They’re known to bloom continuously, even throughout the darker months of winter. Place them throughout the house to enjoy their colors and velvety texture throughout the year. Once you get in a regular routine of taking care of African violets, you’ll find they grow very easily.

Do violets come up every year?

Wild violets (Viola odorata) have heart-shaped leaves with purple-blue flowers. … Although in some areas they are considered annuals or biennials, wild violets often self-seed, coming back each year in unexpected locations.

Why is my Violet not blooming?

Too little light can cause of African violets not to bloom well. They prefer bright, indirect sun. Too little sunlight causes them to stretch for the light and produce few or no flowers; too much sun can burn the leaves. … If you grow African violets under lights, be sure not to run them more than 16 hours a day.

How do you get violets to rebloom?

1. 8 Ways to Get Your African Violet to Bloom Again. …
2. Let There Be Light. …
3. Turn Up the Humidity. …
4. Replenish Essential Nutrients. …
5. Keep it Pleasant. …
6. Choose the Right Soil. …
7. Protect From Pests & Disease. …
8. Constrict the Roots.

Do violets go dormant?

Unlike some other members of the gesneriad family, particularly those that are rhizomatous or tuberous, violets (which are fibrous rooted) won’t go dormant, if good culture is provided. If a good, consistent, growing environment is provided, a violet will grow and bloom nearly continually.

What is the season for violets?

Like most violas, violets have the potential to bloom from late winter or spring all the way through the summer. Typically, though, they stop blooming in late spring or summer when temperatures begin to get hot.

Do violets grow in sun or shade?

Using a slow-release fertilizer will help encourage continuous blooms. Although violets tolerate of a variety of light conditions, most will grow best in full sun to partial shade. Some woodland species tolerate more shade; in fact they can be planted in areas considered to be full shade.

How do you revive African violets?

Brown spots on African violets are often referred to as leaf scorch, a form of sunburn. To encourage healing and new growth, move your African violet to a room that receives ample indirect sunlight or hang a sheer curtain between your light source and your plant to help diffuse the direct rays.

Are violets annuals or perennials?

Botanically speaking, violas, pansies, and almost all violets are perennials belonging to the genus Viola. However, violas and pansies are usually treated as annuals, invaluable for fall, winter, and spring bloom in mild-winter areas, for spring-through-early-summer color in colder climates.

Should you remove dead flowers from African violets?

The plant produces leaves regularly, and this will help balance the appearance of the violet while allowing old leaves to make room for new. Remove spent flowers as they occur. This will help promote the growth of new blooms because the plant doesn’t have to direct any energy to old flowers.

Article first time published on

How often should you water an African violet?

An important point to remember when bottom watering African Violet plants is to top water at least once a month. This way you are flushing out any extra fertilizer salt build up and refreshing the soil/roots from the top too.

How long do African violets 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.

Can African violets go outside in summer?

During the summer, you can improve the health and appearance of your house plants by moving them outside. Most indoor plants thrive in outdoor conditions, although it’s best to keep tender tropical plants, such as moth orchids and African violets, indoors.

How long does it take for African violets to bloom?

Give them the same care I described earlier, and in six to nine months they will bloom as beautifully as the parent plant did. Of course, after propagating the leaves, you’ll end up with an entire forest of African violets.

Do African violets like to be root bound?

Contrary to what you might have heard, African violets do not like to be root bound. They do, however, like to grow in the right shape and size pot. … If you plant your violet in a pot that is as deep as it is wide, the roots will fill the diameter but will not get down to the lower part of the potting soil.

How big do African violets get?

African violets are typically classified by size, based on how wide they grow: Miniature: less than 8 inches across. Standard: 8–16 inches across. Large: more than 16 inches across.

Do violets spread?

Violets have developed numerous ways to spread. Violets spread by underground rhizomes and may form vegetative colonies. They also spread by seed. Flowers near the soil surface that never really open, called cleistogamous or non-opening, self-pollinating, shoot seeds out to establish a new colony away from the parent.

Are violets Hardy?

Both violets and pansies are cold-hardy; however, neither flower can withstand high heat and humidity. In regions with hot summers, the plants do not bloom well and take on a ragged appearance.

Are violets poisonous to dogs?

With their fuzzy green leaves and stunning year-round flowers, African violets bloom in a range of lavenders, blues, pinks, reds, and white—depending on the variety. Both the plant and flowers are non-toxic to cats and dogs, making them perfect for those looking for a low-maintenance, blooming plant.

Can you grow violets in pots?

Violets are cheery, early blooming perennials that welcome the advent of the growing season with daffodils, tulips, and other spring bulbs. However, these cool climate woodland plants do best in partial shade. Violets are versatile, and growing violets in containers is no problem at all.

Do pansies come back every year?

The short, quick answer is, yes. Because they have little freeze tolerance, most will die in sustained winters. In areas with moderate temperatures, they may come again in spring, especially if they were mulched to protect the roots.

Are violets indoor or outdoor plants?

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.

Do violets grow in full sun?

How to grow sweet violet in a garden. Choose a well drained spot in the garden that has full to partial sun. … Plant directly where the violets are to grow. They will spread over time, creating a lovely display.

Where do wild violets grow best?

Wild Violets grow best in shady, moist, and fertile soil. They spread via underground root systems and seeds. Seed pods grow in small capsules at the base of the plant that look like they might bloom into flowers. Wild Violets form large colonies, connecting via their underground roots: rhizomes.

Do violas flower all summer?

Many of the viola hybrids start flowering in April (May for the cornutas) and combine beautifully with spring bulbs such as Muscari ‘Valerie Finnis’ and Narcissus triandus ‘Hawera’. They then continue to flower throughout the summer and well into September.

Why do my African violets keep dying?

Over-watering is the most common way that people kill their African violets. Leaf or flower loss, limp plants, and crown and stem rot are all results of too much water. Insufficient watering causes roots to shrivel and die, the plant to lose vigor and color, and then collapse.

What causes African violets to droop?

Overwatering is one of the most common causes of droopy African violet leaves. That’s because their delicate root systems can’t handle waterlogged soil. Prolonged overwatering can suffocate your plant, causing a life-threatening disease called root rot.

Do African violets need to be watered from the bottom?

Should I water African violets from the top or bottom? Either is fine. It is important not to use cold water; lukewarm or warm is preferred. If you water from the top, be careful not to get water on the leaves when the plant is in the sun; this is to avoid leaf spots.

Do African violets flower again?

They’re known to bloom continuously, even throughout the darker months of winter. Place them throughout the house to enjoy their colors and velvety texture throughout the year. Once you get in a regular routine of taking care of African violets, you’ll find they grow very easily.

Do African violets like to be crowded?

Violets need to feel crowded to bloom, but when a plant gets too big for its pot, divide the plant’s separate-looking leaf heads. When you repot, tease the roots apart and plant in room-temperature potting soil.

Is coffee grounds good for African violets?

Is Coffee Grounds Good for African Violets? … Yes, coffee grounds are a great homemade fertilizer for African Violets. Make a mixture of dried coffee grounds and dried egg shells, then work the coffee ground mixture into the top of the soil. Replenish every couple of months.