Looking for a bloom houseplant to lighten up up your home ? Why not consider one of the classics : Saintpaulia , or the African violet . There ’s a ground your grandmother likely had one on her windowsill ! These African natives are perfectly suitable to indoor growing and bloom almost class - round with the right care .
Keep reading for African violet growing tips and everything you require to know about caring for an African reddish blue indoors !
Disclosure : If you shop from my article or make a leverage through one of my liaison , I may obtain commissions on some of the intersection I urge .
About African violets
Description
African violets are very decorative little plant that bloom in lovely gem spirit . Even when not in bloom of youth , you wo n’t have hassle recognizing one , as they sport uniquely fuzzy leave that give them an almost sheeny appearance . They outride small , making them everlasting for the middling windowsill .
Keep in mind that you ’ll be heavily - pressed to discover two African violets that take care exactly the same , especially when it comes to their flowers .
These plants have been very extensively hybridized to raise blooms in different colors ( blue , empurpled , pinkish , white ) , design ( bi - color , mottled , white - edged , specked ) and shapes ( undivided , duple , frilled , star - shaped ) .
There are even variegated Saintpaulia with white or pinkish marbled farewell , as well as miniature plants that never grow more than 6 column inch in diameter .
African violet industrial plant are categorise by their increase : rosette and tracking .
Rosette African reddish blue are unmarried - cap industrial plant with leaves that grow outwards from a central stalk in a rotary rule . The leave-taking stay snug to the surface of the soil and blossom grow within the heart and soul of the plant .
Trailing African violet are multi - crown plant with multiple stems that originate sidelong and have a cascade ontogeny habit . Stems are retentive than on little potato type , and flowers turn from each tip , giving the flora a shaggy-haired appearance .
Natural habitat and history
As their common name suggests , these plant are naturally found on the continent of Africa . They were first formally described in the late 19th century .
This happened after a German colonial functionary stumbled upon one species , afterward named Saintpaulia ionantha , in the humid , shady cloud woodland of the East Usambara Mountains . This region is located in what is now Tanzania and is an area see to be of great ecological grandness . It ’s actually on the lean of Earth ’s “ biodiversity hotspots . ”
Seeds were sent back to Europe and the repose is chronicle — the African violet craze has n’t died down since . The first hybrids and cultivars appear very rapidly , but theplant ’s taxonomyremained a mess for many class . In fact , the whole thing was resolve only quite recently . It ’s a bit of a wild ride !
After its initial introduction into Europe , the genus was named Saintpaulia . It was expanded to no less than 20 specie at one point in time , but further enquiry lead to simplification .
As of 2015 , it has been confirmed through molecular studies that African reddish blue are n’t actually even an individual species at all . They were thus run to Streptocarpus ( the Cape primroses ) , where they still stay on , although they dwell a extra section within this genus : Streptocarpus sect . Saintpaulia .
Did you know?
As authors of a 1998 scientific newspaper describe it , it ’s “ sadly ironic ” that despite their Brobdingnagian popularity as houseplants , several species of African violet are actually endangered in their home country of Tanzania and Kenya . Habitat loss due to agriculture is one of their biggest threats .
Cultural significance and uses
pop right from the start , African violet are now deeply frozen in the houseplant hobby — pun intended ! They ’re principally sold for Mother ’s solar day , although they ’re also democratic for Easter and Valentine ’s Day ( and even Christmas , since they stay in bloom for much of the year ) .
Read more:10 Cheery Holiday Houseplants to Grow If You ’re Bored With Poinsettias
In flower symbolism , African reddish blue put up for loyalty , devotion and faithfulness .
African violet varieties
As I mention , and as with many other houseplant , there are so many different African reddish blue miscellanea out there that it would be dead impossible for me to even attempt to describe them here .
Officially , Streptocarpus religious sect . Saintpaulia contains 10 metal money , but the amount of cross out there ( register or not ) is fairly much endless . Most of them rise from Saintpaulia ionantha , the first African reddish blue to be described officially , but some have since been mixed with other coinage .
We typically think of imperial African reddish blue when it come to these fuzzed - leave behind plants , but in fact African violets come in a variety of colors , in every shade of purple , blue , red , pink , and white .
If you ’re curious about what ’s out there , theAfrican Violet Society of Americahas a gallery containing thousands of photos for you to search .
Here are a few of my favorites :
Caring for an African violet
I ’ve noticed that African violets have a bit of a reputation for not being the easiest houseplant to keep alive ( compared to say , wanderer plants , which practically take care of themselves ) . I think this is because African violet are somewhat specific about certain upkeep expression .
If you keep their natural habitat and the way they maturate in mind , though , there ’s no reason you should n’t be able to grow beautiful Saintpaulia and have them bloom almost always .
Imagine being part of the undergrowth in a tropical African cloud woods for a 2nd ( quite a relaxing view ! ) .
Some months it rains literally every day , mean it ’s often cloudy . Taller trees close up out direct sunlight . Temperatures never really cast below 60 ° F , even at night . humidness is always 75 percent or more .
Light and temperature
To forecast out the right-hand spark level and temperature for this plant , all you have to do is refer back to the swarm forest . Doing so , it ’s not unmanageable to imagine that African violets are n’t used to head Sunday . They love lighting , but indirect is unspoilt .
Being from the tropic , they ’re also not used to the cold : room temperature is perfect , or at least keep thing above 60 ° degree Fahrenheit . Be indisputable to avoid set your Saintpaulia too close to drafty windowsills or AC vents .
Water and humidity
African violets are quite specific about two thing when it comes to lacrimation : they do n’t like cold water system , and they do n’t like their hazy leafage getting fuddled . you could bottom water system with lukewarm water , or at least be careful to nullify slop the foliage .
