The
African violet is one of the most popular indoor-grown plants, and also
among the easiest to maintain. They do have specific requirements
for bloom, and this is what may lead some people to believe them to be
difficult. (But they're really easy!)
There are so many different varieties of African
violets available today, with flowers in a wide range of colors and
foliage that can be textured, ruffled, and/or variegated. A specimen
African violet in full bloom is quite a lovely sight!
African violets can be obtained as plants, or
propagated from leaf cuttings or sucker plants that sprout from the base.
Although the plant may be propagated from seed, it is a long and difficult
method, that is mostly used by plant breeders. |
PROPAGATION
Leaf
cuttings should be taken from the center portion of the plant, where
growth is fairly new. Leave a portion of the stem, cutting the stem at an
angle. Plant the cutting in a small pot with a 50/50 mix of
vermiculite and perlite. The stem should be well in the medium.
Water. Place the pot in a bright window. Keep the medium
moist until new growth appears from the base of the leaf. Rooting
should take place after a month, and new plants will appear approximately
8-14 days thereafter. When the plants have reached three inches in
diameter, it is time to separate them from the old leaf and plant them in
separate pots. Suckers may be carefully removed from the base of the
mother plant and potted in moist soil mix.
WATER
Water
quality is important for optimum growth and bloom. African violets
do not like chlorine, so it is best to let tap water sit for a day at room
temperature for the chlorine to dissipate. The Ph should be neutral
(6.5-6.7). Watering straight from the tap using cold (or hot) water
is harmful. Use a 20-20-20 fertilizer at half the recommended
strength when watering. Water just enough to keep the soil moist,
and do not let soil dry out completely.
POTTING MIX
Store-bought
African violet mixes can produce unreliable results, as these mixes are
mostly peat-based and can hold too much water. Since over-watering is
a chief cause of death in violets, it is important to have a well-drained
mix. The African Violet
Society of America recommends using a mix of 1/3 peat
moss, 1/3 vermiculite, and 1/3 perlite. Plant your violet in a pot 1/3 the
size of the plant, since they bloom best when roots have filled the pot.
REPOTTING
African violets should be repotted frequently, every 6 months to a year.
They seldom need pots larger than 4 inches in diameter. Placing a
small plant in a large pot increases the chances for over-watering and root
and crown rot. Use the soil mix mentioned above.
Remove all flower stems at the
time of repotting. I know this seems heartless, but the newly
repotted plant will need to spend its energy developing a strong root
system, and allowing it to continue to bloom at this time will really
stress the plant (I have tried leaving the flowers on...the violets
don't respond well and the flowers wind up looking pretty bad anyway).
Remove old leaves symmetrically
around the plant, and repot the plant in fresh mix, covering the
"neck" with soil up to the first row of leaves.
Water as described above. Hold off on fertilizer until the plant
becomes re-established in its pot (about 3 or 4 weeks ).
POTTING-ON
It is
possible to keep an African violet in the same pot for many years.
When the plant outgrows its pot, you can take the plant out, remove the
outer 2 rows of leaves, and with a knife, cut through the bottom 1/3 of
roots. Then repot the plant in fresh soil in the same pot, deep
enough to cover the "neck," water, and the plant should continue
to grow as if nothing happened.
GROOMING
To
keep your violets tidy and looking their best, remove any spent
flowers and withered leaves. If plants tend to lean toward the
light, turn pots so growth will be even. Using a sharp knife, remove
sucker plants that grow around the base of the plant and start these
little plants in a pot of their own. Remove outer leaves
periodically as they lose their vitality. When this is done, you
should remove them symmetrically around the plant to maintain a round,
compact shape. When the plant develops a "neck," you may
repot the plant, covering the neck with fresh soil, up to the first row of
leaves.
Growing flowering indoor plants such as the African violet allows colorful
blooms that will provide year-round enjoyment, especially during the
coldest days of winter!
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