African Violets watering can be the main reason for the plant’s problems and even its death. how often water African Violets, The way of watering, the amount, and the type of water you choose are very important and play a pivotal role in plants health and freshness.
in this article, we in theHplants team will check each of them with detail. The African Violet is one of the most popular indoor flower in the world. This plant can give you a feeling of peace and positive energy with its beautiful flowers. This beautiful flower can be the beginning of having a natural flower pot in your home and make your windows beautiful and dreamy but before buying one, make sure to read African Violets care to get the gist of this plant’s needs
African Violets watering tips
African violet plant is a sensitive plant that is very prone to common houseplant problems like root rot. So you have to be very careful in watering it; too much watering and too little watering can damage the plant. African violets watering should be as much as the plant needs. The soil should always be kept moist, but this does not mean that the soil is wet and waterlogged. Also, the branches and leaves must remain dry.
Drops of water falling on the leaves cause bright colored spots on their surface, and the flowers also become transparent and pale due to the splashing of water drops. For this reason, some gardeners preform the African violets watering from the bottom to minimize the chance of water hitting the leaves.
Do not miss the article abut bottom watering plants
Suitable water temperature for African Violets watering
Another issue is water temperature. It is better not to use cold water for watering this plant and use room temperature water. Cold water causes circular spots or chlorosis in the leaves. Use water without salts and purify it as much as possible. Water with salt can damage the plant. To reduce the amount of chlorine, it is better to keep tap water in a static state for 24 hours.
The best time for African Violets watering?
A question that is asked many times is how often should African violets be watered? A general formula for African violets watering cannot be considered because temperature, light, humidity, and other factors can differ from where a plant is kept. But to easily guess the time for African violets watering it is enough to check the upper part of the soil and start watering this plant if it is dry.
I emphasize that over-watering or standing water in the pot of your plant can destroy the plant. The roots of this plant need oxygen to survive, and when the roots of the plant do not receive the required air, you will gradually cause decay and fungal disease in the roots.
What is the best water for African Violets watering?
The first point in African violets watering is to use lukewarm water or the temperature of the plant’s storage environment; water with high or very low temperatures will shock your plant’s roots. You can also use tap water for this purpose but note that the best water for this purpose is boiled water that has been cooled and its salts have been removed. Also, if you don’t have time to boil water, allow at least 2 to 3 hours for the chlorine in the water to be removed.
If you see that the leaves of your plant have turned black, the water may contain chemicals, and it is better to boil it. In some cities, this substance is chloramine, which is used for water purification.
The PH of the water can also affect the absorption of nutrients, growth, and flowering of the plant; you can use slightly acidic water for irrigation.
check the best water for indoor plants
Should we water the African violet from the pot’s top or bottom?
It is entirely up to you whether you can be careful not to spill the water on the plant’s leaves when you water this plant from above. If you can, water it from the top of the pot; otherwise, the best way to water African violets is to water them from the bottom. You should use soil that can easily bring water to the highest part of the pot, and the plant will be fully watered. Also, African violets watering from below allows the plant’s roots to grow more.
African violets watering from the bottom of the pot
In this way, the plant saucer is first filled with water. Water penetrates the soil through the holes at the bottom of the pot and moves upwards. The pot remains filled with water in the plant saucer for 30 to 45 minutes. Then the water in the plant saucer is emptied.
African violet moisture supply
To increase the humidity of the air around this plant, do not spray on hot days. Rather, this work can be done in another way by choosing a plant saucer whose diameter is larger than the pot’s diameter and pour pebbles inside it. Then pour water into this plant saucer, of course, so that the height of the water is half the height of the plant saucer.
Now place the pot of African violets on these pebbles. With this method, the plant is not in contact with water, so water is absorbed through the pores at the bottom of the pot. But the evaporation of the water inside the plant saucer provides the moisture required by the plant in hot and dry weather (like in winter when the indoor environment becomes hot and dry due to the use of heating devices).
What are the signs of African violet watering time?
When your plant needs watering, in addition to measuring the soil level, you can also notice the time of watering from the signs of the plant itself; of course, note that these signs occur when the plant is very thirsty.
- If you see that the leaves of your plant are limp, hanging, etc., it means that it is past time for watering.
- Put your hand in the soil for 1 inch; if the soil sticks to your finger, it means there is no need to water, but otherwise, you should water your plant.
- You can compare the weight of the pot with the time it is fully watered to see if it has become lighter or not (this is not recommended). If it has become lighter, it is time to water your plant.
What are the symptoms of overwatering African violets?
In some cases, these symptoms are similar to a lack of nutrients and low watering, which you must check completely.
- Root and stem rotting is one of the signs of over-watering.
- If the leaves start to turn yellow and brown, be sure to check the watering agent.
- The bad smell of the pot; if the roots rot, the bad smell will gradually come out of the pot.
Symptoms of low watering in African violets
- Withering of leaves: When the plant receives a small amount of water, the leaves begin to wither and become sluggish.
- drying of the leaves
- Reduction of plant growth; leaves and roots cannot grow well without irrigation.
- Mold on soil and leaves
Frequently Asked Questions About African Violets Watering
In the following, we will examine some questions that may arise for you in watering and keeping this plant.
What is the problem when the soil is wet, but the plant is weak?
This shows that you have watered your plant more than it needs, and the roots of your plant have started to rot and cannot transfer water properly to the plants. In this case, first, check the root of the plant; if the amount of decay is very high, be sure to propagate from the leaves to have a new pot. Otherwise, remove the rotten roots and some extra leaves and place the plant in a new pot. Now water the pot with fungicide and amino acid.
Can self-watering pots be used for African violets?
Yes, the principles of watering in self-watering pots are such that the soil of your plant gradually absorbs the water from the bottom of the pot, and this can be an excellent option for watering African violets. Is soil important in watering African violets? Yes, the roots will not grow well and quickly when you use heavy soil. Also, when the plant is watered, the soil will remain moist for a longer time, and the process of oxygen reaching the roots will not be done well, and eventually, your roots will rot. So you can use a combination of perlite, peat moss, and coconut for this plant. Of course, there are special soils for African violets that you can use for this plant.
Is drainage important?
Yes, when the amount and method of watering is correct, but the drainage of the African violet pot and soil is not correct, you will witness the signs of over-watering and the death of your plants. Be sure to check after watering that the excess water is removed from under the pot and that your plant’s soil dries out over time.
Summary of African violet watering tips
This plant likes moist soil but does not like waterlogged soil, and too much watering will kill your plant. Be sure to allow the potting soil to dry to a depth of at least 1 inch between waterings and then water again. At the same time, the water should be the same temperature as the environment, and try not to spill water on the plant leaves as much as possible.
What experience do you have in keeping and African violets watering?