Several African violets blooming side by side will make a pretty garden.
The notion that it is gardening only if you grow plants outside seems disingenuous to me. After all, if your plants are healthy they must be getting from you what they need to thrive. Right? That is gardening, right?
If you only have space indoors for plants, African violets make very proper flowering houseplants. Place several pots of different cultivars or colors together on a table and voila, you have a garden.
In Milwaukee, mine flowered right around Thanksgiving. The collection made quite a show against the back drop of snow covered windows.
African violets are found with ruffled flowers or leaves and with multicolored petals.
Consider miniature African violets for open terrarium planters, only allowing water to travel down the sides of the glass. I have seen gardeners grow tiny ones in old tea cups, not a permanent pot but pretty enough to enjoy for a time.
Blue flowers are found on African violets, a calming color for houseplants.
Some simple tips for growing violets indoors; do not let water drip onto leaves, no misting, and use a humus rich potting soil mix or one labeled for African violets.
Older African violet plants will develop multiple crowns, suckers or in some way need rejuvenating. They can be propagated by leaf or plant stem to create a larger collection or to share with others.
Large plants will be healthier when divided. You will notice the leaves lower on the stems start to die off.
Want another challenge? Try Gloxinias, a relative of African violets. My dad loved these plants but I could never grow them successfully for long. Perhaps this challenge is just what you need to stay gardening.
When blooming, the plant looks like a tiny bouquet of violets has been stuffed in amongest its leaves.
I have an African Violet that is growing up, not out. The bottom stalk is completely bare of stems and leaves. Any ideas why this is happening and how to fix it? Thank you for your help. These plants mean a lot to me as they were given to me by my mom.
Nicole;
About halfway down on my entry above, the paragraph that starts “Older African violet plants” click on the embedded link line “need rejuvenating.” It gives you a couple of options and has good explanations.
Nicole, do not worry. This happens to all African violets sooner or later. I have several plants from relatives, some now passed away. I think they are the most precious. So, I understand your angst.
Thanks for reading my blog. I hope you will stop in often.
Chris