How to Grow African Violets

Co-authored by Maggie Moran

Last Updated: November 13, 2022 Approved

African violets are a group of flowering perennial plants that are native to Tanzania, Kenya, and other areas of East Africa. Growing these violets at home is quite easy, but they need the right medium, nutrients, and environment to thrive. But as long as they get everything they require, African violets will bloom their beautiful purple flowers all year long, bringing a bit of summer to your home even in colder months.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Propagating African Violets

1
Grow a new plant in water from a leaf. The most common way to grow new African violets is to propagate them from the leaves of existing plants. Once you do this, you can sprout the cutting in water. To propagate a new African violet in water, you'll need a sterilized cutting tool, a thin-necked bottle (such as a sterilized beer bottle), and a plastic bag or wrap.
- Select a large and healthy leaf from a healthy African violet.
- Include 2 inches (5 cm) of stem and cut the leaf from the plant on a 45-degree angle. The cut side of the angle should be on the top of the leaf.
- Fill the bottle with lukewarm water.
- Place the stem of the leaf into the neck of the bottle, so that the stem is in water and the leaf is resting above the rim.
- Cover the leaf and top of the bottle loosely with plastic to help keep in the humidity.
- Place the leaf somewhere warm that gets lots of filtered light.
- Add more water as necessary to keep the stem submerged.
- Over the next several weeks, the cutting will begin to sprout baby African violets.
2
Plant a leaf right in the soil. Alternatively, you can also plant that same cutting directly into soil rather than sprouting it in water. To do this you'll need your healthy leaf and 2 inches (5 cm) of stem cut from a healthy violet, a small pot of clear plastic, potting soil, and a plastic cover or wrap.^{[1]
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- Fill the pot with loose potting soil.
- Press the cut stem a half-inch (1.3 cm) into the soil.
- Cover the top of the pot with a clear plastic cover or wrap.
- Place the cutting somewhere warm where it will get lots of filtered sun.
- You probably won’t need to water as long as the plastic keeps in the moisture.
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3
Grow them from seeds. One way to grow African violets is to start them from seed, though this is less common than propagating the plants from cuttings. To grow African violets from seeds, you'll need seed starters, a plastic cover or wrap, a spray bottle, growing lights, and a medium suitable for African violets, such as milled coconut and perlite or pasteurized peat moss.
- Water the medium and allow it to dry out so it’s moist.
- Fill the seed starters with medium.
- Spray the top of the medium with water.
- Sprinkle a few seeds into the top of each starter cell.
- Cover the top of the cells with plastic.
- Place the seed starters 10 inches (25 cm) below the grow lights.
- Provide the seeds with 12 to 14 hours of light per day.
- If the environment stays humid thanks to the plastic wrap, you won’t need to water.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Transplanting Young African Violets

1
Determine the right time to transplant. Seedlings should reach a certain size before they're transplanted, but plants sprouted from cuttings will be ready to transplant after a certain amount of time.
- For seedlings, wait until the seedlings have leaves that reach 2 inches (5 cm) in width.
- For cuttings, the babies should be ready in about eight to 10 weeks, once new leaves are roughly the size of a dime.
2
Choose the right soil. African violets grow best in a slightly acidic medium that has a pH between 6.4 and 6.9. Because the medium must be loose, well-draining, and allow for free root development, African violets are not often grown in soil.
- Most garden and home stores will sell a medium specifically designed for African violets.
- You can also make your own African violet mix by combining equal parts perlite, vermiculite, and peat moss.^{[2]
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3
Select the right pot. Because African violets are grown indoors, choosing the right pot is like choosing the right home for your plants. These plants grow best in pots that are sized for their root systems. Don’t put your plant in a pot that’s too large, otherwise it may not bloom.^{[3]
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- A good rule of thumb is to put your violet in a pot that’s one-third the size of the plant itself, because this will match the size of the root system.
- For the current size of your seedlings or babies, a 2-inch (5-cm) pot will probably be sufficient.
- You can use either plastic or terracotta pots for your violets. Plastic pots require less watering, but terracotta pots provide more air flow.
4
Separate plants grown from cuttings. When you propagate violets by cuttings, you could have as many as 15 babies grow from a single parent. These must be separated before they're planted. Gently turn the cutting, along with all the soil, out onto a newspaper or table. Carefully remove the soil with your fingers to reveal the cut stem and all the babies.
- To distinguish one baby from another, look for small clusters of leaves that are attached to the parent.
- When you’ve located all the babies, carefully trim each one from the parent using a sterilized cutting tool.
5
Transplant the violets. Fill your small pots with your African violet medium. Leave the medium loose, and don’t pack it down. With the tip of your pinky finger or a pencil, make a half-inch (1.3 cm) indentation in the soil at the center of each pot.
- Gently place each seedling or baby plant into the hole in the soil. Make sure all the leaves and stems are above the soil.
- Loosely cover the roots with extra medium.
6
Water the plants and store them somewhere warm and humid. Add some water to each pot so that the medium is moist. Place the pots with the new plants in a location that’s warm, gets lots of indirect sun, and that’s humid.
- If you don’t have a humid location available, set up a humidifier where the plants are growing.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Caring for African Violets

