Sweet Violets - Select Seeds (2024)

FAQs

Where are the seeds in African violets? ›

A developing seed pod can be observed as a swelling at the base of the flower after the petals have faded and dried up. The seed pod should be left on the violet until it has turned brown and is completely dry as well as the stem that supports it.

Sow in a container, cover with a plastic bag and refrigerate, or mix seed with damp clean sand or vermiculite, bag, and refrigerate at 35-40F. Check often for germination and maintain a lightly moist medium. Transplant any seedlings as they germinate. After the chill period, sow into soilless media and keep at 65-75F.

Collecting seeds from violets takes a little observation. Within a week or two of the last flowers appearances, check the plants regularly for the ½″ pale green seedpods. The pods point downward until the seeds begin to ripen, when they turn tan and papery, and reorient, pointing upwards.

Generally, you should expect to see the first blooms on African violets grown from seeds 6 to 9 months after sowing. The time that it takes depends on the environment. African violets with proper amounts of watering, light, and temperature tend to develop sooner.

Temperature & Humidity

African violets are well adapted to indoor environments. They prefer a temperature between 65°F and 80°F with about 80% humidity. It is important to avoid temperature and humidity fluctuations, including sudden drafts.

Answer: African violets are easily propagated by leaf cuttings. Select a firm, healthy leaf and cut it off with a sharp knife. Leave 1 to 1½ inches of the leaf stem (petiole) attached to the leaf blade.

From seed to flower: 6-12 months. African Violets thrive in bright, indirect, or curtain filtered sunlight although as light intensity increases during summer months, it may be advisable to shift locations of plant to an east or even north exposure.

Sweet violets are widespread but are increasingly uncommon. This is probably due to them being foraged for culinary purposes. As important sources of nectar for woodland butterflies, it's important to leave uncommon species like the sweet violet.

Sweet violet spreads quickly by short runners or can be propagated by seeds. Use it for color or a woodsy effect under the shade of a tree, as a border plant, and in planters and containers.

Wild Violet Prevention

These pretty little perennials freely self-seed (they don't need to bloom to reproduce) and can quickly take over a lawn.

Do violets spread by seed? ›

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.

If the pod forms, it takes about two months for it to fully mature. After two months, remove the pod from the plant and carefully crack it open to harvest the seeds.

African violets grow best in well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Miracle-Gro® Indoor Potting Mix is specially formulated to provide indoor plants like African violets with just the right growing environment.

Insufficient light is probably the most common reason for failure of African violets to flower. If violets are growing in too little light, the leaves become darker green and thin, petioles or leaf stems are very long and weak, and the plants flower very little if at all.

The most common reason African violets don't bloom is because they aren't getting enough light. African violets need indirect sunlight, direct can burn the leaves. Choose a north- or east- facing window for best results. Keep plants away from cold glass and rotate the pot once a week so all leaves receive light.

Do African Violets Need Special Soil? Conventional potting mix is too dense for the sensitive African violet. These jungle plants evolved in mossy outcrops with very little soil. A lightweight, soilless planting medium provides support without crushing or choking their delicate root systems.

African violet is not only one of the easiest plants to grow, it also is one of the easiest to multiply, and in so many ways. Consider multiplying any African violet that has called the same pot home for a long time. An old plant cramped into a pot just won't flower well.

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. An east-facing window is ideal, especially with a sheer curtain to block the sun's harshest rays.

Epsom salts provide plants with essential magnesium and sulfur – two minerals needed to produce beautiful blooms and healthy foliage.

Are coffee grounds good for African violets? Coffee grounds are slightly acidic and contain nitrogen, which helps plants grow healthy foliage. Occasionally sprinkling used coffee grounds on top of your African violet potting soil can be good for the plant. Don't go overboard, though.

Is it better to root African violets in water or soil? ›

With African violet leaf propagation in water, the leaves will take longer to start roots, but if you compare a 6-month old baby started in water to a 6-month old baby started in soil, you will see that the one started in water is a larger, healthier plant.

An African violet cutting takes about 3 to 4 weeks to form new roots.

