African violet not blooming? How to make it bloom!

The striking African violet has made a name for itself as a tireless bloomer. There is hardly a hobby gardener who does not develop a special soft spot for the dainty houseplant from the tropical regions of East Africa. In general, the pretty Saintpaulia is declared as easy to care for and delights the eye with a densely packed abundance of flowers. The circumstance causes confusion and frustration all the more when the African violet does not bloom. Stop puzzling over the causes and familiarize yourself with the following tips. How to make it bloom!

choose location

Unsuitable light and temperature conditions are often the root of all evil. If there is a deficit here, all other efforts to achieve lush flowering will come to nothing. Therefore, as a first step, subject the site conditions to a precise check. This is where the African violet feels at home:

• bright to semi-shady location without direct sunlight
• ideally on the west or north window without cold drafts
• continuously pleasant warmth from 20 to 25 °C

The blossom remains a pious wish, the Saintpaulia is exposed to a cold bridge on the windowsill. This problem arises when there is a continuous connection from the inner to the outer window sill on site. The result is a constantly cold foot that no room temperature, no matter how comfortable, is able to compensate for. If in doubt, place the plant on an insulating pad that does not allow the root ball to get cold.

maintain humidity

In addition to the temperatures, the optimal site conditions focus on sufficiently high humidity. A spot in the warm, damp bath is very welcome with the cute flowering plants and will be rewarded with a magnificent bloom. If you allocate them a place in the living room, you can use simple measures to ensure tropical humidity:

• place bowls filled with water
• operate an indoor fountain
• Set up evaporators from the specialist shop
• fill the coaster with pebbles and water

Spraying the velvety leaves, on the other hand, does not attract any flowers. On the contrary, in this case you will force the formation of rot, which will eventually kill the entire plant.

Substrate with acidic components

In the overall context, the pH value of the substrate occupies an apparently irrelevant position. However, if all other basic conditions are met, the bottleneck that is sabotaging the long-awaited flowering of your African violet may be at this point. The ideal substrate is therefore more of a sensitive composition than a simple mixture of ingredients:

• humus-rich, loose potting soil, enriched with a third of peat and some perlite
• optionally TKS1 (peat growing medium) with a handful of rhododendron soil
• ideally, a portion of sifted compost will boost the nutrient levels

Anyone who decides to use loamy garden soil as a substrate for the sake of simplicity is calcareous in the worst case, should not be surprised if an African violet is not blooms. In this case, repot the flowering plant in one of the recommended mixtures and look forward to a long flowering period.

Pour carefully

African violets don't like swings in one direction or the other when it comes to water balance. They make the tropical plant bloom when the substrate is constantly moist. Be careful not to let the root ball dry out and then, in a panic, soak it completely with water. In addition, the Saintpaulia will consistently refuse to flower if it is constantly being bothered with cold, calcareous tap water. Collect rainwater and pour it on the plant at a temperature around 20°C. Alternatively, fill the watering can with tap water and hang a cotton bag with peat in it for 1-2 days. The result is wonderfully soft irrigation water, which has at least absorbed the warmth of the environment and does not give the little plant a cold shock.

Fertilize correctly with a sense of proportion

If an African violet is not blooming, it sometimes simply lacks the energy for this feat. Although a high-quality substrate contributes to the supply of nutrients, it cannot of course cope with this on its own. Give the plant a chance to recharge its botanical batteries to get it flowering.

• apply a complete liquid fertilizer for flowering plants from March to September
• a 14-day rhythm is usually sufficient for the nutrient supply
• once a particularly lush foliage has developed, weekly application is recommended
• alternatively, fertilizer sticks can be used according to the manufacturer's dosage instructions

Treat yourself to a winter break

Each African violet has the potential for uninterrupted flowering. If it has fulfilled this task reliably in recent years and refuses to bloom again out of the blue, a hibernation can work wonders. To do this, change the site conditions from December to February to allow the tropical plant to recover.

• a bright location with cooler temperatures around 15 °C is ideal
• a spot by the bedroom window is perfect
• Water reduced when the substrate surface has dried
• do not apply fertilizer

As an evergreen Gesneria, the Saintpaulia gathers fresh strength while the leaves remain intact. In March, the potted plant moves to its original place, where the recommended care protocol is implemented. So well recovered, the chances are good that the flower will present itself soon after.

