How to Grow African Violets (2024)

African violets are one of the world's most popular houseplantsand for good reason. These compact, low-growing plants flower several times a year. They are available in a multitude of leaf forms and colors. African violets are distinguished by a rosette of thick, fuzzy leaves and violet-like flowers that bloom just above the evergreen foliage.

Don't be put off by their reputation for difficulty. Providing you follow a few simple rules, African violet care is easy. With a little experience, it's possible to keep these slow-growing plants in flower nearly all year round and grow them to the size of dinner plates.

How to Grow African Violets (1)

Common NameAfrican violet
Botanical NameSaintpaulia ionantha
FamilyGesneriaceae
Plant TypePerennial
Mature Size6-9 in. tall, 6-9 in. wide
Sun ExposurePartial
Soil TypeWell-drained but moist
Soil pHAcidic, neutral
Bloom TimeSpring, summer, fall, winter
Flower ColorWhite, pink, red, blue, purple
Hardiness Zones11-12 (USDA)
Native AreasAfrica

African Violet Care

African violets will thrive in bright, warm and humid conditions. Keep water from touching their leaves or brown spots may develop. Remove dead flowers and leaves to encourage a healthier plant. Regularly check the soil for excess moisture, which leads to root rot.

African violets should be kept in moist enough conditions that they don't dry out and exposed to good air circulation. Don't be discouraged if your African violets suffer some damage—it's all part of the process.

How to Grow African Violets (2)

How to Grow African Violets (3)

Light

African violets do well in bright but not direct sunlight. They are commonly grown under fluorescent lights placed 12 to 15 inches above the leaves. If the leaves start getting light green, your plant is getting too much light, while thin and dark green leaves or a leggy plant indicate too little light.

Soil

A well-drained potting mix is essential for African violets. Poor drainage can cause root rot, in which the plant becomes waterlogged and its leaves begin to fall, so make sure that the plant is never allowed to be exposed to standing water for an extended period of time.

Water

Keep soil moist with warm water and strive for high humidity. Use a moisture meter to determine how often to water instead of watering on a set schedule.

Do not allow water to contact the leaves of the plant to prevent damage. Water from below, or push the water spout into the soil when watering. Don't allow the plant to sit in water.

Temperature and Humidity

African violets like warm and humid conditions and thrive at 70 degrees. Do not allow the temperature to fall below about 60 degrees. Keep the plants away from any drafts in the home.

Fertilizer

Feed with an African violet fertilizer every other week during the spring and summer. For the amount to use, follow product label instructions.

Types of African Violets

African violets are available in single and double flowers, frilled, and different shaped flowers. Their flowers come in all different colors, and the plants have widely varied leaf shapes. They come in both single crown and also multi-crown, trailing plants. These are just a few examples.

  • 'Persian Prince' is a miniature-sized plant with scalloped medium green leaves and semidouble dark purple flowers.
  • 'Lyon's Lavender Magic' is standard size with medium green foliage, and white with light purple colored star-shaped flowers that can be single or semi-double and frilled.
  • 'Hawaiian Pearl' is a standard size plant with dark green foliage and has a semi-double star shape flower that is ivory with a dark lavender/rose band.
  • 'Summer Twilight' has variegated leaves with frilled lilac-purple flowers that have a white edged border.
  • 'Lonestar Snowstorm' has variegated leaves with single white frilled flowers.
  • 'Little Maya' has dark green foliage with deep crimson red flowers.

Pruning

Carefully remove any dead leaves. Once blooms are spent, deadhead them to encourage the plant to stay healthy and bloom again.

Propagating African Violets

African violets can be propagated from leaf cuttings or from offsets. It is fairly easy to propagate from a leaf from an adult plant. Here's how:

  1. Select a healthy green leaf from the bottom of the plant and using scissors carefully snip it off at the base of the plant.
  2. Cut the leaf stem at a 45-degree angle to 1/2 inch in length.
  3. Put the cutting into a small pot that has been prepared with a mixture of vermiculite and peat, then water.
  4. Cover the pot with a plastic baggie and place in bright, indirect light.
  5. You should see new baby plants in about 12 weeks. Wait until they're bigger and separate them from the leaf and transplant.

Adult plants occasionally produce small plantlets or shoots from the side. Remove these and pot up independently. Removing them also encourages better blooms on the parent plant.

Potting and Repotting African Violets

African violets do better when they are slightly under-potted. Repot only when necessary into a pot that is one size up and use an all-purpose potting soil or African violet potting mix.

To repot these plants, simply grab the plant as a whole, lift it, and replace it with a larger container, making sure not to damage their root systems in the process. Only plant up to where they were originally planted, and do not cover the crown of the plant.

Common signs that a plant is stressed out and needs to be repotted include falling leaves and overcrowding, as well as roots that protrude from the surface of the soil. Keep an eye out and repot the plant if you think it'll help.

Common Pests and Diseases

African violets, like all plants, can be affected by common pests and diseases. Common pests include spider mites, mealy bugs, and cyclamen mites, which, once noticed, can be taken care of with neem oil or an insecticide.

Diseases include fungi such as botrytis blight, crown rot and root rot. To help avoid these diseases, don't overwater your plant, and provide it with the proper lighting, fertilization, and air circulation.

How to Get African Violets to Bloom

These plants can bloom year round when health. Provide them with the proper light, water, humidity, fertilizer, and soil. African violets start blooming and flowering for longer periods of time when the begin to fill their pots but are not yet root-bound.

When the flowers are spent, make sure to deadhead them, as this will encourage the plant to flower more. Hopefully, you'll see new blooms in about six weeks.

