Posted by Nancy Sabatelli on Sep.24, 2009

ⓒ iStockPhoto - difydave

Love beautiful flowers but don’t have a green thumb? Is the soil where you live rocky and poor for growing plants? Consider African violets, which can be grown indoors or outdoors. They add a pop of color and accent to any room, flower bed or window box. Violets don’t require a great deal of complicated care or expertise. No wonder “African violets are the most popular houseplant in America,” according to Sara Elliott for Suite 101 (1).

Characteristics of Violets

Sure, we all know that violets are violet-colored. But in addition to the standard, well-known purple hues, violet flowers can also come in various shades of pink, blue, white, yellow or multi-colored. Sometimes, it’s difficult to determine the exact shade of the flower: for example, is it purple or blue? Is it a bluish-purple? Violets have fuzz-like or hair-like leaves and grow to a height of about three to seven inches (1, 2).

Violets bloom early in the spring along with bulb plants (2, 3). When purchasing violets, pick out a plant with green leaves: stay away from plants whose leaves are brown, black or spotted. Also, make sure the violet is in bloom already when you buy it: this way, you’ll know exactly what color the flowers will be, advises the Web site, Gardener’s Paradise (3).

General Care

All plants need light, water, proper temperature and fertilizer. However, the components of this magic formula vary from plant to plant. Here, we look at some general guidelines for violet care:

Light

Give your violet indirect filtered sunlight. Put it by a window that’s covered with sheer drapes or surrounded by trees outside. Keep it about 12 inches away from the window. If your violet is too close, the leaves can become burned (1, 3, 4, 5).
During the fall and winter months, put it by an east-facing window: in the spring and summer, place your violet by a window that faces north, suggests the Web site, Organic Gardening Tips (4).

Water

Like any plant, violets need water to survive and thrive. But over-watering a violet can be the kiss of death (1). Aim to keep the soil moist and damp, but not soaking wet. Water the plant once or twice a week, depending on how dry the soil feels, (and if it’s an outdoor plant, how much rain it gets) (1, 2).

You can water from the top of the plant, but another option is bottom-watering. Pour water into a small saucer or bowl, then put your violet pot into it for about half an hour or so. This allows the plant to absorb adequate moisture, but not an excessive amount (4).

If you’re in a dry, arid climate, keep a bowl of water near your plant to provide the air with moisture and humidity, recommends Joyce Stork for The African Violet Society of America, Inc. (5). Without proper humidity, buds can dry up and die before they become flowers.

Temperature

Violets like moderate temperatures – not too hot or cold. They may wilt during hot summer months. If you keep them indoors, set your thermostat between 70 and 72 degrees during the daytime, and turn it back to 65 degrees at night (2, 3, 4).

Fertilizer

Some potting soils come with fertilizer in them already. In other cases, you need to add separate fertilizer to help promote plant growth and beautiful flowers. In fact, if your violet isn’t blooming and doesn’t have flowers, lack of fertilizer can often be to blame (5). You can mix fertilizer with water, so your plant gets a dose of fertilizer each time you water it.

Fertilize your violets when you plant them. After that, experts suggest fertilizing them either weekly or monthly (2, 5). “If you choose to use a fertilizer that recommends monthly fertilizing, you can dilute it” and use it weekly, writes Stork (5).

Planting and Replanting

Planting

Want outdoor violets? They need to start off in indoor pots. Plant the seeds about six to eight weeks before the last frost, according to The Gardener’s Network (4). Use a light covering of soil, only about 1/8 inch thick. Don’t add too much soil, as this will prevent the roots from breathing or growing. You can move your violets outdoors when the threat of frost has passed (2, 4).

To ensure the soil has a proper pH balance and the necessary nutrients for your violet, many experts suggest mixing peat moss, perlite and vermiculite into the soil (1, 5).

Replanting

When moving your violet to a different pot, be careful, especially with the roots. Don’t press down too hard or compact the soil too tightly (5). After the violet is in its new pot, gently rinse it with a watering can or place it in the bath tub to clean any dirt off the leaves (4).

Sources

1. Elliott, Sara. How To Grow African Violets. (October 4, 2007). Suite 101. Retrieved September 11, 2009 from http://houseplants.suite101.com/article.cfm/decorate_with_african_violets
2. How To Grow Violet Flowers. (2009). The Gardener’s Network. Retrieved September 11, 2009 from http://www.gardenersnet.com/flower/violet.htm
3. Violet – Gardening Guide. (2008). Gardener’s Paradise. Retrieved September 13, 2009 from http://gardeningtips.org/Violet.shtml
4. How To Grow African Violets. (n.d.). Organic Garden Tips. Retrieved September 11, 2009 from http://www.organicgardentips.com/how_to_grow_african_violets.html
5. Stork, Joyce. Why Won’t My Violet Bloom? (January 19, 2001). The African Violet Society of America, Inc. Retrieved September 16, 2009 from http://www.avsa.org/VioletBloom.htm

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