Hampton Gardener On African Violets

I’ve told this story before, about how my mother is confirmed to have a black thumb. She fooled us for years, though, because her prized plants, her African violets, were in a state of perpetual bloom. But my mother is nearly 98, and while she can no longer “care” for her plants, she insists on having them around her apartment.

Two years ago, we met a wonderful caregiver, Kerry, who now lives with her. Kerry also has a black thumb. But last year I promised her that I’d turn her thumb green, and the proof is in the African violets that I’ve mentored her with—and, indeed, both the violets and Kerry are blooming. It’s further proof that these plants are easy to care for and easy to grow, even in a dry apartment by someone who was a confirmed plant killer.

Kerry has learned two very important tricks in growing African violets, one from me and one from my mother. The first is in not overwatering—the African violets’ death knell. You’ll have to read on to find out the other.

Native to East Africa, African violets (

Saintpaulia

), which are not violets at all, have long been a favorite houseplant, but continued breeding efforts have resulted in a group of not only stunning plants but varieties that have also become more tolerant of our home growing conditions, and the flower colors range from simple to spectacular. There are now hundreds of varieties to choose from, in dozens of colors and flower types, and, best of all, they can be relatively inexpensive, bloom almost in perpetuity, and can be purchased in supermarkets, greengrocers, garden centers and even the big box stores. They’re small, as houseplants go, making them good specimen plants for tabletops or small nooks, and the miniature varieties grow in a thumbnail pot just an inch in diameter. They also make great gifts.

It’s indisputable that more African violets die from overwatering than from any other cause. They cannot be watered by the calendar, since different surroundings and different plants require more or less frequent waterings. These plants should be watered only when the soil begins to look or feel dry. In plastic pots, a good clue is that if the plant feels light when lifted, it probably needs water. If heavy, wait.

The best time for watering is in the morning, and they can be watered either from the top or bottom. If bottom watering is your method (the best), occasionally water from the top to flush (leach) out any accumulated fertilizer salts. Water should be at room temperature, and if your water is chlorinated, let it stand overnight before giving it to the plant. Never—as in not even once—leave your plant standing in water, as they resent “wet feet” more than any other plant I know of. And keep the foliage dry.

African violets are heavy feeders, and if you want continuous blooming, you must fertilize regularly. There are a number of good fertilizers specially formulated just for this plant, and they are easy to find in stores and garden centers. If fertilizing is something that you tend to forget about, then you should consider investing in some time-release fertilizer that needs replenishment several times year as opposed to weekly feedings. Be careful not to over-fertilize, and if you are using a liquid or dry fertilizer, do not apply it to dry soil. If the soil is dry, water, then fertilize several hours later.

These plants need good light, but not strong or hot sunlight. In the winter they can stand the sun with some slight shading, but in the summer be careful to shade them or they’ll easily burn. They can tolerate very early or very late sun, but otherwise they should be well shaded. African violets love artificial light, and most prize-winners are grown this way, but remember that they’ll need at least eight hours of darkness every 24 hours. You’ll be amazed at how well they do under countertop fluorescent lights in the kitchen. Remember to turn your plants regularly when growing in natural light, or you’ll end up with a one-sided violet.

With good light, adequate moisture and fertilizer, you should end up with good blooms. If the plant refuses to bloom, it’s probably because not enough light is reaching the center of the plant. Keep any developing suckers cut off—but be sure they’re suckers before you cut them, because sometimes tiny buds can be mistaken for suckers.

One good clue as to whether or not the plant gets sufficient light is to observe the leaves and stems. If the light is weak, the stems will be long and reaching upward for the light. If the light is too strong, the stems will be short and the leaves bending down around the pot.

African violets tolerate dry homes but prefer high humidity and air that is fresh and gently moving. They don’t like strong drafts and especially dislike cold wind blowing on them. It’s generally felt that temperatures ranging from 60 degrees at night and up to 75 degrees during the day are ideal, but some variations should be acceptable. If your home or office is particularly dry, set the pot on a tray or saucer filled with gravel and water, but make sure that the water never comes into direct contact with the pot.

As for pots, you only need one large enough to develop a good root system, and plants purchased in a 4-inch pot may remain in that pot for a year or longer. Small plants, however, should not go into large pots, but by the same token they should not get pot-bound. Soils should be very porous so that they can drain well and provide plenty of air movement through the soil. Never use soil from your garden, and if possible use a soil specially blended for African violets.

Once hooked on this plant, you’ll soon discover that they are very easy to propagate, though practice will make perfect. There are some great instructions at robsviolet.com, and you’ll find that once you get the hang of it you can grow one or a dozen just as easily just from a leaf.

Oh, my mother’s second trick: Seems she’s found a store that sells imitation African violet blossoms that are indistinguishable from the real thing, and from time to time we’ve caught her sticking these fakes into the pots with the real thing. At first we thought a new plant had been developed that yielded two different color blossoms—but, alas, she came clean.

Keep growing!