African violets (Saintpaulia ionantha) are one of the most popular houseplants because they are relatively easy to care for and have beautiful, cheerful flowers. Many people are disappointed, however, when their African violets fail to bloom. With a little patience and some basic knowledge, it is not difficult to force African violets to bloom.
African violets typically bloom in the spring, but you can force them to bloom at other times of the year by following a few simple steps. Start by placing the plant in a cool, dark room for about 12 hours each day. Then, water the plant regularly and fertilize it about once a month. With a little patience, you should see blooms within a few weeks.
Does Epsom salt help African violets bloom?
Epsom salts are a great way to provide plants with essential magnesium and sulfur. These two minerals are needed to produce beautiful blooms and healthy foliage. To use, mix one and a half teaspoons of Epsom salts in a quart of tepid water and swirl to dissolve. Water your African violets (below the leaves) with this solution once a month.
If you want your African violets to bloom year-round, you need to provide the correct conditions. They should get 10-12 months of blooming each year, with each bloom lasting for 2-3 weeks.
What is the best African violet fertilizer for blooming
Many growers have the best success fertilizing once a week with a mild fertilizer designed for African violets. A balanced formula such as a 20-20-20 or one that has slightly more phosphorus, like a 15-20-15 will do well in most growing situations.
African violets need a well-drained, slightly acidic soil in order to thrive. Miracle-Gro® Indoor Potting Mix is formulated to provide indoor plants like African violets with the perfect growing environment. This potting mix will help your African violets to grow and bloom to their fullest potential.
What causes an African violet not to bloom?
If you want your African violets to bloom well, make sure they get plenty of light. They prefer bright, indirect sun, so if they’re not getting enough light they’ll stretch for the light and produce few or no flowers. Too much sun can burn the leaves, so an east-facing window is ideal, especially with a sheer curtain to block the sun’s harshest rays.
Coffee grounds are a good source of nutrients for African violets. They are slightly acidic and contain nitrogen, which helps plants grow healthy foliage. Used coffee grounds can be sprinkled on top of your African violet potting soil occasionally to help the plant grow.
How often should a African violet be watered?
This watering method uses a long, thin wick that is placed in the potting mix and up into the reservoir of water. The plant then accesses water as it needs it through the wick, without the risk of overwatering.
If you’re unsure whether to water your African violet from the top or bottom, don’t worry – either method is fine. Just be sure to use lukewarm or warm water, as cold water can harm the plant.
If you do choose to water from the top, be extra careful not to get water on the leaves when the plant is in direct sunlight. This can cause leaf spots.
What is the life expectancy of an African violet
This is a great tip to remember when caring for your African violets, as they can truly last a lifetime with proper care! Make sure to give them plenty of indirect sunlight and water them when the soil is dry to the touch to keep them happy and healthy for many years to come.
African violets typically bloom every 6-8 weeks when provided with the proper growing conditions. If you remove the old flowers (also called disbudding), new flowers will usually bloom within that time frame.
What is the secret to growing African violets?
If you’re growing African violets, you’ll want to make sure they have plenty of bright, filtered light. Direct sun will scorch the leaves, so it’s best to avoid it. Keep the soil moist, but well drained, and you should have healthy plants in no time.
every 6 monthsDo We Need To Re-pot African Violet Plants? Yes, African Violets should be re-potted in fresh soil every 6 months and kept in the same size pot. This will ensure that the plant has enough room to grow, and the fresh soil will provide nutrients that the plant needs.
Where is the best place to put an African violet
African violets need bright, indirect light to thrive. A spot near an east- or north-facing window is often a good choice. Avoid placing them in direct sun, which can scorch the leaves. If you don’t have a suitable window, you can place African violets under a fluorescent light fixture containing two 40-watt fluorescent tubes.
If you have powdery mildew on your African violets and it’s not improving, you can try spraying the plants lightly with a mixture of 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of baking soda in 1 quart (1 L) of water. You can also spray the air around the plant with Lysol or another household disinfectant, but be careful not to get too much spray on the leaves.
Is hydrogen peroxide good for African violets?
Hydrogen peroxide is known to be a great disinfectant and cankill harmful bacteria and fungi. It can be used to encourage African Violets to bloom more often. Just add a capful of hydrogen peroxide to 4 cups of room temperature water and water as usual.
If your African Violet plant has been over-watered, the soil will retain too much water. This retention of water will cause the leaves and/or leaf stems to turn soft, limp or mushy. If this happens, you will need to water your plant less often and/or repot it in a pot with better drainage.
Conclusion
You can force African violets to bloom by withholding water from the plants for about two weeks. This will cause the plants to go into dormancy, and when they are watered again, they will bloom.
African violets can be forced to bloom by manipulating their exposure to light and temperature. By providing them with 12-14 hours of light per day and keeping them in a cool environment (between 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit), you can encourage them to bloom.
