Where Do African Violets Come From

African violets were first discovered by European colonists in Africa in 1892. Baron von Saint Paul was serving as the imperial district governor of Tanginyika, a small country in east Africa, when he discovered and collected two of the plants now called African violets.

How do African violets reproduce in the wild?

Once you've mastered growing African violets successfully, you'll notice your plant is producing “suckers”. These are baby plants growing out from the main stem, and are one way that African violets propagate.

Where do African violets live naturally?

There they were, finally: wild African violets, lovely examples of the ancestors of one of the world's most popular houseplants. They grow naturally only in the coastal mountains and forests of East Africa, and I'd come a long way to see them.

What is so special about African violets?

African violets are perhaps the most popular flowering houseplants grown in the world today. There are many reasons for this: The plants generally flower the year round, giving an almost continuous display of blooms. They require the same temperatures humans find comfortable, making them easy to raise in our homes.

Do African violets have a lifespan?

Repotting these blooms is so important due to their long lifespan. "Remember that African violets have a very long lifespan and have been said to last up to 50 years," says Ryan McEnaney, public relations and communications specialist for Bailey Nurseries.

What is the rarest violet?

With all due respect to your international society and its unified cause of common houseplants, the African Violet you admire so much, is in fact, a very rare thing—it is one of the rarest flowers in the world.

How often 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 often do African violets need to be watered?

“How often to water African violets?” is perhaps the most pondered African violet dilemma. The best guide is to feel the top of the soil: if it is dry to the touch, then it is time to water. African violets should be allowed to dry out between each watering for best results. Overwatering can kill a plant.

Do African violets only bloom once?

How Often Do African Violets Bloom? One of the reasons African violets are so well-loved is that they can bloom nearly year-round with the right care. Each healthy flower will last two or three weeks. A happy plant can continue producing new blossoms regularly for 10 to 12 months out of the year.

Do African violets clean the air?

African violets If you're looking to match your home's interior, then this little air purifying plant comes in a huge variety of different colours – a feast for the eyes. It is also non-toxic, and safe to have growing around pets.

Do African violets like to be wet or dry?

Watering: Keep soil moist to dry, and allow soil around roots to dry out before watering to encourage blooming. Water from the bottom with room temperature water by placing the plastic grower's pot in water, and allowing the plant to absorb the water ( not more than 30 minutes ).

Why are African violets so hard to grow?

Insufficient light is probably the most common reason for failure of African violets to flower. If violets are growing in too little light, the leaves become darker green and thin, petioles or leaf stems are very long and weak, and the plants flower very little if at all.

How often should you feed African violets?

Your African Violet needs fertilizer to stay healthy throughout the year. During the spring and summer, you should fertilize your African Violets once every 14 days. In the fall and winter, you shouldn't fertilize the plant at all to prevent over-fertilizing.

How do I make my African violets happy?

And make sure to rotate them once a week and that way all the leaves will receive the same amount of

Should African violets be kept indoors?

Where to Grow African Violets. African violets are strictly indoor plants in North America, largely because their leaves need to stay dry. Grow plants in bright, indirect light for the best color and blooms. A plant stand three feet away from a west- or south-facing window is an ideal location.

Why do you water African violets from the 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.

Should you deadhead African violets?

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.

Do African violets multiply?

African violets and rex begonias both multiply readily from leaf cuttings. Use whole or even parts of leaves to propagate either of these plants. Because a detached begonia or African violet leaf wilts quickly, always have your pot of soil ready before you take the cutting.

What are the most fragrant violets?

The most richly scented of all violets, the 1870 'Duchesse de Parme' has doubled flowers of lavender. Once grown for use in perfumery and corsages, we enjoy it today as a potted plant, where the petite flowers show to best advantage.

How can you tell the difference between a male and female African violet?

African Violets can have single coloured petals or multi-coloured petals, which are called sports. They also have completely separate male and female plants. “Female plants have a lighter colour down the middle of the leaf,” says Ricky. Looking after African Violets isn't complicated.