Can you keep African violets outside?

African violets are tropical plants from East Africa. That's why they make good indoor plants. They would never survive outdoors in most U.S. climates as a normal violet would. You can buy these plants almost anywhere, including grocery stores and garden centers.

Simply so, do African violets need direct sunlight?

They thrive in moderate to bright, indirect, indoor light. African Violets, like other plants, need light for photosynthesis. Even when all the essential nutrients are available to the plant, a complete absence of sunlight will literally result in starvation.

Furthermore, are African violets hard to care for? Unlike most houseplants, the flowers are the stars of the show with African violets. Though these fuzzy plants have a reputation for being finicky, they're actually not difficult to grow once you know how to follow some basic rules for their care. And, in the right conditions, these plants may bloom all year round.

In this manner, do African violets bloom year round?

A: African violets are capable of blooming year-round in the home, but they won't bloom reliably if one or more of their basic needs are not being met. The most likely reason African violets stop blooming is because they're in too little light.

How often should African violets be watered?

Examine the soil with your fingertip, if it feels dry, be ready to water the plant. They require more or less water depending on what type of potting soil you use. However, flush the soil thoroughly with water every month or 6 weeks. This will reduce the risk of any harmful salts to build-up in the land.

Do African violets need to be watered from the bottom?

Water when the soil feels less moist to the touch. Never let growing African violets stand in water or completely dry out. Wick watering, from the bottom, is sometimes appropriate but may not be the best practice for those new to growing African violet plants.

Should you deadhead African violets?

When removing spent blooms, also remove dead or dying foliage. Deadhead African violets to encourage more blooms. African violets make useful flowering houseplants since they can bloom for up to nine months per year. They do need the other three months off as a rest period.

What is the lifespan of an African violet?

50 years

Do you have to water African violets from the bottom?

If you water from the top, be careful not to get water on the leaves when the plant is in the sun; this is to avoid leaf spots. If you water from the bottom, the excess water should be discarded after the plant has taken up all it needs. Do not allow an African violet to sit in water indefinitely.

What is the best light for an African violet?

African violets need bright light to bloom, but cannot tolerate hot, direct sun because their leaves are easily scorched by intense light. Violets bloom best at temperatures from 65 to 75 degrees.

What colors do African violets come in?

African violets are available in a wide range of colors and types. You may choose from several hundred varieties depending upon the flower color, form and plant characteristics you prefer. Flower color varies from blue to violet, lavender, pink, red-violet, blue-violet, lavender-pink and white.

Is Epsom salt good for African violets?

Applied once per month epsom salts will help trigger bloom in your violets and be a good companion to your African violet specialty fertilizer. Dissolve two tablespoons of epsom salts in one gallon of tepid water in a watering can or pitcher. Swish or swirl the salts in the water to dissolve them and combine the two.

Can African violets go outside in summer?

No, not at all. African violets are tropical plants from East Africa. That's why they make good indoor plants. They would never survive outdoors in most U.S. climates as a normal violet would.

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.

How do you keep violets blooming?

With proper conditions and care, African violets can flower almost year round.

1. Turn on the Lights. An African violet blooms when it receives eight to 12 hours of bright light a day.
2. Cool Down, or Warm Up.
3. Improve Humidity.
4. Fertilize Your African Violet.

What time of year do African violets bloom?

Make no mistake — African violets need plentiful light to bloom. As a rule, give them full sun in winter, and bright light in summer. From October through April, I grow them in the sunny east window of my upstairs bath (above).

How big does 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.

Is African Violet a perennial?

Saintpaulia, commonly known as African violet, is a genus of 6–20 species of herbaceous perennial flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae, native to Tanzania and adjacent southeastern Kenya in eastern tropical Africa. Typically the African violet is a common household indoor plant but can also be an outdoor plant.

How often do you fertilize African violets?

Most African violets do well with fertilizer applications every four to six weeks. Any water soluble fertilizer labeled for use on houseplants is fine for African violets. Always follow the directions on the label for best results.

How do you divide African violets?

Using a sharp knife, divide the plant into two or three smaller plants, taking care to determine where these separations happen naturally, and allocating as many roots as possible for each individual plant. Gently separate the plant, taking care not to break any leaves or stems.

What do Violets symbolize?

Violet flowers symbolize delicate love, affection, modesty, faith, nobility, intuition and dignity. Blue violet flowers symbolizes love and faithfulness, white violets represent purity and chastity, and yellow violets symbolize high worth and goodness.

Can African violets get too much light?

African Violets need plenty of sunlight, but only indirect sunlight. In some cases, too much sunlight will turn variegated leaf varieties entirely green. In the most severe cases, too much sunlight can actually be fatal to African Violets.