How to care for your African Violet
One of our favorite flowers is the African Violet. In fact, they may be THE flower we’re most known for.
People LOVE them, because—
💜 They’re inexpensive
💜 They’re hearty— and hard to kill
💜 They’re nostalgic
Here are a few of our top African Violet tips:
🪷 Water from the bottom— not the top.
This is true for most plants. African Violets in particular do not like to get their leaves wet.
(Remember to make sure the water doesn’t have chlorine in it. We have a video about watering tropicals. Follow these instructions to collect water.)
Also, make sure you provide them with room temperature water. They don’t like ice cubes (as some plants do) or cold water.
🪷 Feed them like a dog or cat.
In the same way dogs and cats like dog and cat food, African Violets like African Violet food.
🪷 Get the special pot.
African Violets have a two-part pot (unglazed) that enables water to pull from one layer to the next.
(We can show you exactly what they look like in our shop!)
🪷 No direct sun.
Face it towards the east sun or even a fluorescent lamp. The direct sunlight will scorch the leaves.
🪷 They’re like people— they need rest.
If you have them inside, don’t leave them under a light 24/7. Let them rest.
🪷 You can turn a bloom into an entire plant.
We show you how in the video…
… and you’ll know it’s working when, in about 6-8 weeks, you see a new leaf sprouting.
🪷 Give it a “hair cut.”
Extra leaves pull nutrients from the plant, so cut the long leaves away— getting as close to the base of the plant as you can.
African Violets are beautiful and colorful, they’re easy to maintain, and they make fabulous gifts. They’re also inexpensive.
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