragrance from their blossoms. Their scent is subtle, not overpowering, and has a soothing, stress-relieving quality. You can place African violets near walkways, patios, or open windows so you catch a whiff of their floral aroma as you pass by. The scent of African violets in your garden is a simple way to lift your mood and promote relaxation.

Low Maintenance Bloomers

Unlike many flowering plants, African violets bloom abundantly with relatively minimal care and maintenance. While they enjoy consistent watering and fertilizing during the growing season, African violets do not require deadheading or frequent pruning. Their blooming habit is virtually continuous, with flowers lasting two to six weeks under suitable growing conditions. As long as you meet a few basic requirements, African violets will reward you with months of colorful, delicate flowers.

Thrives Indoors and Outdoors

The adaptability of African violets gives you flexibility in how to incorporate them into your gardening plans. You can grow them as traditional houseplants, as seasonal outdoor container plants, or plant them directly in garden beds and borders. Moving them indoors before the first frost extends their visual appeal. Whether you want perpetual blooms indoors or welcome color outside, African violets check both boxes.

Compact Size for Small Spaces

Another advantage of African violets is their compact form, maxing out around 12 inches in diameter. Their relatively small stature makes them ideal for container gardening on patios, balconies, and porches. You can also tuck them into beds near walkways or edges. For urban gardeners and anyone dealing with limited space, the pint-sized proportions of African violets allow you to enjoy their beauty without committing large garden areas.

Natural Medicinal Properties

Beyond their ornamental qualities, African violets have a history of medicinal usage. Compounds found in the leaves and flowers possess anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties. The antioxidants in African violets may help protect skin from damage. While more research is still needed, African violets show promise in providing natural health benefits along with their beauty.

Caring for African Violets Outdoors

Not sure about how to integrate these gems into your landscape? African violets couldn’t be much easier to care for. Here are some top tips for successfully growing African violets outdoors:

• Site in partial sun to light afternoon shade. Avoid hot midday sun.

• Use rich, well-draining soil high in organic matter. Commercial African violet mixes work great.

• Water thoroughly when the top inch of soil becomes dry. Avoid wetting the leaves.

• Fertilize every 2-4 weeks during the growing season with a balanced liquid fertilizer.

• Watch for pests like spider mites, aphids, and mealybugs. Treat any infestations promptly.

• Bring plants indoors before nighttime temps drop below 55°F in fall.

Follow these simple guidelines for thriving African violets that bloom spring through fall.

Growing African Violets for Continuous Color

With proper care, African violets will produce non-stop blooms from mid-spring through fall when grown outdoors. Here’s a season-by-season overview of caring for outdoor African violets:

Spring

• Place African violets outside after the last frost date once night temps remain above 55°F.
• Select a site protected from intense midday sun. Dappled light or morning sun is ideal.
• Begin regular fertilizing every 2-3 weeks to support growth and flowering.
• Water whenever the top inch of soil becomes dry.

Summer

• Continue fertilizing every 2-4 weeks.
• Monitor soil moisture closely and water before wilting occurs.
• Move pots or plants into a shadier spot if leaves appear pale or burnt.
• Prune off any damaged foliage or spent blooms.

Fall

• Reduce watering frequency as growth starts to slow by October.
• Bring African violets indoors before night temps drop below 55°F.
• Stop fertilizing 6-8 weeks before bringing plants inside for winter.
• Remove yellowed leaves and trim stems back by 1/3rd.

Follow this seasonal timeline, and your African violets will thrive through the growing season.

Overwintering Dormant Plants Indoors

African violets make excellent seasonal outdoor plants in all but the coldest climates. But what happens when it’s time to bring them inside for winter? Here are some tips for successfully overwintering your dormant African violets:

• Select a bright, sunny south or east facing window for overwintering plants.
• Reduce watering to only when pots feel light and soil is partly dry. Do not overwater dormant plants.
• Stop fertilizing until spring when new growth emerges.
• Prune back yellowed leaves and long leggy stems at end of season.
• Repot rootbound plants and refresh half of the soil if needed.
• In mid-late winter, move plants to warmer location to initiate new growth.
• Resume normal watering and fertilizing as plants come out of dormancy in spring.

With a little preparation in fall, you can easily transition your African violets from the garden back into the house. Then enjoy their flowers once again next growing season!

The Many Uses of African Violets

Aside from showcasing them in garden beds and containers outdoors, African violets have many versatile uses that make them even more enjoyable:

• Give as gifts. African violets make lovely gifts for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, birthdays, etc.

• Enter into flower shows. African violets are favorites for competitive flower exhibits.

• Display indoors year round. Their perpetual blooming makes them perfect houseplants.

• Accent windowsills, shelves, and tabletops with their colorful blooms.

• Create tropical accent pots or planters combined with other plants.

• Line walkways or edge garden beds with their compact forms.

However you choose to showcase them, African violets are sure to beautify your home and garden with their dazzling flowers and easy care nature.

The Next Garden Star

African violets have been treasured houseplants for generations, but their potential in the garden remains underutilized. With a little guidance on their ideal growing conditions and care, you can easily transform these indoor favorites into spectacular outdoor bloomers. Beyond their ornamental appeal, African violets offer natural air purification, soothing scents, medicinal properties, versatility, and compact size for small spaces. For an endless supply of exotic color that thrives equally well indoors and out, look no further than the African violet. Make this luminous flower the next shining star of your garden and indoor spaces!