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African Violets
One of the best known and recognized of all the common houseplants, African Violets are grown in the windowsills of many kitchens. Questions here include topics such as lighting, watering, proper soil, fertilizing, popularity, and propagation, as well as showing African Violets as a hobby, how to get started and finding shows.
164 Questions
What seasons do African violets bloom?
This depends on the variety, amount of light, fertilizer, and the plant it receives. Some African violet plants bloom every month and hold their blooms for long periods of time before it whithers and dies which is refered to as a sticktite blossom. Other varieties only bloom two times a year.
These types of African violets ane called Variegatedbecause of their gorgeous rich leaf color from white, creams,pinks,light green,dark green, and even mosaic. Beware; variegated varieties need certain light and weather requirements to keep the variegation contrasts otherwise the leaf color revert back to all green.
Is African violet reproduce by vegetative propagation?
African violets can reproduce asexually (or "without sex") when you take a cutting and place it in damp soil, allowing it to create a new bud. The new plant is a clone of the original plant, since it has the same genes as the original.
When flowers make seeds, this is sexual reproduction that mixes the genes from two parental plants.
Propogation is when you put down a leaf, roots grow from the leaf, then baby plantlets emerge, anywhere from one to 6 or more possibly. African violets do sport which means the new plant and plantlets it might produce can look entirely different than the original leaf or seed.
What do you do if your African violets get sun burned?
No, direct sunshine on your African violet will cause the leaves to have burned spots on them. This should be avoided. Place violets in good bright indirect light such as a North window or artificial lighting such as flourescrnt bulbs.
Are African Violet's leaves jagged?
Yes, there are some varieties with this type of leaf. See related web sites.
Where do violets grow in the US?
Sweet violets are different from African violets. Sweet violets grow well outside in warm and humid weather. They grow in California as my Mother In Law grows them in her front yard. She used to live in Kansas and she brought some with her when she moved to California.
What are the steps to grow African Violets?
No, African violets thrive better indoors because of possibilities of insect infestation and they are sensitive to extreme weather changes. There are some outdoors violets but these are not African violets. They produce small purple blossoms, these are wild violets.
Can you use African violet soil for other plants?
No, you may not use soil in which you grow an African violet [Saintpaulia spp] for growing other plants. But yes, you may use African violet-type soil for growing other plants. It's going to be a restricted, less familiar range of plants. Specifically, African violets need a soil whose pH is in the upper limits of neutral and lower limits of alkaline, in the range of 6.6 - 7.0. Most plants that are familiar to gardeners inside the house and out prefer the lower limits of neutral and the upper limits of acidic, in the range of 5.5 - 6.0 - 6.5.
What special adaptations does each part of a African Violet plant have?
Here are the parts of an African Violet: 1. The flower blossoms contain the reproductive parts of a plant. 1a. The two small yellow sacs in the center of the blossom are called anthers. They contain a fine powdery pollen. The pistil is the female part of the plant. It's sticky end collects the pollen and sends it down to the ovary. 2. This bud will develop and become a blossom. 3. Bloom stalk contains peduncle, pedicel, and cluster of blossoms growing on one stem as a unit. It appears from the juncture of the main stem and the petiole. 4. Petiole stem that connects leaf blade to the main center stem. 5. Suckers in the diagram to the right shows where crowns form between the stems. These are encouraged on trailing (multiple crown) varieties. Remove any suckers on single crowned plant varieties. (Sucker's can be rooted in soil for an additional plantlet) 6. Developing seed pod resulting from fertilization of eggs in an ovary located at the base of the pistil. 7. Spent blossom this is an old flower that has wilted.
What is the African violet's name?
An African violet is a one crowned plant that produces beautiful flowers at around 6 months. An array of colors from yellow, pink,blue-purple, red, rose and much more. There are also trailing types of African violets.
How does the African violet disperse its seeds?
Well, African violets in the wild disperse their seeds with the help from birds and certain insects. African violets as a rule do not self polinate because the seed pods are very hard. Hybridizers make a cut or break into the seed some how to get to the powder.
