Trimming African Violets

March 31, 2024 Post a Comment

Trimming african violets

Take care to cut the stem as close to the stalk as possible, without digging into your plant. Alternatively, you can pinch the leaves off with your fingers. African violets grow from the crown out, meaning the leaves closest to the soil are the oldest.

Do you trim the dead flowers off an African violet?

Deadheading. If you have success getting your African Violet to bloom, be sure to pinch or deadhead spent blooms. This allows the plant to continue to put energy into creating more buds/blooms and beautiful foliage.

How do you fix a leggy African violet?

The best way to combat leggy African violets is to repot to give it a fresh space and fertilize with Espoma's Violet! liquid plant food. This will help keep your plant growing new leaves to help keep it from becoming leggy and will enhance the colors of your flowers.

Can African violets have too many leaves?

Though their fuzzy leaves have a certain charm, most of us grow African Violets for their blooms. And a Saintpaulia with too many leaves will produce very few blossoms. That's because your plant only has access to a finite amount of water, sunlight, and nutrients at any given time.

Why are my African violets leggy?

When African Violets get leggy, it usually means they're not receiving enough light. Though these plants can't tolerate full sun, they do like to receive lots of indirect illumination. Try moving your leggy plant closer to the window or into a room that gets more light exposure.

What time of year do African violets bloom?

African violets can bloom nearly year-round. If you are able to provide the correct conditions, expect your African violets to bloom 10-12 months each year. Each bloom lasts for about 2-3 weeks.

How do you keep African violets blooming all year?

The most common reason African violets don't bloom is because they aren't getting enough light. African violets need indirect sunlight, direct can burn the leaves. Choose a north- or east- facing window for best results. Keep plants away from cold glass and rotate the pot once a week so all leaves receive light.

How do you get African violets to bloom again?

8 Ways to Get Your African Violet to Bloom Again.
Let There Be Light. ...
Turn Up the Humidity. ...
Replenish Essential Nutrients. ...
Keep it Pleasant. ...
Choose the Right Soil. ...
Protect From Pests & Disease. ...
Constrict the Roots.

What do you do with African violets after they bloom?

And you don't want to take off the whole stem. Because you still have this one that's coming out and

Why are my African violets growing tall?

African violets usually stick pretty close to the soil. If your plant starts to grow tall, thin leaves, it is receiving insufficient sunlight. It is, in fact, literally reaching for the light. The solution: Move your plant to a brighter area of your home.

How do you separate overgrown 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, our founder says. Gently separate the plant, taking care not to break any leaves or stems.

How long can an African violet live?

African violets can live a long time, as long as 50 years! To get them there, you need to provide good care which includes repotting African violets. The trick is knowing when to repot an African violet and what soil and container size to use.

Is it OK to touch African violet leaves?

Brushing leaves of african violets is not recommended because repeated brushing can decrease plant quality and size." The next time you are tempted to touch that pretty african violet in your kitchen window, remember -- for a healthier plant, keep your hands off!

Should African violets be watered from the top or bottom?

The roots of the African Violet need aeration, so keeping them moderately moist but never soggy is the key. Watering from the bottom so they can soak the water up, over an hour or so, will help to keep water out of the crown of the plant. African Violets like warmer water, around 70 degrees.

Do African violets need bigger pots?

African violets do best when they are slightly pot-bound, so choose a pot that's on the smaller side. Professional Tip: If you have a standard African violet plant, your starter pot should be about 3-4 inches in diameter.

How often should African violets be watered?

Only water once a week and allow the plant to completely dry between waterings. One ingenious way of making sure your African violets are never over watered is by setting up a wicking system.

Should African violets be misted?

DO NOT mist the foliage. Water on the foliage may cause permanent leaf spotting. Use water that is room temperature. African violets are susceptible to crown rot, so it is important that the crown (the section of the plant at soil level) is not saturated with water.

What is the long stem on an African violet?

Sometimes, if an African Violet is left unattended it can develop a long thick neck (5-6 inches) long. This kind of neck ultimately tilts sideways due to the weight of the crown. This kind of neck is known as a “goose neck”. A neck can also resemble a palm tree/coconut tree trunk.

Can you use Miracle Grow on African violets?

African violets grow best in well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Miracle-Gro® Indoor Potting Mix is specially formulated to provide indoor plants like African violets with just the right growing environment.

Do African violets like to be root bound?

It's important to know that African violets prefer to be root bound and usually won't flower until they are, so don't just do the typical move into a larger pot. If your plant is starting to look like a fuzzy version of a palm tree with a bare stem and all the leaves at the top, it's time to do some surgery.