African violet Buckeye Let's Roll
African violet Buckeye Let's Roll
SKU:2065AV
Species or hybrid? | Hybrid |
Growth Habit | Standard |
Flower description | |
Foliage description | variegated |
Plant size |
Established Seedling - 1.7 inch soft pot, not flowering size Potted plant- in 2-3 inch pot Potted "Larger" - very full plant, usually 3-4 inch pot Representative plant(s) shown when possible- may or may not be exact plant in photos, unless otherwise noted. May not be in flower when received |
Fragrant? | No |
Culture: African Violet culture
- Description
- African Violet Culture
Species or hybrid? | Hybrid |
Growth Habit | Standard |
Flower description | |
Foliage description | variegated |
Plant size |
Established Seedling - 1.7 inch soft pot, not flowering size Potted plant- in 2-3 inch pot Potted "Larger" - very full plant, usually 3-4 inch pot Representative plant(s) shown when possible- may or may not be exact plant in photos, unless otherwise noted. May not be in flower when received |
Fragrant? | No |
Culture: African Violet culture
PDF version can be downloaded here: Dr. Bill's Orchids, LLC African Violet Culture Guide
Dr. Bill's Orchids, LLC African Violet Culture Guide | |
Water |
There are several ways to water- regular top watering, bottom watering, and/or wick watering (if you consider this separate from “bottom watering”). One thing to keep in mind is that temperature of the water does matter- not like an exact temperature, but ideally the water should be comfortable room-temperature. Cold water can shock the roots and over time can lead to increase chances of rot and decreased blooming.
Signs that your AV needs water: droopy, dull, or limp leaves, top soil is dry to the touch at 1 knuckle depth, the pot is extremely light in weight when picked up. Summer months will need more frequent watering, Winter will need less. I normally suggest checking with your finger down to the first knuckle in the media to determine moisture levels with any new or newly repotted plant. Once new media is “broken in”, after a few waterings, you can usually tell by the weight of the pot whether or not it is time to water again. If in doubt, wait a day or two. General advice usually suggests to keep water off the leaves “at all costs” but they CAN get wet. The caveat is that they need to usually be kept warm and/or dry off quickly so it does not create fungal cold spots or act as a magnifying glass to scorch the leaves in the sun. |
Light |
Usually put in the “low” light houseplant category, AV’s do appreciate bright, indirect |
Temperature |
African Violets are easy to grow because they will often do well in average household temperatures: 65-75 F. Most AV’s will slowly deceline if they are exposed to 60F or lower for extended period of time, likewise, if they are exposed to higher temperatures, they will need increased water and air movement to avoid them drying up to a crisp.
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Fertilizer | According to the African Violet Society of America, any balanced orchid (or other plant) fertilizer (look at the numbers on the container, 20-20-20, 7-9-5, 20-14-13, etc) will work for your AVs. If you don’t have that on hand, generic Miracle Gro can be used to fertilize your orchid at ¼ strength once weekly until you do get a more balanced formulation (you don’t want to be constantly feeding a 30-10-10 or else you will get leaves and no flowers). Feeding weakly at every watering (usually 1/4 strength from box directions) weekly works well. I feed at approximately 45-75 ppm N once week during warm months and down to once every 1-2 weeks or so during cooler months (higher concentration during warmer months when most growth is occurring). At least once a month, use plain water to flush any accumulated salts from the potting mix. |
Humidity |
AV’s will definitely appreciate humidity being between 50 and 80 percent. They will tolerate lower levels, but will do best in the range listed above. In very humid climates, as in greenhouses, it is imperative that the humid air is moving to keep nasty infections at bay. In the home, you have a few solutions to increase humidity: 1) set the plants on trays of gravel, |
Potting |
Best done regularly to continue best growth. Usually I recommend repotting and “freshing up” the potting mix about every 6 months or so. Depending on who you ask, it can be recommended that you wait for a lull in blooming before repotting, or to cut off all the flowers to help focus new root growth. However, AV’s can technically be potted at any time- flowering or not. During this repotting time, also trim away any older, dying leaves or those that have been damaged. If your AV has developed a “neck”, trim away a portion of the root ball that is
AV’s thrive in mixes that allow for consistent moisture, resist compaction/is aerated, and doesn’t hurt for it to be just slightly acidic for nutrient uptake. Can you use any potting mix from the box store? No, it’s not recommended, as many of those mixes will become too dense over time and lead to too much moisture retention leading to root decay. AV mixes tend to have a decent amount of vermiculite or perlite (or both!) to help promote aeration. |
Pot Sizing |
The “Goldilocks” effect, AV’s do best with juuust the right pot size where they are snug, but not too snug. AV’s that are in the wrong size pot will not grow to its full potential by growing slower, smaller leaves, uneven growth habit, and/or not producing buds/blooms. When repotting, it is not uncommon to go back into the same size pot. When up-potting because the rootball can no longer fit into the original pot, go up by 1 pot size, there should be just enough space in the pot to add a bit of soil around the existing roots while not sticking out over the top of the pot or going out of the drainage holes.
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Grooming |
When the blooms are finished, you can trim or pinch off the spent buds to help promote more blooming. Once the entire flower spike is spent, cut or pinch the spike down to where it emerged from the crown. AV’s take very well to some leaf grooming if a leaf is old or dying or has become severely damaged, you can easily cut or pluck the affected leaf out. When trimming off any flowers or leaves, look along the crown to see if any “suckers” have started to appear and trim them out (for non-trailing types). Suckers along the main stem will eventually
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