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Luscious
African Violets Whenever I see an African Violet, I am reminded of my Grandma Julia. These beauties were her favorite plants, she collected every variety she could find, and it seemed they were always in bloom. With their fuzzy leaves and lovely flowers, and their ability to bloom in any season, Violets add a cheerful splash of color to the home. Many people are reluctant to try African Violets because they’ve earned a reputation for being fussy and difficult to care for. It’s true that Violets take more effort than the average philodendron, but their showy blooms are well worth the effort. They require bright light, constant temperature (no lower than 60 degrees), moist soil at all times, and high humidity.
An east or south window for violets is ideal, and if you’d like to encourage blooms in the winter, artificial lighting at night is required. Violets should be exposed to 14 hours of light each day, either real or from artificial sources. Take care not to let the leaves touch a cold window, and if you open the window for some fresh air during the early spring months, move the violets first – they won’t appreciate the cool breeze. There are special pots for african violets that self-water from the bottom, but they’re not required. A plastic pot instead of a clay pot will help conserve moisture, and a dish of water underneath will keep the soil moist and promote humidity. If additional humidity is required, set the plants on a pebble tray and keep the pebbles moist. Due to the violet’s need for moist soil, problems can arise from overwatering. It’s sometimes difficult to figure out just the right level of moisture for these plants. Crown rot disease can be difficult to control; it’s caused by overwatering and temperature fluctuations. If the leaves or flowers grow mold, remove them immediately and treat the plant with fungicide. Whitefly and fungus gnats can be a problem too, due to the constantly wet soil. Overwatering can also turn leaves yellow. Moist soil is not wet soil – the dirt should be spongy and damp but not so wet that water rises to the surface when pressed down with a finger. Never water your violets with cold water – use lukewarm water instead. Avoid getting water on the leaves; instead, push the tip of the container below the soil surface or water from the bottom. African Violets need adequate fertilizer to thrive. Choose a plant food specifically formulated for violets, and follow directions carefully. They deserve their own special potting soil as well, high in organic material to retain moisture. Violets prefer to be somewhat root-bound; if the pot’s too big, the plant may not bloom. When necessary, re-pot in the spring. African Violets come in a wide range of sizes, leaf types, and flower characteristics. There are trailing violets that can be used in a hanging basket. Flowers may be white, blue, pink, red, purple, or multicolored, and can be single, double, or frilled. Sizes range from large down to the cute micro-minis that grow less than three inches across. Once you get the hang of caring for violets, don’t be surprised if you want to try some more.
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