Common Problems With African Violets

Plant Doesn't Bloom

If your African violet is not producing flowers, this is likely because it is not getting enough light or that the temperature and humidity are not correct. Place the plant in bright, indirect lighting, or use fluorescent lighting, and ensure the temperature in the room is at least 70 degrees.

Spots on Leaves

African violets do not like to have water on their leaves, which causes spots. Water these plants from the bottom, by placing the container in a bowl, or use a self-watering pot to prevent this problem.

FAQ

  • How long can an African violet live?

    With the proper care and maintenance, African violets can live for around 20 years and as long as 50 years.

  • How do you clean off the leaves of an African violet?

    African violet leaves are fuzzy and don't like to have water on them, but like all plants, the leaves get dusty and dirty. Simply brush them off gently with a soft-bristled brush.

  • Is it okay to touch the leaves of an African violet?

    Dust them off carefully with a soft-bristled brush, but otherwise try not to touch or handle the leaves of an African violet.

  • How do you mist African violets without harming their leaves?

    Misting African violets is not a good idea. While these plants like humidity, misting doesn't do much to raise humidity in the air and can damage African violet leaves. Move African violets to a more humid part of your home.

How to Grow African Violets (4)

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Growing African Violets. University of Georgia Extension.

How to Grow African Violets (2024)

FAQs

How to Grow African Violets? ›

They prefer a temperature between 65°F and 80°F with about 80% humidity. It is important to avoid temperature and humidity fluctuations, including sudden drafts. To provide an adequately humid environment, you may want to use a humidifier or place pots in a tray filled with gravel and water.

What is the secret to growing African violets? ›

They prefer a temperature between 65°F and 80°F with about 80% humidity. It is important to avoid temperature and humidity fluctuations, including sudden drafts. To provide an adequately humid environment, you may want to use a humidifier or place pots in a tray filled with gravel and water.

Does Epsom salt help African violets bloom? ›

To get your African violets blooming again, apply an Epsom salt drench every two weeks.

Where is the best place to put an African violet? ›

Place African violets in a location that receives bright, indirect light. A site near an east or north window is often a good location. (Do not place African violets in direct sun.) If a suitable window isn't available, place African violets under a fluorescent light fixture containing two 40-watt fluorescent tubes.

How do I keep my African violet happy? ›

Violets love high humidity.

You can also use a special violet pot that comes with its own well you can keep filled with water. Fertilize them every two weeks during spring and summer with a balanced fertilizer formulated for African violets. Skip bloom boosters; they're hard on the plants.

Is Miracle Grow good for African violets? ›

African violets grow best in well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Miracle-Gro® Indoor Potting Mix is specially formulated to provide indoor plants like African violets with just the right growing environment.

Is coffee grounds good for African violets? ›

Are coffee grounds good for African violets? Coffee grounds are slightly acidic and contain nitrogen, which helps plants grow healthy foliage. Occasionally sprinkling used coffee grounds on top of your African violet potting soil can be good for the plant.

Do eggshells help African violets? ›

African violets do best at around 6.5 to 6.8. Beware of coffee and particularly tea as they are quite acidic. And egg shells, although they contain calcium, are going to increase the pH, although only slightly. This effects on the pH could be ameliorated, though, by leaching regularly.

What is the best food for African violets? ›

You can purchase fertilizers formulated specifically for African violets. You should always use a balanced fertilizer that contains all of the major plant nutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Nitrogen is important for the growth and development of leaves and stems.

Is baking soda good for African violets? ›

If powdery mildew on African violets doesn't improve, try spraying the plants lightly with a mixture of 1 teaspoon (5 ml.) of baking soda in 1 quart (1 L.) of water. You can also spray the air around the plant with Lysol or another household disinfectant but be careful not to get too much spray on the leaves.

How do you perk up an African violet? ›

If you notice your plant has started to droop and the soil is very dry, just give it a normal drink of water. It's best to water African Violets from the bottom, using room-temperature or slightly tepid water. Just be careful not to overcompensate by giving your plant too much water to make up for it being dry.

What is the lifespan of an African violet? ›

In the proper conditions, an African violet can live upwards of 50 years. Well-loved for its vibrant blooms, this tropical beauty can brighten a space year-round if it receives the right care; but its fussy reputation can scare off novice growers.

Do African violets like big or small pots? ›

Generally, if an African Violet is planted in the correct size pot, the diameter of its leaves will be about three times the diameter of the pot. Therefore, if the diameter of your African Violet's leaves measure 12 inches, then it should be planted in a 4-inch pot. Always make sure that your pot has adequate drainage.

How many times a year will an African violet bloom? ›

African Violets can bloom all year long. They make great houseplants, with their cheerful flowers brightening up a windowsill even in the dead of winter. Since their discovery over one hundred years ago, they have become very popular. The story begins in the mountain ranges of eastern Africa, where Tanzania is today.

How do you help a struggling African violet? ›

Brown spots, dead leaves, and withering blooms indicate your plant isn't getting the moisture it needs. To fix this, you'll need to prune away any dead leaves or flower stems and remove any diseased or dying tissue from the stem or crown of your African violet.

Should you cut dead flowers off African violet? ›

But for the rest of us who like to enjoy their violets year-round, step one in a best practice violet growing regime should be the very regular removal of dead flowers.

Why are African violets so hard to grow? ›

Reason 6: Low humidity levels.

The native environment of African violets is humid, and they need at least 80% humidity to thrive and bloom. In dry, indoor environments, especially during winter when heaters are running, the plant may not have enough moisture in the air to produce blooms.

What do African violets need to thrive? ›

Optimal room temperature for growing African violets is between 60 and 80 F and ideally 70 F. Humidity at 40-60% will help African violets thrive. Group plants together to conserve humidity or set plants on trays of pebbles and water. Make sure the plant does not sit in the water, but just above it.

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