Your cutting needs humidity and sunshine in order to grow. Place it in a clear covered container or put a clear plastic bag over it to provide humidity. Place this in a bright place without being in direct sun. Try to find a window that provides moderate temperature.

Propagating African violets from leaf cuttings is the most popular method because it's so easy and successful. Plan to do this project in the spring. Using a sterile knife or scissors, remove a healthy leaf along with its stem from the base of the plant.

How Often Do African Violets Bloom? One of the reasons African violets are so well-loved is that they can bloom nearly year-round with the right care. Each healthy flower will last two or three weeks. A happy plant can continue producing new blossoms regularly for 10 to 12 months out of the year.

It's important to know that African violets prefer to be root bound and usually won't flower until they are, so don't just do the typical move into a larger pot. If your plant is starting to look like a fuzzy version of a palm tree with a bare stem and all the leaves at the top, it's time to do some surgery.

African violets only need water when the soil is almost dry. Usually you'll need to water about once a week, but this depends on conditions like the temperature, the season, and the size of the African violet's container. The best way to water African violets is by bottom watering.

African violets can bloom nearly year-round. If you are able to provide the correct conditions, expect your African violets to bloom 10-12 months each year. Each bloom lasts for about 2-3 weeks.

H wrote it down for me: Saintpaulia pusilla. That's right. The flower that I had seen in the rare Udzungwa Mountains of Africa (according to Mr. H) is the rare, and perhaps “extinct” species of African violet, Saintpaulia pusilla.

The acid-loving African Violet doesn't do well with used coffee grounds, so steer clear! And these flowers don't like it either. The grounds inhibit their growth.

Can you grow sweet violets in pots? ›

A container of just about any size is suitable for your violas, so long as it's a minimum of four inches deep. The flowers like to have some elbow room, so planting one for every six to eight inches of container space is a good rule of thumb. Alternatively, plant one on its own in a small, four-inch pot.

The short answer: Don't count on it. In most cases, African violets cannot survive outdoors. Although they're fairly hardy plants, you need to get their conditions just right. And since African violets hail from the rainforests of Tanzania, your backyard probably isn't up to the challenge.

When to Repot Your African Violets. Repotting these blooms is key due to their long lifespan—they can last up to 50 years, says Ryan McEnaney, public relations and communications specialist for Bailey Nurseries. "As the plants grow, they can be repotted into larger pots so that they don't get too root-bound," he says.

In the winter, most of the leaves die back and the purple violets bloom. So they do add some color on a cold winter day. In the summer, they might have a few stray violets but not many, they mostly leaves then.

When you cut back an African violet, the goal is simply to remove dead or damaged leaves and spent flowers. It is strictly a beauty regimen that also allows new growth to access more light and air. You can cut back an African violet at any time of the year, unlike the pruning rules on many other types of plants.

While this characteristic makes them a good candidate for groundcovers, violets have been known to choke out other plants. They spread by underground rhizomes and can form resilient vegetative colonies.

Violets are perennials that return and spread year after year, while pansies/violas are much shorter lived. Here's a photo of pansies and violas grown from seed.

Deadheading. If you have success getting your African Violet to bloom, be sure to pinch or deadhead spent blooms. This allows the plant to continue to put energy into creating more buds/blooms and beautiful foliage.

Splitting African Violet Babies or Pups

To split the pups from the plant, just cut them off from the main stem of the plant, and pot them in their own soil. They will grow their own roots soon and turn into a new plant.

For patented plants like African violets, it means you are not permitted to take cuttings to propagate new plants. The exclusive propagation rights are in effect so long as the patent is active (20 years from certification date).

Do African violets need bigger pots? ›

Make sure your pot has holes for better drainage. The idea is not to transplant into a way bigger pot. Slightly bigger than the original pot will work. African violets will grow better in small pots.

They like breathable, shallow pots

African Violet roots don't go very deep; they like to go sideways, so don't use a deep pot. Your pot must have suitable drainage holes so you can water from underneath.

