Growing and caring for a “purple violet plant” often refers to the popular indoor houseplant known as the African Violet, or Saintpaulia. These plants are favored for their vibrant, velvety blooms and compact rosette form, often flowering year-round. This guide explores their specific indoor cultivation requirements.
Understanding Your Purple Violet Plant
The term “purple violet plant” in indoor gardening refers to the African Violet (Saintpaulia). These herbaceous perennials are native to the cloud forests of Tanzania and southeastern Kenya, growing in shaded understory. This influences their preference for filtered light and high humidity indoors.
African Violets have thick, hairy, ovate leaves in a basal rosette, typically 6 to 18 inches wide. Their five-petaled flowers come in various shades, including purple, blue, pink, red, and white, with many bicolored cultivars. African Violets differ from “true violets” (Viola species), which are outdoor plants with different care needs.
Essential Care for Thriving Purple Violets
Light
African Violets thrive in bright, indirect light, mimicking their natural shaded environment. East-facing windows are ideal, providing morning sun without harsh afternoon intensity. If natural light is limited, artificial grow lights (fluorescent tubes or LEDs) can provide necessary illumination. Plants need 10 to 12 hours of light daily for blooming and healthy growth.
Pale or yellowish leaves indicate too much light, potentially causing scorching. Thin, deep green leaves stretching upwards suggest insufficient light, hindering flowering. Adjusting the plant’s position or light duration can correct these issues.
Watering
Water with room-temperature water to avoid shocking roots and leaves, which can cause spotting. Overwatering leads to crown rot, so water only when the soil feels dry.
Bottom watering is preferred: place the pot in a saucer of water for 15 to 30 minutes, allowing soil to absorb moisture through drainage holes. This keeps water off leaves, preventing spots. If watering from the top, pour water directly onto the soil, avoiding leaves and the plant’s crown.
Soil
African Violets need a light, airy, well-draining soil mix that retains some moisture. Conventional potting soil is too dense, causing root suffocation and rot. A good African Violet mix contains sphagnum peat moss or coco coir, perlite, and vermiculite.
These plants prefer slightly acidic conditions (pH 5.8-6.5). Repotting annually with fresh soil replenishes nutrients and prevents fertilizer salt buildup.
Temperature and Humidity
African Violets thrive in consistent indoor temperatures, ideally 65°F to 80°F, with night temperatures around 65-70°F. Avoid sudden temperature fluctuations or cold drafts, which stress the plant and can reduce growth and flowering.
High humidity (50% to 80%) is beneficial. Increase humidity by placing pots on pebble trays with water (not submerged) or using a room humidifier. Do not mist foliage, as water droplets can cause permanent leaf spots.
Fertilization
Fertilize regularly for continuous growth and blooming. Use a balanced water-soluble African Violet fertilizer (e.g., 14-12-14 or 20-20-20 N-P-K). Some growers prefer a formula with slightly more phosphorus to encourage flowering.
Apply diluted fertilizer every one to two weeks during the active growing season (spring to fall). Avoid over-fertilization, which causes salt buildup and root burn. Reduce frequency in winter when growth slows.
Propagating New Purple Violet Plants
Propagating African Violets is commonly achieved through leaf cuttings. This method allows gardeners to easily expand their collection or share plants. Selecting a healthy, mature leaf from the parent plant is the first step.
To prepare the cutting, the leaf stem, or petiole, should be cut to about 1 to 1.5 inches in length, ideally at a 45-degree angle. The cutting can then be rooted in water or directly in a suitable potting medium. For water propagation, place the stem in a small container of room-temperature water, ensuring only the stem is submerged. Roots typically form within a few weeks.
When rooting in soil, insert the prepared leaf stem into a moist, well-draining mix, such as a 50:50 blend of vermiculite and perlite, or an African Violet potting mix. Bury the stem about half an inch deep, with the leaf blade just touching the surface. Covering the pot with a clear plastic bag can create a humid mini-greenhouse environment, which supports root development. New plantlets will eventually emerge at the base of the leaf stem, usually in six to eight weeks. Once these plantlets are large enough, they can be carefully separated and potted individually.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
African Violets can exhibit signs of stress when their specific care requirements are not met. Addressing these issues promptly helps maintain plant health and encourages consistent blooming.
If an African Violet fails to bloom, the most common reason is insufficient light. Increasing the duration or intensity of indirect light, or supplementing with a grow light, can stimulate flowering. Lack of proper fertilization, especially during the active growing season, can also prevent blooms.
Yellowing leaves can indicate several issues. Overwatering is a frequent cause, leading to root rot and impaired nutrient uptake. Underwatering can also cause yellowing, as can nutrient deficiencies, particularly nitrogen or magnesium. Too much direct sunlight can also cause leaves to yellow and develop brown spots.
Brown or crispy leaf edges typically point to low humidity or inconsistent watering. Increasing ambient humidity around the plant can help alleviate this symptom.
Pests such as mealybugs, spider mites, and thrips can also affect African Violets. Inspecting new plants before introducing them to your collection and promptly isolating affected plants can prevent widespread infestations. Gentle insecticidal soaps can often manage minor pest problems. Leggy growth, characterized by elongated stems and leaves, suggests the plant is not receiving enough light and is stretching to find more.