Gardening Tips

Menu
  • Accueil
  • Flowers
  • Fruits
  • Gardening
  • Graden Decor
  • Herbs
  • Home
  • Jardinage
  • Organic Gardening
  • Uncategorized
  • Vegetables
Home
Flowers
African Violets: A Stunning Flower Everyone Should have In Their Yard

African Violets: A Stunning Flower Everyone Should have In Their Yard

How to Grow African Violets

How to Grow African Violets

African Violets: A Stunning Flower Everyone Should have In Their Yard

To propagate new African violets, the most common method is to use the leaves from existing plants and grow them in water. To do this, you will need a sterilized cutting tool, a thin-necked bottle like a beer bottle that has been sterilized, and plastic wrap or a bag.

First, select a large and healthy leaf from a thriving African violet plant. Cut the leaf at a 45-degree angle, including 2 inches (5 cm) of stem, with the cut side facing upward.

Next, fill the sterilized bottle with lukewarm water and place the stem of the leaf into the bottle’s neck, ensuring that the stem is submerged in water while the leaf rests above the rim. Cover the top of the bottle and the leaf loosely with plastic to keep in the humidity.

Put the bottle in a warm area that receives a lot of filtered light and ensure that the stem is always submerged by adding water as needed. In a few weeks, the leaf cutting will begin to sprout new African violets.

A/Propagating African Violets

 

1/Grow a new plant in water from a leaf

An alternative way to propagate new African violets is by planting the leaf directly into soil, rather than rooting it in water. To do this, you will require a healthy leaf and 2 inches (5 cm) of stem cut from a thriving violet, a small clear plastic pot, potting soil, and a plastic cover or wrap.

Begin by filling the clear plastic pot with loose potting soil. Then, insert the cut stem of the leaf into the soil to a depth of half an inch (1.3 cm). Next, cover the top of the pot with clear plastic wrap or a cover to retain moisture.

Put the potted cutting in a warm location where it can receive plenty of filtered sunlight. You won’t need to water the cutting as long as the plastic wrap or cover keeps the moisture in.

Also Read: Home Gardening Hacks: 16 Surprising Household Items That You Can Use as Fertilizers

2/Plant a leaf right in the soil

Growing African violets from seeds is another method, but it’s not as common as propagating them from cuttings. To start growing African violets from seeds, you will require seed starters, a plastic cover or wrap, a spray bottle, growing lights, and a suitable medium like milled coconut and perlite or pasteurized peat moss.

Firstly, water the medium and let it dry out until it’s moist. Then, fill the seed starters with the medium and spray the top of the medium with water. Next, sprinkle a few seeds into the top of each starter cell and cover them with plastic.

Place the seed starters about 10 inches (25 cm) below the grow lights and provide the seeds with 12 to 14 hours of light per day. If the environment remains humid due to the plastic wrap, you won’t need to water them.

3/Grow them from seeds

Knowing the right time for transplanting is crucial. Seedlings and cuttings require different timelines before transplanting.

For seedlings, wait until their leaves reach a width of 2 inches (5 cm) before transplanting.

On the other hand, if you are propagating from cuttings, the baby plants will be ready for transplanting in about eight to 10 weeks, once new leaves have grown to roughly the size of a dime.

B/ Transplanting Young African Violets

1/Determine the right time to transplant.

To transplant successfully, timing is crucial. Seedlings should reach a specific size before transplanting, whereas plants grown from cuttings are ready to be transplanted after a certain duration. For seedlings, it is best to wait until their leaves reach a width of at least 2 inches (5 cm). For cuttings, it typically takes about eight to 10 weeks for the new leaves to grow to the size of a dime, at which point they are ready for transplantation.

2/Choose the right soil

Selecting the appropriate soil is critical for African violets. These plants thrive in a slightly acidic medium, with a pH ranging from 6.4 to 6.9. Since the soil should be loose, well-draining, and permit free root development, African violets are not commonly grown in regular soil. Fortunately, many garden and home stores carry a specialized medium for African violets. Alternatively, you can create your own African violet mix by combining equal parts of perlite, vermiculite, and peat moss.

3/Select the right pot

Choosing the appropriate pot is crucial when it comes to growing African violets indoors. It is akin to providing the right home for your plants. Pots that are the right size for the root systems of these plants are best. Avoid using oversized pots as they may hinder blooming. A good guideline is to choose a pot that is one-third the size of the plant, matching the size of the root system. For seedlings or babies, a 2-inch (5-cm) pot should be adequate. When it comes to material, both plastic and terracotta pots can be used for African violets. Plastic pots need less watering, while terracotta pots allow for better air flow.

