You don’t have to be a specialist to grow many African violet blooms without coddling.
You can still enjoy their cheerful bloom if you like African violets but shrink from the complicated care they seem to demand.
Undoubtedly, you’ve read that these plants must be coddled. They often are by specialists. Nevertheless, it’s possible to have plenty of blossoms without coddling.
What You Need:
- Several 2”, 2 ½”, and 4” inch flower pots, preferably plastic (they’re easier to clean), with holes in the bottom and some shallow saucer beneath each pot.
- Broken old clay flower pots pounded into fairly small pieces.
- A bag of African violet potting soil sold under various trade names.
- Some healthy, vigorous plants.
- A window preferably facing east or north. If you have a bay window or porch with three sides open to the light, your violets will bloom with abandon. 6. A little patience.
What They Need:
Light
Here’s an easy way to tell whether your African violet plants get enough light. Pass your hand 4” to 5” inches above the plants, between them and the light source.
If a dim shadow falls on the plants, the light is sufficient. They love the morning or evening sun but hate the hot midsummer sun. As a result, they don’t tan prettily but will turn a sickly yellow.
Temperature
Try for 70° to 80° degrees Fahrenheit during the day and about 65° degrees Fahrenheit at night. Have a little outdoor air from a window in another room. However, be sure there are no direct drafts.
Water
Have it lukewarm, and water your African violets from the top.
- Please keep it to the sides of the plant, away from the crown and leaves. Your forefinger will tell you when watering is needed.
- Poke your finger into the soil about a ½” inch down; if you feel moisture, don’t water.
- If dry, pour water slowly until it begins to run out of the holes in the bottom of the pot.
- In a few minutes, pour all the water collected into the saucer.
That’s important. Better to let the plants go dry for a day than to overwater them
Correct Potting
Clean pots are of primary importance. Plastic pots can be washed in soap and water, inside and out, very easily.
Wash the pot pieces you place in the bottom too. When small, plants are like a 2” inch pot.
Only when their roots grow through the potholes will they need a larger pot and only one larger size.
A 2 1/2 pot is the next step after a two-in. Pot. A few violets, except the huge ones, need a pot larger than 4” inches.
Food
African violet food is sold under various names. A small bottle serves for a long time. Use it exactly according to the directions. A little diluted food every two weeks or so keeps your plants thriving.
Baths
Spray heartily once a week or so in the sink, using lukewarm water. Let the plants dry naturally in the shade.
Propagation
African violet propagation is easy.
A healthy leaf, cut off with a sharp knife from a section halfway down the plant, will root readily. The leaf stem should be at least 2” or 3” inches long. Cut off the very tip of the stem end and lay it aside for an hour or more.
Make a hole with a pencil in African violet soil to a depth of 2” inches and insert the leaf stem—only a ½” inch of the stem should be covered. Firm the soil around the stem and give it light and moisture.
When new leaves appear around the leaf stalk and attain a length of about ½” inch, the entire cutting can be set in a 2-inch pot.
The final result is a new plant started. If you wish, cut off the original leaf stalk and root it again for another new plant. African violet rooting leaves love a crowd, so put several in a saucer to root together. The result is plenty of plants.
Troubles
They aren’t likely to have any, but if they do, spray with an aerosol bomb, obtainable at any plant center.
When using the sprayer, hold it a foot away from the plant to avoid burning or damage.
Joys
They’re innumerable. Color in the house, the thrill of opening flowers, the admiration of visitors, and perhaps a new interest for you. Try African violets without coddling.
44659 by Abbie M. Murphy