1
Water the plants when the soil feels dry. African violets thrive best when their soil is somewhere between dry and moist, so give them water when the soil starts feeling dry to the touch. Over or underwatering the violets could prevent the plant from blooming.
- Use room temperature water rather than cold water, otherwise you could chill the roots. If this happens, the leaves or flowers may start to curl.
- Don’t get water on the leaves or flowers, as this can lead to rings or spots forming on the plant.^{[4]
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  Research source} If you get water on the leaves or flowers, gently dry the area with an absorbent towel.
2
Provide plenty of bright but indirect light. African violets need lots of light, and they won’t flower if they don’t get enough sun. However, they will scorch easily in direct sunlight, so their placement in the house is very important.
- In winter, the plants will do best near a window that faces south or west in the Northern Hemisphere, or north or east in the Southern Hemisphere.^{[5]
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- In summer, the plants will be better near a window that faces north or east in the Northern Hemisphere, or south or west in the Southern Hemisphere.
- To provide bright and indirect sunlight, provide shade by placing the plants behind lightweight curtains.
3
Feed them fertilizer. These plants need lots of nutrients to continue producing flowers year-round, and the best way to ensure they get what they need is to provide them with fertilizer.
- There are specific fertilizers available for African violets, but the important thing is to provide them with balanced nutrients.
- A good fertilizer would be a 20-20-20, which means it has equal quantities of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.^{[6]
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- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for feeding the violets.
4
Monitor the temperature. The best temperature range for African violets is between 65 and 75 F (18 and 24 C). Keep them in an area where you can maintain this temperature, and keep them away from drafts and other things that could cause sudden temperature fluctuations.^{[7]
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- Anything below 50 F (10 C) will almost certainly kill the plant.
5
Maintain the humidity. The ideal humidity level for African violets is between 40 and 60 percent. You can monitor this with a hygrometer. To add more humidity to the air, consider installing a portable humidifier in the room where the violets are kept.
- Violets that don’t get enough humidity will grow slowly, and while they will produce flower buds, they likely won’t bloom.^{[8]
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6
Repot the plants every year. Because African violets thrive in small pots, it’s important to repot them regularly to keep up with their growth. When you repot, make sure you use new soil, and a pot that’s one size larger than the pot they're currently in.

Expert Q&A
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Question

Do African violets need direct sunlight?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

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Yes, African Violets grow the best in at least partial sun. The very best violets grow on windowsills or under UV lights in a greenhouse.
Question

How do you water an African violet?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

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You should water the violets when the soil is dry to the touch. Soil should be moist but never soggy or boggy.
Question

How long do flowers last on an African violet?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

Expert Answer

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How long the flowers last depend on a variety of factors. The varieties that have thick petals and flowers that are tinged with green tend to bloom longer. You can also make blooms last longer by keeping your plant in high humidity and cool temperatures. Removing dead petals can be beneficial as they can shorten the life of adjacent petals. With good, consistent light and proper care, most modern breeds of African violet will bloom almost indefinitely.