Last week I fielded a question from a reader who was looking for tips on how to get African violets to bloom. Being inexperienced with growing these fuzzy-leaved beauties myself, I went digging for information. This week I want to share what else I learned.
First of all, I want to say that for a plant that is ubiquitously described as being “easy to grow,” it’s way more complicated than that claim would lead one to expect. To me, “easy” describes houseplants like pothos, sansevieria, schefflera, and succulents; provide a modest amount of light, water them when the soil is dry, and they’re happy. This is not the world of the African violet.
The challenge with African violets starts with humidity. The same sites that described African violet as being easy to grow also mentioned that these plants do best with humidity of 80 percent to mimic their native environment: rain forests at altitudes of 3,000 to 6,000 feet. That’s way more humid than the average house at between 25 and 35 percent humidity. The recommended strategy is to sit pots of African violet atop a shallow dish of small stones and keep the dish filled with water or to run a humidifier in the room.
African violets are apparently also picky when it comes to soil and growers are advised to buy potting soil specially formulated for African violets. Not only that, but you should also treat African violets to new soil every year or two.
Watering also requires some attention and practice. Here are some guidelines:
• Don’t overwater. Water only when the top inch of soil feels dry.
• Try watering from the bottom by setting the flowerpot in a dish of water for 30 minutes.
• Use room temperature water. Drops of cold water on leaves can cause irreversible leaf spotting.
• Avoid using soft water.
• If you have highly chlorinated water, e.g., if you can smell chlorine as water comes out of the tap, fill a bowl or saucepan with water and let it sit overnight before using.
For best flowering, place plants in an east- or south-facing window but keep them out of direct sunlight. A sheer curtain will diffuse the light.
In thinking about growing African violets myself, I kept coming up against the humidity issue. Is a water-filled dish of pebbles really enough to create a sufficient microclimate? Then I started to wonder: since all the advice I found pointed toward a warm, moist environment, would African violets do well in a terrarium? I Googled “grow African violets in terrarium” and hit pay dirt, so to speak.
The online African Violet Resource Center is just one of the many sites where I found useful information. “A closed terrarium is a great way to grow African violets and other delicate plants,” they suggest. “By enclosing the environment, you can create a space that is warm and humid — just the way these plants like it.”
This site is also where I learned why a special soil is recommended. “… the roots of the plant are very sensitive and can be easily damaged. A good African violet potting mix should be light and airy, well-draining, and high in organic matter. It should also be low in fertilizer to prevent burning the delicate roots.” You can make your own mix by combining equal parts of peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite.
If you’re interested in the African Violet Resource Center’s step-by-step details on setting up a terrarium for African violets, you can find them at https://tinyurl.com/5k6nkhbe. The instructions take you through everything from selecting an appropriate container, creating a drainage layer, selecting soil, installing your plants, and watering. Whether you make it a closed or open environment is up to you.
Pam Baxter is an avid organic vegetable gardener who lives in Kimberton. Direct e-mail to pamelacbaxter@gmail.com, or send mail to P.O. Box 80, Kimberton, PA 19442. Pam’s new book, Listening to Nature’s Voice, is now available on Amazon. For more information or to sign up for her newsletter, visit her website: pamelabaxterbooks.com.
Source: Berkshire mont
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