clay or plastic container with a commercial potting mix consisting of peat and perlite, or any well-drained mix. repot, but all agree you can buy or make your own African violet mix. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! increased humidity helps the plant recover. Fertilize with Espoma’s new liquid Violet! may need to loosen the soil a bit and then turn the plant over, cradling it in Most growers should be fine buying commercial mixes, judging the soil by how it feels, not the label. Repotting is essential for your African Violet for a variety of reasons, but here are some of the big ones. Repotting . Experienced growers should be familiar with wick watering, which, while appropriate, tends to be problematic for people just starting out. 6. Other pots use a passive hydronic system and a water level indicator for water management. Repotting Your African Violet If possible, repot your African Violet regularly – some gardeners advocate doing this once a year or two. Go for fluffy soils with light consistency – avoiding heavier soil mixes. African Violet Fertilizer African Violet Supplies Humidity Trays Watering Tools Grow Lights African Violet Care Bonsai Explore ... HERE’S TO A NEW YEAR OF REPOTTING Thanks for … Watch out, though, once you get the hang of growing these widely-available beauties, you might find yourself with a large collection in no time. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. By not repotting your African Violet, you are setting your plant up to live a shorter and tougher life. This is when the neck needs to be buried/hidden underneath soil and the Violet needs to be repotted. this would only refer to older plants. To repot these plants, simply grab the plant as a whole, lift it, and replace it with a larger container, making sure not to damage their root systems in the process. your hand gently and push into the drainage holes. The African Violet plant will look unattractive as it no longer maintains its flat rosette shape. A. Yellowing and wilting of lower plant leaves, black-brown or rotting roots and a crust of fertilizer on the soil surface are additional indicators that the plant is being overfertilized. I will admit to neglect regarding repotting. Best Pots For African Violets – Reviews And Buyer’s Guide, Best Grow Lights for African Violets – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide, The Best Fertilizer for African Violets – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide. This way, the plant can be pushed into the pot so the lowest row of leaves aligns with the pot rim – to clarify, the neck should not be visible. Caring for African Violets. If it’s been more than 6 months, and it’s time to repot your violet. To repot these plants, simply grab the plant as a whole, lift it, and replace it with a larger container, making sure not to damage their root systems in the process. or put the container on a saucer of water for an hour. You can skip this step with plastic containers that will bend a Do I thin them out a bit… etc? Your email address will not be published. plant’s leaf spread. African violets need plenty of filtered sunlight to thrive and should be planted in humus rich soil or special potting mix. A properly-planted African violet has its lower leaves just a quarter or half-inch above the soil (potting mix). For optimum plant health and bloom, African violets need plenty of nutrients. ... Repotting African violets. While they may handle slightly tight quarters for a while, eventually they will become root bound. Fill the pot with good quality potting mix, specifically formulated for African violets. Just getting started with mini AF. Always use a pot that’s as large as the plant’s root system. bit to help the root ball slide out. The trick Repotting . Some say to If this happens, your African violet is rootbound. Add a small amount of bone The moisture will help First, we want to promote a healthy growing environment for our plants. African violets do better when they are slightly underpotted. Loosen Your African Violet from its Current Pot. There are several schools of thought on the right way to At this point, the plant should no longer have the lower portion of the rootball. To loosen the plant from the pot, gently tap the sides of the pot against a hard surface. successful transition for your plant. Soils with perlite or vermiculite are the best choice. If you have a semi-miniature or miniature African Violet leaves, the plantlets should have at least four dime sized leaves. Available in a wide variety of colors, these plants will bloom almost constantly if given the right conditions and proper care. How to Repot African Violets. (For information on normal rosette or trailing growth habit in African Violets, visit “What are different types of African Violets?“). The African violet prefers at least 10-12 hours of bright, indirect light each day, and at least 8 hours of darkness. is knowing when to repot an African violet and what soil and container size to If not repotted successfully, or not repotted at all, African violets are likely to lose their leaves, rot at the stem, and wither away. transplant shock, it is wise to disturb the plant when it is not actively Note: this task becomes more difficult the longer you have gone without repotting. This means that the mix it is growing in should be relatively fresh. First, we want to promote a healthy growing environment for our plants. First, we want to promote a healthy growing environment for our plants. Repot only when necessary into a pot that is one size up. Fill in with African Violet & Cyclamen Mix to within 2-3cm of the top rim of the pot and press lightly Tap the new pot or container gently on the bench to help the new mix settle in and around the roots - do not pack it down Initial watering of the plant after potting is essential to ensure the mix is thoroughly wet, then allow it to drain freely. African violets are easy to propagate by rooting a leaf cutting in water or vermiculite. When that happens, it’s time to divide your violet and repot into separate pots. I have always had a fondness for African violets. Before repotting, water the plant well from under the leaves It even improves root growth. There are very good mixes to purchase that are specially Quite the opposite is true. I have one now that was in desperate need of repotting. African Violet Pro-tip: Place small pieces of pottery shards (plastic also works) over the drainage hole. Some of the care that you need to be aware of includes the soil that you plant your African violets in. Below we go over some general tips to help your African violets stay healthy before and after repotting. out but, if necessary, cut around the container with a knife. Never use a pot larger than the plant’s root system–for standards, this usually means about a 4″ pot, for minis and semiminis, a pot no larger than 2 1/2″. Besides, repotting is easy. This particular one […] That is because of the addition of nonsoil amendments. need to provide good care which included repotting African violets. African Violet Pro-tip: Don’t worry too much about a plastic pot or ceramic plot. Fill the bottom one-fourth of the African violet pot with the potting mix. indoor plants, but to avoid Feel the soil for moistness. cut a bit of the root mass off the bottom and spread the roots gently. Simply because, the longer the neck, the more portion of the root ball you need to cut. Use African violet soil. African Violet Care: Basic Summary Light: Moderate to bright, indirect, indoor light. Sign up for our newsletter. Procedure for Splitting and Repotting If your violet hasn’t been watered in awhile, giving it a bit of a drink so the roots are wet (or at least damp) and pliable is helpful. When mixing the fertilizer, it should be at a quarter strength at every subsequent flowering. Generally speaking, these are lower-rung leaves but even a novice gardener can tell by looking at them. In other words, they’re the perfect plant for busy (or forgetful) folks. The plant should come right If possible, repot your African Violet regularly – some gardeners advocate doing this once a year or two. Simply immerse the tip of a leaf from a healthy plant in water, pr… African I was so surprised at how much abuse a plant could take and thrive afterwards. 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