4/Separate plants grown from cuttings
Separating plants that are propagated from cuttings is necessary as you may end up with multiple offspring, as many as 15, growing from a single parent. Before planting, it is important to separate them. To do so, gently remove the cutting, along with all the soil, and place it on a newspaper or table. Using your fingers, gently remove the soil to expose the cut stem and all the babies. To distinguish one baby from another, look for small clusters of leaves that are still attached to the parent. Once you have identified all the offspring, carefully cut each one from the parent using a sterilized cutting tool.
5/ Transplant the violets

To transplant the African violets, fill the small pots with the appropriate African violet medium. Ensure that the medium is loose and not packed down. Use the tip of your pinky finger or a pencil to create a half-inch (1.3 cm) indentation in the center of each pot’s soil. Gently place each seedling or baby plant into the hole in the soil, making sure that all the leaves and stems are above the soil. Finally, cover the roots loosely with extra medium.

Also Read: Queen of the Night: A stunning Flower Everyone Should Have In Their Yard

6/ Water the plants and store them somewhere warm and humid

After planting, water the African violets by adding enough water to each pot to moisten the medium. Place the pots in a warm location that receives indirect sunlight and is humid. If there is no naturally humid location available, a humidifier can be set up in the area where the plants are growing.

C/ Caring for African Violets

 

1/ Water the plants when the soil feels dry

To maintain optimal soil moisture for African violets, water the plants when the soil feels dry to the touch. Over or underwatering can cause the plant to stop blooming. Use room temperature water to avoid chilling the roots, which can lead to curling of the leaves or flowers. Avoid getting water on the leaves or flowers, as this can cause rings or spots to form on the plant. If water does get on the leaves or flowers, gently dry the area with an absorbent towel.

2/ Provide plenty of bright but indirect light

African violets require abundant but indirect light to thrive. If they don’t receive enough sunlight, they won’t bloom. However, direct sunlight can easily scorch them, so their placement in the house is crucial. During the winter, it’s best to position the plants near a window that faces south or west in the Northern Hemisphere, or north or east in the Southern Hemisphere. During the summer, it’s preferable to place them near a window that faces north or east in the Northern Hemisphere, or south or west in the Southern Hemisphere. To provide bright and indirect light, you can use lightweight curtains to provide shade.

3/ Feed them fertilizer
To ensure that African violets continue to produce flowers throughout the year, it is important to provide them with fertilizer. These plants require plenty of nutrients, and there are fertilizers available that are specifically designed for them. It is crucial to provide them with balanced nutrients, so a good option is a 20-20-20 fertilizer which contains equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for applying the fertilizer to your African violets.
4/ Monitor the temperature
Keep track of the temperature. African violets grow best in a temperature range of 65-75°F (18-24°C). Ensure that the plants are in a location where this temperature can be maintained and protected from drafts and sudden temperature fluctuations. If the temperature falls below 50°F (10°C), the plant will most likely die.
5/ Maintain the humidity
To ensure healthy growth and flowering, it is important to maintain the appropriate humidity level for African violets, which should be between 40 and 60 percent. A hygrometer can be used to measure the humidity level in the room. If the humidity is too low, a portable humidifier can be installed to increase the moisture in the air. Violets that are not exposed to enough humidity tend to grow at a slow pace and may produce flower buds that do not bloom.
6/ Repot the plants every year

It’s essential to repot African violets every year as they grow best in small pots. This practice helps to accommodate their growth. While repotting, use fresh soil and select a pot that is one size larger than their current pot.

African Violets: A Stunning Flower Everyone Should have In Their Yard

 

 Also Read: 22 Quick “Zero Dollar” Garden Hacks- Gardening Tips

Share
Tweet
Linkedin
Pinterest
Email
Prev Article
Next Article

Related Articles

How To Grow Cucumbers In Pots & Containers – Grow Cucumbers Anywhere!
How To Grow Cucumbers In Pots & Containers – Grow …

How To Grow Cucumbers In Pots & Containers – Grow Cucumbers Anywhere!

35 Simple, Attractive Garden and Lawn Edging Ideas
35 Lawn Edging Ideas credit: designideasguide Transforming a messy yard …

35 Simple, Attractive Garden and Lawn Edging Ideas

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Recent Posts

  • 14 Surprising Uses For Tomato Leaves You Probably Never Considered
    14 Surprising Uses For Tomato Leaves You Probably Never Considered
  • How To Grow The Best Zucchini – 8 Secret Tips For Big Flavor & High Yields!
    How To Grow The Best Zucchini – 8 Secret Tips For Big Flavor & High Yields!
  • Put These 12 Surprising Things in Your TOMATO Planting Hole For The Best Tomatoes Ever
    Put These 12 Surprising Things in Your TOMATO Planting Hole For The Best Tomatoes Ever
  • How To Keep Cosmos Blooming Strong – From Spring Until Fall!
    How To Keep Cosmos Blooming Strong – From Spring Until Fall!
  • How To Grow Vegetables In Containers – The 12 Key Secrets To Success
    How To Grow Vegetables In Containers – The 12 Key Secrets To Success

Gardening Tips

Copyright © 2023 Gardening Tips
Theme by MyThemeShop.com

Ad Blocker Detected

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.

Refresh