These plants by all odds like their grease lightly moist , specially during the summertime grow calendar month . Like most other houseplants , though , they do n’t prize wet feet and sitting in excess water . Do n’t exaggerate it !
I ca n’t tell you when to water your flora on the dot , because that depends on the environment , but it ’s not too difficult to figure out using the finger test .
If you deposit a fingerbreadth in the grease and it ’s still quite damp , await another mean solar day or two .
If it ’s more or less teetotal , you’re able to give your Saintpaulia a crapulence . Is it bone dry , maybe with the plant ’s leaves looking droopy ? Do n’t wait as long next time .
Although no one bear you to exert tropical humidity degree in your place , some breeze wet is appreciated . If the humidness on a regular basis settle below 50 pct , you may need to go a humidifier to facilitate out your houseplant ( or see moving them to the kitchen or bathroom , which are usually more humid than other rooms in the home ) .
Soil and planting
Because African violets do n’t like sit down in H2O , a well - draining soil mixture is the way to go . Most raiser prefer a medium that does n’t contain any potting filth . you’re able to buy pre - mixed African violet land , but you’re able to also choose to make your own .
The classic Saintpaulia mixture contains two parts sphagnum peat moss , one part vermiculite and one part perlite .
When it come to planting , the most of import thing is to use a container with a drainage hole . It does n’t have to be turgid , nor do you have to repot very often , as this coinage does n’t mind being a turn halter .
Recommended product for African violet plant care :
ego - watering ceramic or charge plate pots make the skilful African reddish blue pots , as they ’re modest ( usually no more than 4 to 5 in ) and render the proper amount of uninterrupted wet to your plant while let tolerable drainage .
Ideal wad sizing is about one - third the sizing ( diameter ) of your African reddish blue plants . That mean miniature African violets are happiest in 1- to 2 - inch mass , while standard - size African reddish blue should be in 3 - inch pots . get behind African violets like to be planted in shallow potty with a minimum depth of about 2 inch .
Why is pot sizing important ? African violet planted in too little or too large of a container may not spring up to their full potential . maturation may be slower , foliage may be small , and bud or blooms may not appear consistently . Choosing an appropriate African violet planter from the get - go help your plant develop more fully .
commend African violet deal :
Fertilizing
This one ’s promiscuous , as most plant life shop and garden centers will deal special African reddish blue fertilizer that curb everything your flora want . If your Saintpaulia is healthy and chug along , apply a little plant food every other calendar week consort to the instructions on the label .
Recommended fertilizer for African violets :
Pruning
Unless you want to do so for esthetic reasons , there ’s no need to prune an African reddish blue . you may remove dead farewell and spent prime as they occur , though .
Dividing or repotting
Unless your African reddish blue seems accent and has roots sticking out of the pot ’s drainage hole , you in all probability wo n’t have to kick upstairs it to a big planter . They do appreciate a grease refresh once in a while and it can help to remove any offsets to prevent overcrowding .
When repotting , African violets prefer to move up in 1 - inch increments . So if your plant has been in a 2 - inch pot , move it into a 3 - inch weed ( and so on ) .
Propagating African violet
reproduce an African reddish blue is an inviolable breeze and a great way to obtain costless plants to keep or give away . In some cases , the plant itself will do most of the work for you : this species is known to produce offsets , which you’re able to take out and pot up separately .
If your African reddish blue does n’t have any offsets but you ’d still like to pass around it , no worries . This is actually a species that can be breed using a single leaf !
There are two easy way to disseminate an African violet .
Rooting an African violet leaf in soil
The first baby plantlet should start sticking up from the soil after one to three month . One leaf can grow a clump of new African violets ! Pot the plantlet up on an individual basis once they ’ve got a few mature leaves each .
Rooting an African violet leaf in water
How do you make an African violet bloom?
If your African reddish blue has hold on bloom , it can be a good thought to refer back to this care pathfinder and make certain you ’re still follow all care guidelines . After all , they normally be given to bloom almost incessantly , although a light break is n’t too concerning .
The chief cause for a Saintpaulia fail to flower is light . Are you sure you ’re supplying enough ?
If you do n’t have a hopeful windowsill to offer , you may want to render supplement with some artificial light . you could also withdraw any offsets your plant may have in parliamentary procedure to refocus its zip on bloom , as well as use some plant food or even repot if it ’s been a long time .
Common questions about African violets
How many varieties of African violets are there?
Officially , there are 10 metal money withinStreptocarpus faction . genus Saintpaulia but thousands of hybridise variety show . The African Violet Society of America presently has more than 16,000 diversity listed in its database , group by their outgrowth and by their flowers .
What is the easiest African violet to grow?
drop behind African violets are my pick for the easiest eccentric to develop at home base . The plants course separate and spread and do their own matter , and there ’s no demand to remove sucker to boost blooming or maintain the plant life ’s symmetry .
Are African violets toxic to cats and dogs?
Nope ! Although it ’s still a proficient approximation to keep them away from children and curious furry friends just to protect the plant , African reddish blue are absolutely safe for positron emission tomography .
Sources :
Chen , J. , & Henny , R. J. ( 2009 ) . Cultural Guidelines for Commercial Production of African Violets ( Saintpaulia ionantha ) . EDIS , 2009(2 ) .
Christenhusz , M. J. ( 2012 ) . On African violets and ness primroses — towards a monophyletic Streptocarpus ( Gesneriaceae ) . Phytotaxa , 46(1 ) , 3 - 9 .
Eastwood , A. , Bytebier , B. , Tye , H. , Tye , A. , Robertson , A. , & Maunder , M. ( 1998 ) . The conservation status of Saintpaulia . Curtis ’s Botanical Magazine , 15(1 ) , 49 - 62 .
