Originating from Africa, the violet isn't a violet at all, but is commonly known from the primary color of the flower that can also be found in shades of pink, blue and white. Santpaulia, the botanical name of the african violet, honors Baron Walter von Saint Paul who brought the plant to Europe in 1893. The African violet adapts well to indoor life with its almost continuous blooms. The colorful nosegays of flowers, makes the African violet a favorite among houseplants.
Description
The African violet is a low-growing plant with roughly oval shaped, dark green leaves. With hundreds of varieties of blooms ranging from shades of pink to blues and even white or creams, the African violet appeals to many gardners. African violets can vary in size from blooms larger than an inch across to the miniature varieties.
Plant Types
The African violet has three main plant types: rosette, trailing and variegated.
Rosette - This violet has short stems growing in layered whorls from the center growth point. The center to the end of the leaf blade can vary from 2 inches (5cm) to 2 feet (60cm). The leaf blade size determines the diameter of a single crown at maturity. It is not uncommon to have up to five layers of leaf growth on one crown.
Trailing - This type of African violet has long main stems. The leaf growth is much longer compared to the rosette type violet, but will also grow in layers of leaf whorls. The stems are thinner and cannot stand up during growth and trail downward. This African violet branches out leading to the trailing appearance.
Variegated Foliage - The African violet has three basic types of variegation on the upper surface of the leaves. There is the white-edged leaf that turns green as the plant matures. Other varieties of violets have leaf foliage speckled with white. Further breeding programs and studies have developed hybrid varieties of African violets with variegation becoming cream, yellow, pink as well as white on the green foliage. Rosette and trailing violets can have variegated leaf foliage.
Growing Conditions
African Violets prefer a low-humidity environment with a maintained temperature of 70 degrees to 75 degrees in the daytime and not to reach below 60 degrees at night. The African violet easily adapts to indoor growing conditions with precautions taken during the winter months in areas where the temperatures get well below 60 degrees. Artificial lights can work well with African violets to maintain a healthy plant. In their natural habitat of the African jungle, the African violet grows where it is moist and humid.
Pots
African violets need a flower pot that is shallower than the regular pot used from most plants. A plastic or clay made pot is fine to grow violets in. Don't plant your violet in too large a pot, for the African violet blooms mostly when slightly root bound. The water reservoir needs to be slightly larger than the shallow pot allowing for proper watering.
Soil
African violets need a light soil that is airy to the feel and allows for easy penetration of the root system as the plant grows. There are several pre-mixed potting soils on the market and some aimed at the african violet. Should you be adventurous, the following is an African violet potting soil recipe recommended by several violet societies and extension agencies.
African Violet Potting Soil Recipe
- 4 quarts of peat moss
- 4 quarts coarse vermiculite
- 4 quarts coarse perlite
- 1/4 cup dehydrated cow manure
- 3 tablespoons dolomite lime
- 2 tablespoons superphosphate
- 2 cups fine horticulture grade charcoal
Soil mixtures should have a pH of about 6.0 to 6.5 (slightly acidic) for best results with your plants. African violets should be repotted at least twice a year removing approximately 1/3 of the old soil and replacing with fresh potting mixture.
Growing African violets is not necessarily difficult once you get your plants set up. Once growing and blooming, it will feel rather simple and easy. African violets with a little work can be kept blooming little nosegays of color throughout the year.
With all the different varieties and colors of the African violet to choose from, the hardest part is deciding which ones to buy. Be careful, African violets can become an obsession, yet how many beautiful and colorful flowers taht brightens up you home be considered too many.
Lynette Partridge-Schneider - For Lynette Partridge-Schneider, animals have been more than just a lifetime adventure. Her love of animals is a passion. Since, her first ...