Skillfully repot

If an African violet feels cramped in its pot, this circumstance noticeably limits the willingness to bloom. If root strands grow out of the soil opening while the substrate surface is already arching, the time has come for repotting. The stress of this action runs at its lowest level in early spring, just before new budding.

• the new flower pot is only slightly larger than the previous one
• Drainage in the floor is essential
• place a shard of pottery or pebbles on top for drainage
• Fill in some substrate and plant the potted Saintpaulia in the middle
• ideally the leaf rosette lies on the edge of the pot
• a small pouring edge of 1-2 cm is useful

Experienced hobby gardeners take this opportunity to subject the root ball to a thorough inspection. If dried up or rotten roots prevent the plant from flowering, they are cut out without further ado. At the same time, damaged foliage that could suppress flowering is removed. Leaves that appear unhealthy are torn off with a jerk to the side so that no residue remains on the stem, which gradually rots away.

Diseases & Pests

It cannot be ruled out that an African violet does not bloom because it is afflicted by a disease or pests. The following health problems are more common:

• leaflets
• Aphids, Mealybugs, Mealybugs
• spider mites
• fungal infections

A common disease of Saintpaulia occurs as a result of an error in care. Mosaic disease causes light green to yellow discoloration on the foliage when the plant is watered over the foliage with cold water in sunlight. This chlorophyll damage weakens the leaves so massively that they cannot support a bud, preventing it from appearing in the first place.

Editor's conclusion

If an African violet does not bloom, this circumstance usually has tangible reasons. Instead of immediately throwing in the towel, the busy flowering plant deserves a detailed root cause analysis in order to eliminate the bottleneck. How to make it bloom:

• choose the right location
• maintain humidity
• Use substrate with acidic components
• pour well dosed
• fertilize properly with a sense of proportion
• take a winter break
• skilfully repot

If the Saintpaulia does not bloom despite optimal cultivation conditions, the plant is checked for diseases and pests.

Worth knowing about African violets shortly

The African Violets are named after their homeland, the African Mountains in Tanzania. There they grow in the shade of the large trees in the rainforests, where the humidity is particularly high. Since they were there in the 19th Discovered in the 19th century, gardeners have continued to breed them, so that there are now hundreds of different varieties of these plants in many flower colors. With good care and sufficient light, African violets bloom all year round.

Tips for a beautiful bloom

• Although African violets should be bright, they should not be exposed to direct sunlight and especially not to the midday sun. A window sill on a north, east or west window, where they are protected from drafts, is best suited. Because these plants love high humidity, the kitchen and bathroom are particularly recommended.
• Varieties with multicolored leaves need as bright a place as possible so that they retain their leaf markings. In places that are too dark, their leaves can turn green.
• African violets require little water. The root ball should always be kept slightly moist and the top layer of the substrate should be dry before the next watering.
• They should never be poured onto the leaves or sprayed with water, otherwise the leaves will easily rot or get unsightly spots. The easiest way to prevent the leaves from getting wet is to put the irrigation water in a saucer.
• African violets tolerate lime poorly, so it is best to only use rainwater for watering. It should be at room temperature because the leaves will discolour if the water is too cold.
• They thrive best at a temperature of around 20°C and high humidity. In winter they can be a little cooler, but the room temperature should be at least 15° C.
• A repotting of the plant is only necessary when the pot ball is completely rooted. Conventional potting soil can be used for this. The new pot should only be slightly larger than the old one so that the plant doesn't put all of its energy into root growth and thereby produce fewer flowers.
• In the growing season from spring to autumn, regular fertilizing ensures plentiful flowering. A liquid fertilizer that is added to the irrigation water or fertilizer sticks with a long-term effect are suitable for this. In the winter months, however, should not be fertilized.
• Withered leaves and flowers should not be cut off, but pulled off by hand, otherwise the stems that have been cut off will easily start to rot.

propagation

African violets are easy to propagate. A single leaf is sufficient for this, which is placed in a container with water or directly in moist potting soil. It quickly forms new roots, resulting in a new plant. Alternatively, an African violet can also be divided when repotting.

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