How to Care for African Violets
The next time you're in the grocery store, don't pass up those little pots of African violets. With a little care, you'll have beautiful purple, pink and white blooms all season long.
Not really a violet at all, African violets were discovered in East Tanzania and brought back to Europe in the late 1800's.
African violets need indirect light - not direct sunlight. Place them 4'-6' from a south facing window. If it's darker in your home, place them under a table lamp - the artificial light will stimulate growth just like natural sunlight. That's one of the really cool things about violets.
Water regularly when the soil is dry to the touch. But don't water directly onto the top of the plant as the leaves can wilt and die off if they get wet. Water from below by placing in a tray of pebbles and filling the tray with water weekly.
Be sure to use a fertilizer specifically designed for African violets. Once your flowers are finished, just pinch them off. New flowers should appear in a short time.
Propogating African violets is super easy. Just pinch off a leaf, cut it on an angle and drop it into a pot. In a month's time, you should notice new baby leaves growing and within 6 months, you'll have new plants ready to bloom.
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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5 of 7 comments
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Thank you for reminding me of how much I've enjoyed African violets in the past. I can't wait to find some pretty ones to fill a windowsill!
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On the last picture (the right one) did You cover the new pot with a plastic bag?? I just propagated my violet 2 days ago , but I didn't cover it with plastic bag...should I do that??
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@Heather (New House New Home) Thank You!!!
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
Hi is the african violet a succulent or a plant? Thank you