African violets are an excellent addition to any home, with their cluster of bright and colorful blooms that can transform any room. If you’ve been struggling with how to get your African violet to bloom, then you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’ll give you some tips on how to get your African Violets to bloom continuously, all year round.
Adequate Lighting
One of the primary factors that influence the blooming of your African Violet is adequate lighting. These vibrant plants are native to the tropical rainforests of Tanzania and Kenya, where they receive filtered sunlight beneath a thick canopy of trees. So, mimicking these conditions in your home is crucial for their growth and bloom.
African violets need bright, but indirect, light for about 10-12 hours a day. You can achieve this by placing them in a well-lit window facing east or north. Avoid putting them under direct sunlight as this can scorch their delicate leaves. If natural sunlight is limited, fluorescent or LED grow lights can be a good substitute. Remember, adequate and consistent lighting is key to keep your African Violets blooming.
Keep Soil Moist but Not Wet
Just like with lighting, African violets have specific soil moisture needs. These plants like their soil to be moist, but not soaking wet. Overwatering is a common mistake that can lead to root rot and prevent your African violet from blooming.
Water your African violets when the top of the soil feels dry to the touch. Use lukewarm water and try to avoid getting the leaves wet, as this can cause spotting. Watering from the bottom, by placing the pot in a tray of water and letting the plant soak up the water it needs, is a recommended method. This prevents the leaves from getting wet and the soil from becoming overly saturated. Or experiment with water wicking or self watering ceramic planters specifically for African Violets.
Remember to use a pot with drainage holes and a suitable potting mix designed for African violets to ensure proper drainage. The aim is to keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy.
Change the Pot Type
Not every African Violet likes the same pot. The type of pot you use can significantly affect the health and blooming of your African Violet. Many people have found success with self-watering pots, which can help maintain the right level of soil moisture, a key factor for the continuous blooming of these plants.
African Violets also prefer shallow pots to deep ones. Their shallow root systems don’t need a lot of vertical space, and a shallow pot will dry out more evenly, reducing the risk of root rot.
Additionally, consider the material of the pot. Plastic pots tend to retain more moisture than clay or terracotta pots, which can be beneficial if you live in a dry climate. On the other hand, if your environment is more humid, a pot that absorbs some of the moisture (like clay or terracotta) may be a better choice.
Experiment with different pot types to see what works best for your African Violets. There are plastic, ceramic, terra cotta, self- watering and water wicking pots. Remember, the goal is to create conditions that support continuous blooming. A change in pot type could be just the tweak your plant needs to thrive. I have mine in multiple types of pots, each violet is different and you need to find the pot and watering type that works for them.
Feed Them Weekly, But Weakly
Another critical aspect of getting your African Violets to bloom continuously is their feeding schedule and nutrient intake. My African Violets thrive when they are fed weekly, but weakly. This means that you should fertilize them every week, but with a diluted, weak solution to avoid overfertilization.
African Violets prefer a fertilizer specifically for African Violets, diluted to a quarter to half of the strength recommended on the package. This ensures they receive an equal ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, all components essential for their growth and blooming.
When feeding your African Violets, be sure to apply the liquid fertilizer solution to a gallon of water and then to the soil or water reservoir and avoid getting it on the leaves.
Remember, overfertilization can do more harm than good, leading to leaf burn, brown spots or even preventing the plant from blooming. So it’s important to stick to the ‘weekly but weakly’ feeding schedule. This regular, gentle feeding method can significantly enhance the health of your African Violets and encourage continuous blooming.
Prune and Repot
Pruning and repotting are two other indispensable steps to keep your African Violets blooming continuously. Pruning isn’t just about removing dead or diseased leaves— it’s also about shaping your African Violets and encouraging them to grow more blooms. You should regularly prune your plant, removing any yellowing leaves or spent blooms. This will not only keep your plant looking tidy but also divert more energy towards producing new flowers.
On the other hand, repotting is another key activity that should be done at least once a year. African violets often become root-bound, leading to decreased vigor and bloom. When repotting, choose a slightly larger pot, but not excessively large, as a too-large pot can lead to waterlogging. Refresh the potting medium with a suitable mix for African violets, and be sure to leave the crown of the plant (where the stems join at the base) at the soil surface level or slightly above. This will prevent the plant from rotting and encourage it to produce robust, continuous blooms.
Temperature and Humidity
African Violets thrive best in a particular temperature and humidity range that closely matches their native African rainforest habitat. They prefer temperatures between 65-75°F (18-24°C) during the day, and slightly cooler during the night. Temperatures outside this range can stress the plant and hinder its blooming. Therefore, ensure that the room where your African Violets are kept is maintained within these temperatures.
Humidity is another crucial aspect. African Violets prefer a humidity level of around 40-60%. This can be achieved with a humidifier or by placing the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water (ensure the pot is not sitting in the water). The water evaporates, increasing the humidity around the plant.
However, avoid over-humidity as it can lead to powdery mildew and other fungal diseases. Use of a hygrometer can help in maintaining the right balance.
Happy Gardening!
With these tips on how to get your African violets to bloom continuously and enjoy its vibrant colors all year round. Just remember to provide the right amount of lighting, keep the soil moist but not wet, use fertilizer, maintain proper temperature, and prune and repot your plant regularly.
Please be sure to check out my Gardening Blog Post Page for more tips on all types of gardening. Including Seed Starting, Orchids, Water Gardening, Coldframe Gardening, Indoor Bulb Gardening, Hydroponics, Container Gardening, Mums, Herbs, African Violets, planting Bulbs, Flower Gardening, Vegetable and Fruit Gardening, Indoor Houseplants of all kinds, Cactus, Succulents, Hanging plants, Deer resistant plants and even Bird, Bee, Butterfly and Hummingbird Gardens!