In the wintertime, we often hear about how to keep plants warm. African violets are one of those plants that can be hard to take care of during these cold months.
The first step is making sure they have good potting soil and that it has adequate drainage at the bottom so that water doesn’t pool on top and cause root rot.
Next, you want to use a grow light or provide them with as much natural sunlight as possible so they don’t lose their leaves due to lack of sun exposure. If your violet still isn’t looking healthy after all this work, try moving them closer to a window or placing them by an artificial light source like a lamp for extra warmth.
African violets are beautiful flowers that can be kept in your home all year round by following these simple steps!.
1) Find the right spot – Keep them away from drafts, heaters or air vents and near an east or south-facing window so they get plenty of light to grow. Make sure you place them somewhere where they will not be sitting in water for extended periods of time (like on top of a sink). If possible, use two saucers so the plant is sitting on one while the other catches any overflow water.
2) Give it some love – African violets like to have their leaves misted with clean water every few days and need to be watered thoroughly, but less often. They should be kept moist but not soaking wet.
3) Give it some food – African violets need a balanced fertilizer every two or three weeks during the growing season (spring to fall). Any general-purpose liquid fertilizer will work, like Miracle-Gro. Simply follow the package instructions for how much to use.
4) Let it recuperate – The leaves on an African violet will drop in the winter when days get shorter and the intensity of light in your home changes (especially if you haven’t been keeping them close to a light source). Don’t be alarmed, they’re just resting. To help keep them looking pretty during this time, mist them with water once or twice a week.
5) Enjoy – When days get longer and warmer again, your plants will come out of their winter dormancy refreshed and ready to grow. Enjoy!
African Violets Water Requirements
African violets are a favorite houseplant for many people, but they can be tricky to keep alive. African violet water requirements vary by climate and the type of potting soil you use. But here’s what you need to know about how much water your African violet needs in order to thrive.
- In general, don’t allow your African violet to dry out completely or it may die from lack of moisture. If the top inch or so feels dry when you touch it with your finger, then give it a good drink.
- If the plant is in an enclosed container like a window box or terrarium, make sure that there is plenty of drainage holes in the bottom and that at least half the pot has been filled withstones or gravel. When you water your African violet, make sure that the top inch of soil is completely and thoroughly wet before you stop watering.
- Water your African violet in the morning so that it has a chance to dry off for at least half a day before night temperatures drop below 65 degrees Fahrenheit. This helps prevent fungal diseases from attacking theleaves.
Misting African Violets
- In addition to 1 to 2 inches of water a week, it’s a good idea to mist your African violet once or twice a week depending on the humidity in your home and the temperature. Here are some other things you can do to keep your African violets healthy:
- Mist leaves daily duringsummer or whenever humidity levels are low.
- Mist leaves every other day in spring and fall.
- If you live in a dry climate, use silica gel to increase humidity near your African violet when the air is particularly arid. You can also raise the humidity by placing pebbles in the bottom of the pot and then setting the plant on top of them. The evaporation will help keep your plant moist while raising the humidity level around it.
African Violet Temperature Tolerance
African violet plants are a favorite houseplant among many people. They’re easy to care for, and they can survive in low light conditions as well as high light conditions. But even with all the benefits of African violets, there is always room for improvement.
One area that could be improved upon is their temperature tolerance.
Most African Violets can tolerate temperatures between 62-85 degrees Fahrenheit, but some species only want it warm at night and cool during the day while others need cooler temps than that or else they will wilt and die due to poor circulation.
There’s no one size fits all solution when it comes to what type of temp your African Violet needs so you should test out different areas in your home until you find one that works for your specific plant.
It can be tricky to accommodate each and every African violet, but you should always aim to provide the best conditions possible if you want them to thrive and live a long, healthy life.
Solutions proposed: how much water they need weekly, what kind of fertilizer
