African violets are popular as houseplants mainly because of their colorful flowers. They can bloom all year round. But if the care is not right, they are quickly offended and die. Which nursing procedures are crucial?

African violets like it warm and humid

How should African violets be watered?

African violets always love to be cozy and warm. But in addition to warmth, they also need moisture. If they are in the heated living room, they need to be watered more often than in the kitchen or bathroom.

Here are the most important tips for watering:

  • Keep soil slightly moist
  • before the next watering, the top layer of soil must be dry
  • do not water the leaves
  • Use 20°C warm water
  • Use low-lime water (e.g. rainwater or stagnant tap water)

Do African violets need fertilizer or can they tolerate nutrient deficiencies?

If you want your African violets to flower all year round, you should feed them regularly. In the first month after planting, the fertilizer in the potting soil is sufficient. Later, the African violets should be fertilized every 2 weeks. Fertilizer should be applied no more than once a week. Better to fertilize too little than too much.

Here are some other important tips for fertilizing African violets:

  • Use full fertilizer
  • Choose fertilizer in liquid form or stick form
  • fertilize especially between March and September
  • Do not apply fertilizer to the leaves

Do African violets need to be trimmed?

African violets do not need pruning. Only the withered and dried leaves and flowers should be removed regularly as soon as they catch your eye. This greatly reduces the risk of rotting. The withered plant parts are not cut off. They should be torn off with a powerful jerk.

How and how often should they be repotted?

Nurturing continues with repotting when the African violets get too cramped. The pot should be slightly larger than the previous one. At the same time, the plants receive a fresh substrate. It is also important to note:

  • ideal time: spring
  • only repot when fully rooted
  • Choose a pot with drainage holes
  • use loose substrate
  • leave pouring edge

Which pests are making your life difficult?

African violets are considered prone to pests if not cared for properly. Mealybugs, mealybugs, aphids, spider mites and aphids can make life difficult for them. You can remove the lice, for example, by spraying them with a mixture of curd soap and water or wiping them off with a cotton pad soaked in alcohol.

Which diseases can become dangerous?

In particular, root rot and mosaic disease can affect African violets. The root rot is caused by a substrate that is too wet. The mosaic disease can be recognized by light green to yellow discolored leaves. The main causes are care errors such as water that is too cold and direct sunlight. Attention: You should not multiply sick African violets!

tips and tricks

If the African violets have become too large over time, you should carefully divide them. This gives them a new growth spurt.

Category:

Indoor plants