QA

Question: How To Use African Violet Pots

Water the African violet from the top until the soil is moist and water drips into the dish on the bottom. Water the plant from the bottom by filling the dish and waiting for the water to be drawn up into the soil and roots. Continue to add water until the top layer of soil is moist.

How do African Violet pots 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. The self-watering process should begin once the damp inner pot is submersed in the reservoir water.

Should you use African Violet pots?

Do not wait until your plants begin to sag to water them, as you will do damage to the roots as well as any emerging flower buds. Using special African Violet self-watering pots is a wonderful way to keep your plants moderately moist, with a dry crown, while creating a consistent supply of humidity.

How do you use two African Violet pots?

Two-Part Pot Without Wick Soak the porous upper section of the pot in water for a few minutes until it is heavy with moisture. Fill it with planting medium and set the African violet so the crown is just above the soil surface.

Should African violets be in clay pots?

You can use clay pots, but those are least recommended. You would have to continuously monitor the watering in clay pots, as they dry out quickly. The cycle of wet/dry soil can stress out the African Violet plant roots. They can also develop mold in and around the pots.

How often should I water African violets?

“How often to water African violets?” is perhaps the most pondered African violet dilemma. The best guide is to feel the top of the soil: if it is dry to the touch, then it is time to water. African violets should be allowed to dry out between each watering for best results. Overwatering can kill a plant.

When should I repot my 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 get African violets to flower?

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.

How do you start an African violet from a leaf?

African Violets: Propagation by Leaf Step 1: Remove and trim leaf. Step 2: Cut leaf petiole. Step 3: Root the leaf cutting. Step 4: Plantlets at 12 weeks. Step 5: Separate plantlets from leaf cutting. Step 6: Prepare pot for plantlet. Step 7: Pot plantlet. Step 8: You’re done!.

How often do you fill self-watering pots?

All you need to do to keep them running smoothly is refill their water chamber when it runs low. The number of times you’ll need to do so will depend on the type of plant, sunlight levels, and time of year, but it’ll usually be every three weeks or so.

What kind of fertilizer do African violets need?

About African Violet Fertilizer The recommended ratio for African violets is 14-12-14. There are commercial formulas available specifically for fertilizing African violets, but many of these use urea as the nitrogen source. In certain conditions, urea can burn the plant’s roots.5 days ago.

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.

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.

Should you cut dead flowers off African violet?

When removing spent blooms, also remove dead or dying foliage. Doing this keeps the energy feeding the main plant and, once again, maximizes your blooms. Deadhead African violets to encourage more blooms. African violets make useful flowering houseplants since they can bloom for up to nine months per year.

Why are the bottom leaves of my African violet dying?

Over-watering is the most common way that people kill their African violets. Leaf or flower loss, limp plants, and crown and stem rot are all results of too much water. Insufficient watering causes roots to shrivel and die, the plant to lose vigor and color, and then collapse.

How long do African violets live?

African violets can live a long time, as long as 50 years! To get them there, you need to provide good care which includes repotting African violets. The trick is knowing when to repot an African violet and what soil and container size to use.

Why do African violet leaves curl down?

If the leaves on your African violet are curling under, the most likely cause is temperature. Being too cold for too long will cause the leaves to turn brittle and curl under. Other symptoms of cold stress include center leaves that are tightly bunched together, stunted growth, and extra fur on the leaves.

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.

How big can African violets get?

Standard African violet plants when fully mature range from 8-16 inches (20-40cm) in diameter across a single crown. The flowers on these plants can grow to 2 inches (5cm) across the petals and a single leaf blade can grow to 3 inches (7.5cm) in length.

Can African violets be repotted while blooming?

Think before replanting. African violets only bloom when they’re root bound. When it is time to repot, be sure to use an organic potting soil made specifically for African violets, such as Espoma’s African Violet Mix. They flower best in small pots — choose one that’s about a third of the diameter of their leaf spread.

Where do you put African violets?

Grow plants in bright, indirect light for the best color and blooms. A plant stand three feet away from a west- or south-facing window is an ideal location. Plants will still grow when situated right beside north- or east-facing windows, but leaves will be thin and spindly, and plants less likely to bloom.

Can African violets get too much light?

African Violets need plenty of sunlight, but only indirect sunlight. If Violets get more than this, they will begin to show signs of scorching on the leaves and flowers. In the most severe cases, too much sunlight can actually be fatal to African Violets.

How cold can African violets get?

Keep Violets as close to 70 degrees F as possible. In all cases, avoid prolonged exposure to temperatures below 60 degrees. Be aware of cold drafts coming through windows, and keep your Violets insulated from them. For more about proper temperature and other factors of air quality, see “Caring for African Violets.”.