What causes trailing African violets leaves to curl?
It could be that either; the area your growing them in is too cold or maybe it's getting a draft on it. Sometimes if the plant is getting to much light or there might be a relection off the tray your plant is sitting in will cause curling of leaves.
Do African violets have any predators?
No, African violets are not endangered, many hobbyists grow them and show them.
However, most of the African violets grown by hobbyists are hybrids. On another hand, some subspecies of the Saintpaulia species (the African violets as they were discovered in the nature) are endangered.
How many hours of light does an African violet need?
African violets are originally from Africa where it is very tropical. Therefore, they need constant moisture but not sitting directly in water all the time or they may rot. Don't let your violet every become bone dry, water again when plant starts to become a little dry on top of the soil.
Provide a soil less mix for your African violet plant which would consist of brown (not black) peat moss, vermiculite, white perlite, mix these ingredients equal parts example; one cup of peat moss or African violet mix, one cup vermiculite, one cup perlite. Also, your plant will benefit from 1 Tablespoon of Dolomite Lime per gallon of mix. Mix all together and plant your plant. This will provide your plant with good drainage. Also, don't forget to provide a good fertilizer in the water each time you water. Some good brands are Optimara, Jacks, Miracle Gro. Follow the directions on the bottle. Enough to keep it moist, not soaking wet. As soon as the top of the soil begins to dry out (not bone dry) water again with a weak solution of fertilizer everytime you water. African violets like to be moist most of the time but not soaking wet. Water them completely then let them dry out for a couple of days. Please view the related link below. Give enough water to keep violets moist (not soaking wet) all the time.
According to the below source in the related link, definitely not.
IMPORTANT African violets are NOT viola and are NOT considered edible.
Is an African violet an angiosperm?
Yes, an African violet [Saintpaulia spp] is an angiosperm. It's a flowering plant that produces seeds. Along with gymnosperms, angiosperms represent the division of flowering plants within the plant kingdom. But angiosperms differ from gymnosperms by having such characteristics as flowering and fruiting with seeds.
There are many colors of African violets; Yellow, pink,purple,lavender,white,white/pink, white/red,blue, and anythink between. Also the leaves come in variegated, plain green,mosaic which is similar to varigated but more spotted looking.
What could cause a violet leaf to curl on itself?
Extreme heat and dryness, or some herbicides cause broadleaf weeds (of which Violets are considered in the lawn) to curl in on itself, or it just might be finished blooming.
Why do African violets develop brown spots on their leaves?
Water dropping or being left on leaves and water drying in very bright light cause brown spots to develop on the leaves of African violets [Saintpaulia spp]. African violets are very sensitive to light. Any water on the plant's leaf surfaces dries as burned or browned areas because of the magnifying effect of light on moisture.
The gardener's responsibility is twofold:
1. The water must be removed by a very soft tissue.
2. The plant also must be allowed to dry away from bright lights and drafts, both of which are drying and magnifying in their effects.
Any brown spots can't be removed. They represent permanent damage to the plant.
What do African violets look like?
The root system of an African violet Houseplant are fine, tan colored. Wild violets that grow outside have a little different root system, are a little thicker and hardier for outside weather conditions.
Is a African violet a house plant?
It likes moist soil with no direct sun shinning on them. When watering, do not get any water on its leaves although if you blot it off no damage will occur. If you have a pet then keep the plant away from the pet as best you can. Keep your African violet in a room between 62˚F and 72˚F. African violets can tolerate temperatures as high as 90 degrees if you have a fan blowing near them and mist them with water several times a day. Please click on related link for added information about growing African violets.
What are facts about the purple violet?
this small purple or dark blue flower grows in wet meadows and forests. it grows very well all over New Brunswick. the purple violet was chosen as the provincial flower in 1936. it is also known as Viola Cucullata.
How do you transplant rooted violet to pot?
Please refer to the related link below then go to page 17 in the E-Book there is step by step instructions with photos, it is in PDF format so you will need to have Adobe reader on your computer.
Daffodils carnation are which type of violets?
Daffodils and carnations are totally different type of flowers from violets.
