Tips for Growing African Violets
in the Desert
©Distributed by the Albuquerque African Violet Club
Soil
The kind of soil you buy at most nurseries for African violets is very heavy and does not work well in our climate. Volkman’s Potting Soil (sold by the Albuquerque African Violet Club) is recommended.
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Alternatively, try one of these light, soil-less recipes that works well based on your watering method:
Wick watering method:
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1 part sphagnum peat moss
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1 part vermiculite
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1 part perlite
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Small amount of charcoal
Top or bottom watering:
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2 parts sphagnum peat moss
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1 part vermiculite
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1 part perlite
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Small amount of charcoal
Containers
Clean, shallow, plastic containers work best. Violet roots dry out easily in clay pots. Their roots like to be crowded. A general rule of thumb is: The pot size should be 1/3 the diameter of the plant. A typical 12” violet would grow best in a regular 4” pot.
Fertilizer
Fertilizers sold in stores specifically made for African violets are okay, but won’t give you the results you are looking for.
Fertilizers with formula numbers of 15-30-15 and 20-20-20 work well. Use ¼ tsp. per gallon of room temperature water each time you water.
Temperature
Violets like a comfortable, steady temperature in the range of 65 to 80 degrees. They don’t like to get hot or chilly. A low speed fan helps to provide good air circulation. Avoid cold drafts.
Watering
Top watering, bottom watering, and wick watering all work well with violets. All of the methods must be used with care; over-watering is one of the fastest ways to kill a violet.
Use water that has not been softened and is room temperature. Let chlorinated water set for 24 hours to allow the chlorine to evaporate out. If using bottled water, drinking water may work better than distilled water (the pH can vary widely in distilled water because there is no mineral content to buffer it).
Light
Another fast way to kill or damage a violet is to set it in direct sunlight with a Southern exposure on a hot day!
Year round, the North or East window is best. If you have an overhang or sheer curtain on a South window, it may be okay.
If you use fluorescent lighting, turn the lights on for 10 hours a day, preferably at night when it’s cooler.
