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Many successful growers of African Violets recommend repotting with fresh potting soil, twice a year or more. One of the most commonly used methods of potting up is called mold potting. After you have put soil at the bottom of your new pot, remove your African Violet from its current pot.
Can I use regular potting soil for African violets?
Can You plant African Violets in Regular Potting Mix? A preferred potting mix for African Violets doesn’t contain any soil or dirt in the mixture. It also helps to keep the soil moist and drain extra water from the soil. Regular potting will work but make sure they are well-draining.
Can you repot African violets when they are blooming?
Can you repot an African violet when it’s blooming? Moving is stressful enough! We recommend waiting for a lull in blooming before you repot. That said, if your plant is tightly root-bound or at risk of toppling over, it’s okay to repot while flowering.
What kind of soil does an African violet need?
African violets grow best in soil which is loose, porous, and well-draining. The first consideration in choosing an appropriate potting mix is your home growing conditions—heat, humidity, and light. If your home is lacking in humidity, choose a mix high in organic matter.
What kind of pots do African violets like?
For best results, plant African violets in African violet pots, which are small (4- to 5-inch) ceramic or plastic self-watering containers. Growing plants in these pots will provide the proper amount of continuous moisture to the plants.
How often should you repot African violets?
There are several schools of thought on the right way to repot, but all agree you can buy or make your own African violet mix. Before removing your plant, select a container that is one third the size of the plant’s leaf spread. Most collectors recommend repotting at least once and up to twice per year.
How often should you water an African violet?
An important point to remember when bottom watering African Violet plants is to top water at least once a month. This way you are flushing out any extra fertilizer salt build up and refreshing the soil/roots from the top too.
Do African violets like to be crowded?
Violets need to feel crowded to bloom, but when a plant gets too big for its pot, divide the plant’s separate-looking leaf heads. When you repot, tease the roots apart and plant in room-temperature potting soil.
Do African violets need direct sunlight?
African violets need indirect sunlight, direct can burn the leaves. Choose a north- or east- facing window for best results. Keep plants away from cold glass and rotate the pot once a week so all leaves receive light. Extend daylight by placing African violets under a grow light during winter months.
How do you know when to repot an African violet?
Many successful growers of African Violets recommend repotting with fresh potting soil, twice a year or more. At the very least, an African Violet should be repotted whenever the plant becomes rootbound, i.e., the Violet has outgrown its current pot to the extent that its roots are growing out and around the rootball.
How do you know when to transplant an African violet?
African violets will grow better in small pots. Small plantlets can be potted into 2” pots. When they bloom, you should transplant them into 3” pots until your plant gets bigger, 8 to 10” in diameter.
How do you get African violets to rebloom?
8 Ways to Get Your African Violet to Bloom Again. Let There Be Light. Turn Up the Humidity. Replenish Essential Nutrients. Keep it Pleasant. Choose the Right Soil. Protect From Pests & Disease. Constrict the Roots.
Is Miracle-Gro potting mix OK for African violets?
Use Miracle-Gro African Violet Potting Mix, blended for the specific needs of your African Violets. The mix feeds these plants for up to 6 months. For best results, use it with Miracle-Gro Blooming Houseplant Food and when potting or repotting indoor or outdoor container plants.
Can I use orchid potting soil for African violets?
Even though African violets (Saintpaulia ionantha) and phalaenopsis orchids (Phalaenopsis spp.) both require well-drained potting mixes, their growing conditions are too dissimilar for them to do well in the same kind of planting medium.
What is the best African violet fertilizer?
These are 5 of the best fertilizers for African Violets that I recommend. Espoma Organic Violet Plant Food. Miracle-Gro Blooming Houseplant Food. EarthPods Premium African Violet Plant Food. Bonide Liquid African Violet Plant Food. Schultz African Violet Plus Liquid Plant Food.
Do African violets prefer plastic pots?
Clay Pots – These are not the best looking pots, but they are very porous, which can be good for you African violets to drain the water. Plastic Pots – Most of these pots, but especially the ones that have saucer bottoms, are well-draining pots that your African violets will love.
Should African violets be in self-watering pots?
Self-watering pots can also work well for African Violet plants. I would recommend using self-watering pots for well rooted plants.
Do African violet pots really work?
Answer: If working properly, a self-watering ‘violet pot’ keeps the soil constantly moist by allowing the water in the outer glazed pot (reservoir) to keep the unglazed inner pot wet and, by osmosis, the soil inside. If the inner pot is clean and unglazed, sometimes you just need to get the process started.
How long do African violets live indoors?
can last indefinitely, according to the Bay State African Violet Society. It’s not unusual for them to live 50 years or more with proper care. The key is to avoid overwatering, chilling and direct sunlight — three things that can drastically reduce an African violet’s lifespan.
Should you deadhead African violets?
Deadheading. If you have success getting your African Violet to bloom, be sure to pinch or deadhead spent blooms. This allows the plant to continue to put energy into creating more buds/blooms and beautiful foliage.
How big can African violets get?
African violets are typically classified by size, based on how wide they grow: Miniature: less than 8 inches across. Standard: 8–16 inches across. Large: more than 16 inches across.
Should African violets be watered from the top or bottom?
The roots of the African Violet need aeration, so keeping them moderately moist but never soggy is the key. Watering from the bottom so they can soak the water up, over an hour or so, will help to keep water out of the crown of the plant. African Violets like warmer water, around 70 degrees.
Why do African violet leaves go limp?
Likely Culprit: Overwatering Overwatering is one of the most common causes of droopy African violet leaves. That’s because their delicate root systems can’t handle waterlogged soil. Prolonged overwatering can suffocate your plant, causing a life-threatening disease called root rot.
