African Violets

Discussion in 'Houseplants' started by Daniel W, Jun 29, 2025.

  1. Daniel W

    Daniel W Hardy Maple

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    Here's most of my African Violet collection. I'm new at these, starting in Jan this year.

    IMG_3120.jpeg

    The dark blue one bloomed like crazy for 5 months. Now it's on a break, I think. The leaf edges became crinkly brown so I cut those off. I didn't know if it was something I did, too much fertilizer or light, or just old leaves. It looks OK to me otherwise. I think it's developing multiple crowns, but they are too tight in there for me to remove them so far.

    I bought the maroon one and light blue+white by mail order in May. They weren't blooming, and now... I must be doing it right? They grew a lot already and are blooming really nicely. The maroon one has very slight variegation on the leaf edges.

    The little one and one in my hand came in the mail Wednesday. It's interesting the leaves are paler than the ones I've had longer. Maybe it's the LED lights? Fertilizer? I use Schultz houseplant fertilizer per label directions.

    We'll see how the new ones do. One should become more variegate and have pink + white flowers. The other is deep purple flower with white edging.

    Not sure what to think about this one. I bought it a month ago on Etsy. It's highly variegated. There are brown areas on some young leaves. Maybe I should cut off those leaves?
    IMG_3118.jpeg

    It would be nice if it grows. I up-potted it a little in African Violet mix.

    We'll see if those pale green leaves darken up.
     
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  3. Anniekay

    Anniekay Shovel Kicker

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    Those are gorgeous !! @Daniel W .
    I used to grow African violets when I had a picture window to put them in, back in the 70's. This house doesn't have deep enough window sills to display them in, though. That's the first variegated AV that I've ever seen !! :)
     
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  4. Pacnorwest

    Pacnorwest Strong Ash

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    So nice to see the African violets this time of year,Wow what a treat.:smt041
     
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  5. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    Daniel— very nice selection, mate. Impressive.
     
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  6. Daniel W

    Daniel W Hardy Maple

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    Thank you Sjoerd. You always gave such positive things to say.

    I did some "puttering meditation" this morning. This African Violet needed some TLC. Bottom leaves had some brown, crispy edges. I don't know why. Maybe just old leaves, trauma, vs. fertilizer salts in old soil mix, vs. maybe my LEDs too bright. I don't think it was infection. Also, the plant was distorted by two large pups attached to the lower stem.

    I un-potted it, snapped off the sad looking lower leaves, teased off much of the soil mix. Then used a paring knife to detach the pups. This is one of the pups. Pretty nice roots already.

    IMG_3351.jpeg

    Since the pups had some nice roots, I decided to plant them too.

    IMG_3353.jpeg

    Now I have three, where before there was one :). I removed flowers from the pups, but not the parent plant. I figured, it already expended the energy needed to make those flowers. Maybe it doesn't take much to leave them there.

    I put the planted pups into plastic baggies for humidity. They'll stay there for a few weeks.

    IMG_3356.jpeg

    They are in an East window with no direct sunlight, but some LED lights are there too.

    That was easier than I expected.
     
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  7. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    Daniel— I liked this thread because my moeder had a collection of these
     
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