African violets . Could a name sound more charming ? Even though they have suffered an identicalness crisis of late — sometimes being pegged as stuffy and old - fashioned — they are enchanting , easy - care blooper . They are a colorful addition to thehouseplant landscape , with countless variety of color and grain .
I ’ve had one reddish blue for decades and a large part of maintain them alive and thriving is to on a regular basis separate them . One violet will soon be several , but first , how do you keep them happy ?
Light
African violets are aboriginal to Tanzania and Kenya and favor a tropical habitat . They love bright , but indirect Christ Within . Find the brightest location you may for them , without cause sun directly strickle their leave of absence . Bright light is necessary to get consistent and full blooms , which is the reason to grow them in the first place .
H2O
African violets do best with even watering that allows them to dry out a little in between academic session . There are particular African violet pots design to render water below the roots , but I have always had good luck with a regular pot with dependable drainage and spend a penny indisputable to irrigate at the base of the plant . You do n’t want to get the leaves wet . African violet love humidity . A straightaway and easy elbow room to get this is to group several plants together or tuck them among your other houseplant .
Soil and Fertilizer
Use a wakeful and porous potting mix . blend design for African violet are available or you could amend a stock mix with peat moss and perlite . fertilise African violets is necessary for regular bloom . Use a commixture specifically for them , following the directions .
Dividing African violet
Over time , plant will acquire babies , as they basically divide themselves into more plant . I recently separate a two - year - older plant life into four little plant life . The procedure is easy , with the violet doing most of the body of work for you . It ’s easygoing to do when the plant is on the dry side , so wait to water until you have repotted the new industrial plant .
To divide , lift the entire plant life out of its pot and set it on a flat surface . You will be able-bodied to easily see the natural division among the plants . Gently break them apart from one another , while trying to keep each case-by-case root ball somewhat entire . When you have the private plants separated , repot in a low-cal , poriferous dirt and water . you may either get your own little colony of African violets or give them away and have your friends distinguish what a pleasure they are to have in the mansion .
This article byEric Johnsonoriginally appeared in the January / February 2020 effect ofNorthern Gardener .
