African violets are also well known as Saintpaulia. There are named “African violets” simply because they superficially look a lot like true violets. African violets are wonderful tropical flowers that are originally from Tanzania. How often do African violets bloom? Well with proper care they can bloom into beautiful flowers regularly throughout the year. When do African violets bloom? African violets basically start to bloom in the month of February. Typically they thrive and do well as household plants but can also do as outdoor plants. Growing African violets is not easy as there are sensitive fussy plants that require proper care in order for them to bloom and flourish. There are worth all the hassle because at the end of the day, they will reward you with their flourishing bright beautiful tropical flowers.
How do they look like?
There are a number of different hybrids and varieties of African violets. The stunning colorful flowers have a range of shades. The color of flowers range from blue, pink, red, white and lavender. Moreover, some flowers have a combination of 2 colors or more. The leaves are fuzzy and wavy-like with a dark-green color. African violets can be in form of either trailing or tiny violets. The trailing violets can be planted in hanging pots.
How to take care of African violets
You should purchase a plant that is healthy, has the darkest green leaves and the healthiest looking buds. African violets are sensitive plants that require utmost care. Therefore, selecting healthy plants will make it easy for you to care for them. A healthy plant is more likely to grow, bloom and produce lively beautiful flowers. It is ideal that you purchase plants from a well-known reputable nursery rather than from a random shop.
How to grow violets? Well African violets can be grown as household plants and also as outdoors plants. It is wise to grow them indoors were there have a higher chance of survival. Indoors not only will the plants remain healthy but the blooming flowers will also make your house look beautiful. Whereas outdoors there are more prone to discoloration and damage from insects.
How to get African violets to bloom in your garden?
Well you simply have to ensure that there is enough bright indirect light. Indirect light is ideal for African violets, the light encourages the flowers to bloom. They require indirect sunlight for them to absorb, whereas too much direct sunlight burns the leaves. With indoor potted plants it is possible to get the right amount of sunlight in all seasons. You can easily shift them around to a spot where you can get the right amount of light and shade. In winter in order to get the best light you can put the plants on a windowsills facing south or west and in summer they should be facing east and north. They do well in day temperature that ranges between 70-80 Fahrenheit and night temperature of 65 F.
They need to be watered with room temperature water. Cold water damages the root system. African violets require the right amount of water. Overwatering can cause the soil to saturate which will kill them. You should let the soil dry out a little bit before watering it. When watering the plants you should avoid spilling water onto the leaves, water causes the leaves to discolor. To avoid discoloration, you should water the plant from the bottom by letting the plant absorb the water from a saucer.
African violets require fertilizer mostly during spring and summer. In this growing season you add fertilizer to give the plants an extra boost. You have to put fertilizer and plant food with high phosphorus every 2 weeks. For best results you should only use fertilizer that is specifically meant for African violets.
Most importantly the soil should be well-drained, loose and have organic matter too. For potted plants the containers should have enough holes for drainage. Proper drainage ensures that the roots do not rot. The leaves are prone to get dusty, hence you should use a soft dry brush instead of water. Moreover, you should watch out for cyclamen mites. African violet won’t bloom, if it is infected by cyclamen mites. There are a great threat to African violets. In a case where there are affected by cyclamen mites, it is advisable that you dispose or isolate the infected plants.
How to make African violets bloom
African violent are very demanding plants. How to make African violet bloom? To make them bloom means you have to meet their basic requirements. They require a conducive growing environment, the right amount of plant food, light and temperature for them to bloom.
- African violet not blooming, well this can be due to lack of fertilizer, little or excessive fertilizer. To ensure that your flowers bloom, you can use a diluted solution of fertilizer when you water it every time. Additionally you can also use African violet plant food to add more nutrients to the plants.
- African violets thrive and do well when there are pot bound. You have to repot at least once a year. The new pot should be slightly bigger that the old pot but it should be root bound. One-third of the old soil should be replaced by nutritious organic potting soil mix. By putting them in small pots it make them root bound and that in turn makes these violets bloom.
- In order to have abundant blooms, make sure the plant gets 10-14 hours of medium to bright but indirect light per-day and 8-hours rest period in the darkness. They need to get enough light for them to bloom.
Association & Symbolism
African violet flower are associated with motherhood, Valentine’s Day and Easter. There are cheerful extra special flowers that add color to any room. Their charm has the ability to cheer up any environment. Henceforth, they serve as great traditional gifts during these days around the world. African violets also symbolize faithfulness and loyalty.
African violets are stunning flowers that add a velvety texture and color to your house. Your house will no longer be a dull place with these lively colorful flowers. African violets are sensitive, require proper care and have to be grow according to their terms. There are worth all the fuss as they will compensate you with dainty flowers that have a range of colors or are multi-colored.
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