What are common African violet problems?
Crown rot is a common fungal problem of African violets that are overwatered or recently repotted. Crown rot causes the main stem and lower leaves to appear water-soaked, shrivel, and die. Crown rot usually leads to plant death. Allowing the top of the soil to dry completely between watering will prevent crown rot. If you notice your plant has started to droop and the soil is very dry, just give it a normal drink of water. It’s best to water African Violets from the bottom, using room-temperature or slightly tepid water. Just be careful not to overcompensate by giving your plant too much water to make up for it being dry.Do not use softened or chlorinated water for African violets. Use room-temperature distilled water, rainwater, or reverse-osmosis water. Keep the potting mix moist but not soggy, and never let your plant sit in water. Root rot from over watering is one of the most common reasons African violets die.The more humid you keep their area, the less often you need to water. Air flow also comes into play. Higher air flow increases watering frequency. Although you can’t water on a schedule because conditions change, I tend to bottom water my African Violets about once every one to two weeks.Starving violets lack the energy to bloom. Many growers have the best success fertilizing once a week with a mild fertilizer designed for African violets. A balanced formula such as a 20-20-20 or one that has slightly more phosphorus, like a 15-20-15 will do well in most growing situations.Once your African Violet pot is sitting in a saucer, use a watering can with a relatively thin spout (to avoid water going everywhere) and pour water in the saucer until the pot your African Violet resides in is sitting a shallow pool of water. Walk away and let your African Violet sit for at least 45 minutes.
Do African violets like vinegar?
It is better to start off with soil with the correct pH level for your African violets than to add vinegar to the soil. While it is true that vinegar is an acid, and African violets like acidic soil, African violets need soil with a pH level of between 5. Vinegar’s pH is around 2. Schultz African Violet Plus Liquid Plant Food is perfect for African violets and other blooming plants. In nature, African violets obtain their food from a nutrient-rich environment that is continuously being replenished by nature. However, African violets grown indoors depend on you to provide these nutrients.Potting mixes suitable for African violets contain no actual soil’ that is why they are called soilless mixes. Here are some tips to help you make a good decision for your plants’ mix. The most common ingredients in potting mixes are sphagnum peat moss, perlite, vermiculite and dolomite lime.High quality neem oil Over time, it makes the soil too heavy for gesneriads–the oil sort of clogs the soil and your African violets will not be happy : ( I still recommend this neem oil though! Use as directed above.
How to fix a sick African violet?
Move your African Violet right away to somewhere warmer and out of the path of cold drafts. Watch out for leaves or flowers that start to turn mushy or brown and remove them right away to help prevent the rot spreading. Increase humidity while reducing watering (I just stop watering altogether until it’s recovered). If you want your African violet to bloom almost continuously – then Epsom salts are the answer. Mix one and a half teaspoons of Epsom salts in a quart of tepid water and swirl to dissolve. Water your African violets (below the leaves) with this solution once a month. Your plants will thank you with beautiful blooms.If your plant has dark healthy leaves but no blooms, try increasing the light. If it is blooming but has pale leaves, reduce the light. African violets are well adapted to indoor environments. They prefer a temperature between 65°F and 80°F with about 80% humidity.If you want your African violet to bloom almost continuously – then Epsom salts are the answer. Mix one and a half teaspoons of Epsom salts in a quart of tepid water and swirl to dissolve. Water your African violets (below the leaves) with this solution once a month. Your plants will thank you with beautiful blooms.Then, cut the stem to about an inch, trim the stem stubs, and plant it in fresh, damp African Violet potting mix. Then, put the plant in a plastic bag, blow air into it, close it with a twist-tie, and place it near a window for one month.
What do coffee grounds do for African violets?
African Violets Before you plant these violets in a container, work a small amount of coffee grounds into the potting soil to improve drainage and soil texture. With a range of sizes from micro-miniature to large and dozens of colors, you’re sure to find an African violet you love. African violets prefer bright but indirect light. Too much direct, hot sunlight can cause leaves to brown and curl under. Move plants out of direct light to see if that stops the curling.