How to care for and grow African violet, so that it blooms all year round

Characteristics of the African violet

The African violet, whose scientific name is Saintpaulia, is a perennial plant native to East Africa. It belongs to the Gesneriaceae family. Its leaves are thick, rounded or heart-shaped and intense green in color. Furthermore, it has a very characteristic type of fur. Its flowers can be purple, pink, red or white. They have yellow stamens, where pollen accumulates. Its root system is a little deep, so it adapts well to small and large pots. Its most popular variety is Saintpaulia Ionantha.

How often should you water the African violet?

The African violet is a plant particularly sensitive to excessive watering. Therefore, when you do this, you have to be very careful not to overdo it. A very effective way to do good is capillary watering, so be careful not to water leaves, stems or flowers. Then place the pot on a plate full of water for 20 minutes to absorb as much water as possible and discard any remaining water. In the warm seasons, spring and summer, carry out twice a week, while in autumn reduce watering to once a week and, in winter, space them even further apart, watering every 15 days. In any case, always maintain a good level of humidity, but without flooding it.

Where to place an African violet?

The location of the African violet is essential so that it can offer flowers for several months. This flowering houseplant needs to be placed in a very bright room, but protected from sunlight. During autumn and winter you can place it near the window.

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Another aspect that must be taken care of so that the African violet remains with leaves and in flower is humidity. However, avoid spraying it, because wetting the leaves and flowers will make them rot. You can instead place a plate under the vase with some pebbles and water (always making sure that the substrate does not touch the water), wet moss or peat.

Which substrate is best for an African violet?

One of the secrets to ensuring that the African violet does not suffer from excessive watering is to grow it with a substrate that maintains humidity but avoids flooding. This is why it is essential that it has good drainage. You can mix sand, peat, mulch and universal substrate in equal parts.

How to make the African violet bloom all year round?

The key to the African violet offering flowers throughout the year is to provide it with the necessary nutrients. For this you will have to pay it periodically. It is best to use a liquid fertilizer with proportions of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. There are specific fertilizers for African violets. Mix it with irrigation water and always following the manufacturer’s instructions. Do this every three weeks.

Can the African violet be grown outdoors?

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Yes, it is possible as long as it is positioned in a shaded area of ​​the garden and protected from bad weather, low temperatures and rain. And it is that the African violet cannot tolerate temperatures below 14 °C. The ideal, in fact, is to store it at a temperature between 18 and 22 °C.

If you grow your African violet in a pot and keep it indoors, you can always move it outside during the summer, as long as the temperatures are not too high and you don’t place it in a location exposed to direct sun.