African Violets Care Guide

Introduced to the United States in the 1890s and popularized as houseplants in the 1940s, African violets are a traditional and beautiful plant to add to your home. Due to long popularity as houseplants, there are thousands of cultivars to choose from in endless color and bloom variations. While African violets are popular plants with collectors, they are relatively easy to care for and an excellent choice for both gardeners and non-gardeners who wish to add blooming houseplants to their home.

Watering

African violets can be a little bit particular about water on their foliage, so we recommend bottom watering. To do this, fill a saucer or bowl with about an inch of room temperature water (not cold water) and place the African violet directly into the bowl, so that the water absorbs into the soil through the drainage holes of the pot. Once the surface of the soil feels moist, you can remove the plant from the bowl and let excess water drain. If you don’t want to take the time to bottom water, just be sure to water at the base of the plant with room temperature water. There’s no need to fret if you forget and water your violet from the top or with cold water, but you may see unsightly leaf spots develop on its foliage. Let the soil dry out a bit before watering your plant again. When the surface (top inch) of soil feels dry, it’s time to water.

Sunlight

Like many houseplants, African violets prefer bright but indirect sun. To achieve this, place your African violet in an east or north facing window, or place it behind a sheer curtain or a few feet away from a south or west facing window. Your plant may develop leaf scorch if it receives too much sun. If you notice this, you can move the plant to a more sheltered location.

Soil and Fertilizer

We recommend African violet specific soil and fertilizer for these plants, such as Espoma African Violet premium potting mix and Schultz African Violet liquid plant food. If you choose to use Schultz, you can apply this fertilizer with every watering according to the package instructions. Other fertilizers may be applied less frequently, so be sure to check the directions of your preferred product.

Repotting

African Violets enjoy being snug in their pots and typically require repotting once every few years. Signs that your violet needs to be repotted include wilting leaves and seeing roots come out of the bottom or top of the pot. When repotting, choose a new pot with good drainage that is just one size up from the current one, or 1-2 inches greater in diameter. If you want step by step directions for repotting houseplants, you may be interested in our houseplant repotting demonstration video.

Pests

Common houseplant pests that affect African violet include spider mites, mealy bugs and cyclamen mites. If you encounter any of these, you can control them with neem oil or an insecticide product. You are welcome to bring a sample in a plastic bag to our plant clinic for diagnosis and recommended treatments! You can also bring us a clear photo of the plant, showing the issue in detail.

Other Common Issues

African Violet Doesn’t Bloom

If your plant stops producing flowers, it may be receiving too little sunlight or be in too cool of a location. Try moving it to a brighter part of your home, and check the area to make sure it stays about 70 degrees.

Spots on Leaves

Spots on your African Violet’s leaves are generally caused by water. You can carefully clip the affected leaves off and continue watering from the base of the plant or by setting the plant’s pot in a dish of water to absorb water through the drainage holes.

Limp and Wilted Leaves When Soil is Moist

If you notice the leaves on your plant are limp and wilting, but the soil is moist, your plant may be getting too much water. Check your pot to make sure the water is properly draining, let any excess water drain away and repot if needed into a new pot with better drainage holes. Check the plants roots for rot, and clip away any dying or damaged roots before placing the plant in a new pot or back into it’s old pot. You may need to reduce watering. The soil should dry out to the point it is just slightly moist before you water it again.