Miniature African Violet Plants – A Complete Guide to Growing

African violets are beloved for their brilliant the most popular houseplants across the globe. Their miniature counterparts, as the very common African violet’ suggests that flowers this small delight and intrigue us, Fitting in the palm that are smaller than many African violets can right care, that small space can be nearly anywhere is what you need to

 

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What Are Miniature African Violet Plants?

Miniature African violets are a special type of African violets (also called Saintpaulia) that are small in stature. A mature standard size African violet may reach a diameter of 8-10 inches yet ‘Miniatures’ will rarely be more than 6 inches, with some cultivars remaining as small as 3 inches across. They are members of the Gesneriaceae family and are native to the forest edges and clearings of the cloud forests of East Africa, specifically in Tanzania and Kenya.

Because they produce flowers that although small and delicate are surely no less lovely than those of the more conventional African violet. The flowers too come as single, double varieties that come in a range of colours and tints, including purple, blue, pink, white and bi-colours, and their leaves are fully round to half rounded and slightly velvety.

Choosing the Right Miniature African Violet

If you are thinking of buying a small African violet as a gift, remember the following points to choose the one that will suit your home:

Variety and Size

There are different types of African violets: standard (or regular), semimiature, micro-miature violets. Standard miniatures can reach approximately 6 inches in diameter, semimiatures between 6 and 8 inches and micro-miature violets remain under 3 inches. Choose into the space you have.

Flower Color and Form

Varieties range in flower colour and form, and both are important when choosing an African violet. Pick a colour that complements the decor of your home and choose a flower form: single, crimped or double.

Leaf Shape and Texture

Their minuscule leaves are anything but uniform. Different cultivars have smooth leaves, while some are quilted. Others can be round, triangular or even heart-shaped. Some also have splotched or spotted leaves with smatterings of white or cream, ensuring that interest doesn’t have to wait until the tiny flowers bloom.

Growing Conditions for Miniature African Violets

If not prone to grumpiness, miniature African violets are relatively easy to care for (depending on how you feel about horticultural tinkering), but they also require particular combinations of conditions to thrive. Knowing where they came from on the continent can help to recreate an approximation of their undomesticated environment indoors.

Light Requirements

Miniature African violets like bright, indirect light to bloom. Best to place your violets a couple of feet away from an east-facing window that has a sheer curtain and allows filtered sunlight indoors or under fluorescent lights especially those made for indoor plants. Avoid direct sunlight entirely, it will fry their leaves.

If natural light is not sufficient, especially during winter months, use grow lights. Go for LED grow lights that have the right colour (spectrum) for providing light without generating additional heat.

Temperature and Humidity

For African violets, this means a steady temperature between 65°F and 75°F (18°C to 24°C). They’re also fussy about drafts and sudden shifts in the thermostat, so avoid exposing them to heaters, air conditioners, and open windows during colder weather.

They also need quite a bit of humidity; in fact, their accommodations should have between 40 and 60 per cent humidity, so if the air inside your home is dry – particularly in winter – a humidity tray or a room humidifier will help ensure adequate moisture. Clumping plants together is another technique for increasing local humidity.

Soil and Potting

An important factor in healthy miniature African violets is the proper soil mix. These plants require a well-drained, freely permeable soil mix that does not waterlog the roots as this can cause root rot. A typical African violet soil mix combines equal parts of peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite. You can purchase ready-made African violet soil, or assemble your own.

When planting your miniature African violet, remember to use a small pot for the plant and allow room for growth, but don’t overwhelm the plant with a disproportionately small pot. Miniatures do well when they fit in a 2-3 inch diameter pot. Make sure you drill the hole for soil drainage; the hole(s) should allow water to flow out of the bottom to avoid stagnation.

Watering Miniature African Violets

Watering is paramount when growing African violets: they hate being overwatered as much as underwatered.

Watering Method

Miniature African violets should be watered from the bottom. Set the pot in a pan with an inch or so of water in it, take the pot out after about 30 minutes to let any excess drain away, and wash your hands if you want to keep your skin from spotting.

An alternative to soilless is a self-watering pot ideal for growing African violets: the plant can take up water as it requires, but don’t let the plant stand in the water pool for too long. Such conditions will encourage root rot.

Water Quality

African violets don’t respond well to the chemicals commonly found in tap water, such as chlorine and fluoride. Distilled or room-temperature rainwater is a water, if you must, should be allowed to sit out for 24 hours in order for the chemicals to dissipate before you subject your plants to it.

Frequency of Watering

How often to water depends on the season and environment. In warmer months, when the plant is growing more vigorously, you may want to water more frequently (every 5-7 days), and in cooler months, when growth slows (over winter, for example), water less frequently (every 10-14 days). Regardless of how frequently you water, always check the soil before watering, and water only when the soil feels dry to the touch.

Fertilizing Miniature African Violets

To ensure your African violets thrive and continue to flower, regular fertilisation is key. They are not not need a lot of food, but they do need regular feeding at times that help them grow.

Type of Fertilizer

Feed with a water-soluble fertiliser specially formulated for African violets; the N-P-K ratio of such fertilisers is usually between 14-12-14, although some formulations such as Jungle’s Bonsai More Food 5-4-3 also include small amounts of magnesium and calcium. Don’t feed with highly nitrogenous fertiliser, which can cause the violet to produce a lot of leaves at the expense of flowers.

Application Frequency

Fertilise your miniature African violet every 4 to 6 weeks during its growing season (spring and summer) or once every 8 weeks in the fall and winter as growth slows or stops (your plant may not need any fertiliser at all in the winter).

If fertilising, mix fertiliser in at half the recommended strength to minimise the risk of overfeeding, which can lead to salt buildup in the soil.

Pruning and Grooming Miniature African Violets

Ringworm is also much easier to treat when it’s caught at an early stage, so regular grooming is important in keeping your violet looking its best and making sure it gets a healthy start in life.

Removing Spent Blooms

Trim wilted or complete dead flowers promptly the minute you see them. Besides beautifying the plants, it steers the plant safely back into bloom mode instead of vegetative recovery

Leaf Maintenance

Trim away any yellowed or damaged leaves, keeping them looking tidy and healthy. Use clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears, and cut close to the base of the leaf.

Encouraging a Compact Shape

If your miniature African violet starts getting spindly or lopsided, pinch out the outer leaves to encourage a more compact habit and help prevent it from tipping over.

Common Problems and Solutions

Because miniature African violets are just like any other plants, they can experience some of the same problems. Knowing what they are,, will help you keep your plants healthy.

Pests

Pests, such as aphids, thrips and spider mites can be an issue, especially with smaller African violets. Check your plants often for signs of infestation, such as yellow or dark leaves, or webbing. Insecticidal soap or neem oil can help with pests. Isolate your plants if you notice any issues with insects or fungus