Milk and juice are readily available in the grocery, making them a great option for homemade African violet fertilizer. Worm castings, diluted compost tea or fish emulsion can also serve as African violet food. These can be organic, do-it-yourself options for feeding African violets at home.

The best temperature for the plant is 70 degree F. Avoid drafts. Establish humidity for the plants by placing them on wet pebbles. African violets like humid rooms, so a sunny bathroom or kitchen window can work well.

Place African violets in a location that receives bright, indirect light. A site near an east or north window is often a good location. (Do not place African violets in direct sun.) If a suitable window isn't available, place African violets under a fluorescent light fixture containing two 40-watt fluorescent tubes.

African Violet leaves curl or reach upwards when the light they receive is too low. The stems start growing longer in size and growing upwards as if they are reaching for the light. The leaves no longer grow flat as they usually should, but grow upwards too.

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.

Many successful growers of African Violets recommend repotting with fresh potting soil, twice a year or more. At the very least, an African Violet should be repotted whenever the plant becomes rootbound, i.e., the Violet has outgrown its current pot to the extent that its roots are growing out and around the rootball.

In general, it's best to avoid touching the leaves of African violets as they are delicate plants and can easily get damaged.

African Violets are susceptible to several problems from root rot, to disease or pest infestation, and even crown problems. Root Rot: If your African Violets leaves are wilting or yellowing out of nowhere, it could be because of root rot.

Can you touch the leaves of African violets? ›

Brushing leaves of african violets is not recommended because repeated brushing can decrease plant quality and size." The next time you are tempted to touch that pretty african violet in your kitchen window, remember -- for a healthier plant, keep your hands off!

African violets grow best in well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Miracle-Gro® Indoor Potting Mix is specially formulated to provide indoor plants like African violets with just the right growing environment.

According to the African Violet Society of America, you can remove existing flowers or buds (disbud) and, if growing conditions are optimal (see below), the plant will rebloom in 6 to 8 weeks.

When violets are pollinated they lower the flower head to the soil surface, and months later the seed pods, now formed, start to rise up off the ground. Here is a picture of the basil grown of violets in the fall in my garden.

Answer: The white material on the foliage of your African violets is probably powdery mildew. Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that is common on indoor plants, such as African violets, begonias, and poinsettias. Outbreaks of powdery mildew on houseplants typically occur in winter or early spring.

Violet are perennials and their seeds require a period of cold before they germinate. This technique is called cold stratification and it mimics what seeds would naturally experience if they were left out in nature over winter. A handful of sweet violet seeds.

One of the reasons African violets are so well-loved is that they can bloom nearly year-round with the right care. Each healthy flower will last two or three weeks. A happy plant can continue producing new blossoms regularly for 10 to 12 months out of the year.

When to Repot Your African Violets. Repotting these blooms is key due to their long lifespan—they can last up to 50 years, says Ryan McEnaney, public relations and communications specialist for Bailey Nurseries.

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 5.8 and 6.2. Vinegar's pH is around 2.5. Soil that is too acidic can prevent African violets from getting the nutrients that they need.

The African Violet Society of America recommends Neem oil as an insecticide. Spray the foliage of your plant, wiping it gently with a soft cloth. Repeat treatments until symptoms subside.

What kills mealybugs on African Violets? ›

Spot Treatment with Isopropyl Alcohol

On small infestations on houseplants, a 70% or less solution of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol in water may be dabbed directly on mealybugs with a cotton swab to kill them or remove them.

Despite their common name, African violets are not a type of violet, but they do produce vivid, violet-colored flowers. They are now categorized in the genus Streptocarpus. However, as their name suggests, African violets are native to East Africa, stemming from the tropical rainforests of Tanzania and Kenya.

The traditional way of propagating violet leaves is to place the stem into water until roots begin to grow. Using this method, select a healthy leaf and remove it from the plant by toggling it from side to side until is pulls free. Avoid pinching or bruising the leaf as this may lead to rotting.

Use a broadleaf killer that contains 2,4-D or Dicamba, and it will selectively kill the violets without damaging the grass. Another great wild violet herbicide is called Drive (quinclorac). Quinclorac is also sold in other lawn weed control products, under differing names.