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Who couldn’t love an African Violet When given the proper care, this small
plant with soft furry leaves and beautiful delicate flowers will bloom all year. Place it on a desk, windowsill, table,
or counter and enjoy it for a long, long time.
Houseplant 411 for the iPhone & i Pod Touch
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CARE OF AFRICAN VIOLETS
Light: African Violets do best and flower more in bright indirect light; close to an east- facing window is ideal. When the light
is too low the leaves turn a darker green and loose their plump appearance. The plant will not produce flowers in light that
is too low. When there is too much light, the leaves turn a pale yellow green and flowers fade quickly.
Water: Try to keep the soil slightly moist but never soggy. Avoid using water that has passed through a softener.
Highly chlorinated water will burn the leaves and prevent flowering. If your water contains a great deal of chlorine, allow
the water to sit over night before using it; this allows the chlorine gas to escape. African Violet leaves will get ugly marks
if water drips on them so place water in the drip saucer & let the plant absorb it from the bottom. Remove all remaining
water after 10 minutes.
Temperature: African Violets will not do well if
temperatures go below 60 degrees or above 80 degrees.
Fertilizer: There
are special foods for African Violets that can be purchased wherever plants are sold. In a pinch you can use regular 20-20-20
plant food at ½ strength. Never use a plant food that contains urea nitrogen. Fertilize once a month when the plant
is producing new leaves.
Pot Size: African Violets need to be kept in a
small pot so they can become root bound in order to bloom.
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AFRICAN VIOLETS FAQ’S
1. The leaves on my African Violet are cracking and becoming brittle.
You are using
too much fertilizer. Use plain non-chlorinated water for the next several months.
2.
My African Violet never blooms
African Violets usually do not bloom for one of the following reasons: not enough
light, too much chlorine in the water, or too much bright light.
3. How do you
propagate an African Violet?
Propagation is from leaf cuttings in the spring. Cut off a leaf with its stem, dip
the cut end of the stem in rooting hormone and gently plant it in a peat based well draining soil.
4. Why does my African Violet have ugly marks on its leaves?
African Violet leaves will get bruises or burn
marks if water drips on them, if they are in the direct sun, or if there is too much chlorine or fertilizer in the water.
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