Fertilizing African Violets - Learn How To Feed African Violet Plants

Fertilizing. A low-nitrogen, high-phosphorous, soluble plant food is terrific for African violets. I fertilize every time I water, using Jack's Classic 10-30-20 formula (click here to order from Amazon) . Window garden plants receive one 1/4 teaspoon to 1 gallon of warm water.

1. What is the best fertilizer for African violets?
2. How do you fertilize African violets?
3. How often should you fertilize an African violet?
4. How can I encourage my African violet to bloom?
5. Is coffee grounds good for African violets?
6. Is Miracle Grow good for African violets?
7. Should you deadhead African violets?
8. Why wont my African violets bloom?
9. Do African violets like to be misted?
10. Do African violets need to be watered from the bottom?
11. Can I pour coffee on my plants?
12. When should I repot my African violet?
13. Why are my African violet leaves growing straight up?
14. Can African violets get too much light?
15. How long do African violets live?
16. Do African violets need special pots?
17. Do African violets go dormant?
18. How do you care for African violets?
19. What is the difference between African violet potting soil and regular potting soil?
20. What should I feed my African violets?
21. Can I use orchid food on African violets?

What is the best fertilizer for African violets?

African violets need a certain percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium plus trace minerals. The recommended ratio for African violets is 14-12-14. There are commercial formulas available specifically for fertilizing African violets, but many of these use urea as the nitrogen source.

How do you fertilize African violets?

Fruit Juice and Milk. Make a liquid fertilizer by rinsing milk and some fruit juice containers before disposing of them, and then use the rinse water for your African violets. The milk dregs contain nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus in protein form, which are released by the organisms in the soil.

How often should you fertilize an African violet?

Most African violets do well with fertilizer applications every four to six weeks. Any water soluble fertilizer labeled for use on houseplants is fine for African violets.

How can I encourage my African violet to bloom?

African violets need light to grow and produce flowers. The key is to get bright light in the morning or afternoon without excessive heat or intense sun. Signs of inadequate light include stretched leaf stems and small adult leaves. Too much light can cause the foliage to appear dull or bleached.

Is coffee grounds good for African violets?

Is Coffee Grounds Good for African Violets? Yes, coffee grounds are a great homemade fertilizer for African Violets. Make a mixture of dried coffee grounds and dried egg shells, then work the coffee ground mixture into the top of the soil. Replenish every couple of months.

Is Miracle Grow good for African violets?

Miracle-Gro® Indoor Potting Mix is specially formulated to provide indoor plants like African violets with just the right growing environment. For best results, plant African violets in African violet pots, which are small (4- to 5-inch) ceramic or plastic self-watering containers.

Should you deadhead African violets?

Deadhead African violets to encourage more blooms. African violets make useful flowering houseplants since they can bloom for up to nine months per year. They do need the other three months off as a rest period.

Why wont my African violets bloom?

The most common reason African violets don't bloom is because they aren't getting enough light. African violets need indirect sunlight, direct can burn the leaves. Choose a north- or east- facing window for best results. Keep plants away from cold glass and rotate the pot once a week so all leaves receive light.

Do African violets like to be misted?

African violets tolerate average indoor HUMIDITY; 40-60% is best. If your house is very dry, mist your violets lightly with room temperature water on a daily basis, but never late in the day or at night. ... Wash leaves occasionally with slightly warm water, blotting dry.

Do African violets need to be watered from the bottom?

Should I water African violets from the top or bottom? Either is fine. It is important not to use cold water; lukewarm or warm is preferred. If you water from the top, be careful not to get water on the leaves when the plant is in the sun; this is to avoid leaf spots.

Can I pour coffee on my plants?

To use coffee as a plant fertilizer, you'll need to dilute it. ... You can use coffee fertilizer on your potted plants, houseplants, or in your vegetable garden. Coffee and coffee grounds can be acidic, but since we're diluting it so much, that's not really a problem unless you're watering the same plant with it every day.

When should I repot my African violet?

Many successful growers of African Violets recommend repotting with fresh potting soil, twice a year or more. At the very least, an African Violet should be repotted whenever the plant becomes rootbound, i.e., the Violet has outgrown its current pot to the extent that its roots are growing out and around the rootball.

Why are my African violet leaves growing straight up?

Why Do African Violet Leaves Curl or Reach Upwards? African Violet leaves curl or reach upwards when the light they receive is too low. The stems start growing longer in size and growing upwards as if they are reaching for the light. The leaves no longer grow flat as they usually should, but grow upwards too.

Can African violets get too much light?

African Violets need plenty of sunlight, but only indirect sunlight. ... In the most severe cases, too much sunlight can actually be fatal to African Violets. Distinguishing Symptoms. Leaves have brown spots on them.

How long do African violets live?

African violets can live a long time, as long as 50 years! To get them there, you need to provide good care which includes repotting African violets. The trick is knowing when to repot an African violet and what soil and container size to use.

Do African violets need special pots?

Clay Pots – These are not the best looking pots, but they are very porous, which can be good for you African violets to drain the water. Plastic Pots – Most of these pots, but especially the ones that have saucer bottoms, are well-draining pots that your African violets will love.

Do African violets go dormant?

African violets do not have a natural dormancy period, and given sufficient warmth and light, will continue to grow and bloom throughout the year.

How do you care for African violets?

How to Care for African Violets

1. Keep the soil lightly moist and use room-temperature water.
2. Leaves are susceptible to rot if kept in high humidity, so water African violets from the bottom to avoid getting excess water on the leaves.
3. Dust dirt off the leaves with a small, soft brush.

What is the difference between African violet potting soil and regular potting soil?

Commercial African violet mixes are generally more porous and have better drainage than house-plant potting mixes. African violet mixes also are slightly more acid than regular house-plant potting soil. Many growers use soilless mixes. They do not contain natural soil from outdoors.

What should I feed my African violets?

Fertilizing. A low-nitrogen, high-phosphorous, soluble plant food is terrific for African violets. I fertilize every time I water, using Jack's Classic 10-30-20 formula (click here to order from Amazon) . Window garden plants receive one 1/4 teaspoon to 1 gallon of warm water.

Can I use orchid food on African violets?

What is common between orchids and African violets is both of them do not tolerate Urea. Therefore orchids food does not contain urea as a nitrogen source. The standard N-P-K formula for African violets is 14-12-14. Definitely you can use orchids food on African violets.