African violets don’t bloom: how to get them blooming

A wrong location is one of the most common reasons why the African violet does not bloom. Fortunately, this error is quickly fixed. The right light and temperature conditions are crucial here. Suitable places to get Saintpaulia ionantha to flower are therefore

• bright to semi-shady places
• no direct sun
• no draft
• a north-facing window
• Temperatures from 20 to 25°C

Ensure sufficient humidity

Of course, the African violet also values ​​hygienic conditions when caring for it, but this is not the main reason why it feels so comfortable in wet cells of all places. Since the African plant is in high humidity, it is ideally placed on the window sill of a warm bathroom. Those who do not want to withhold the beautiful flowers from their guests and choose a living space as a location can create optimal conditions with the following measures:

• Place water bowls nearby
• get an indoor fountain
• Set up the evaporator
• Fill coasters with water and pebbles

Create an acidic environment

Too few nutrients and too high a pH value will not allow Saintpaulia ionantha to bloom. The owner compensates for the grievances with simple means:

• use humus rich soil
• watch out for dry soil
• Enrich soil with peat, perlite, peat growing medium or compost
• Use rhododendron soil

Calcareous substrate will definitely prevent flowering.

The right amount of water

Gardeners often make two mistakes when watering African violets:

• irregular watering
• wrong water temperature

Neither too wet nor too dry, that’s how Saintpaulia ionantha thrives best. The root ball must not dry out under any circumstances, otherwise the plant will stop flowering immediately. Anyone who forgets to water and finds that the substrate is far too dry will only make the condition worse by flooding the soil.

Water that is too cold is just as harmful. In addition, it should not contain lime, as this component changes the substrate (see above). The African violet gladly accepts collected rainwater that the owner warms to around 20°C. If no means of heating the water are available, the breeder manages as follows:

• Pour tap water into a watering can

• Wrap peat in a cotton towel
• dip it in the watering can for a day or two
• water the plant with it
• Help with fertilizer

Abundant flowering requires a lot of nutrients from the soil. Conventional potting soil is exhausted after a short time. In order to get the African violet to bloom, regular fertilizer application is recommended. Again, it is important to find the right balance. It is best for the breeder to adhere to the following guidelines:

• From March to September fertilize with a liquid complete fertilizer for flowering plants
• or reach for fertilizer sticks
• Apply fertilizer every two weeks
• reduce the interval to once a week if flowering is particularly lush

hibernate

For years, the African violet has delighted its owner with a continuous bloom. It is all the more astonishing when this suddenly comes in and does not form again. If this happens in winter, there is no need to worry. The constant flowering costs even a robust exotic plant strength. In this case, Saintpaulia ionantha probably only allows itself a winter break. The breeder should definitely approve this. With targeted movements, he promotes the formation of new flowers in March:

• bright location
• Temperatures around 15°C
• Place by the window of a cool room
• reduce watering
• water only when the top layer of substrate has dried
• Set fertilizer application

Timely repotting

A plant must always balance its growth above and below ground. If the African violet is to bloom, its roots need enough space to develop. In the first few years, when the plant shows a noticeable growth spurt, repotting is therefore necessary. The following signs indicate that it is already high time:

• Root strands grow from the bottom hole of the bucket
• Roots press against the substrate surface from below (recognizable bulges in the earth)

Spring is the right time to repot. Shortly before the plant sprouts, it recharges its batteries thanks to a change of location. The following factors must also be taken into account:

• select the next largest bucket diameter
• Drain the bucket beforehand
• Place African violets in the middle
• the rosette of leaves rests on the edge of the pot
• Don’t fill the soil all the way to the brim
• Leave a space of 1 to 2 cm so that the irrigation water does not overflow

Remove wilted leaves

Brown discolored leaves not only reduce the appearance but also the formation of flowers. The African violet still expends energy to nourish the plant part and therefore does not flower. The owner prevents this by regularly removing the withered leaves. Manual plucking is the better option than pruning.

pests

Sometimes, however, pests also prevent flowering. Common parasites are

• aphids
• spider mites
• leaflets
• dust bunnies
• the Saintpaulia disease
• or fungal infections

The breeder can see aphids and aphids with the naked eye if they take a closer look. These are red, green, yellow or black tiny animals. Mealybugs and spider mites, on the other hand, form thread-like webs on the branches. Sometimes these only become visible when the owner gently sprays them with water. The droplets stick to the threads. Thus, it is possible for the breeder to recognize whether there is a disease or a care error.

Numerous home remedies such as home-made herbal decoctions (e.g. from neem oil) have proven effective for treatment. If the infestation is low, it is often sufficient to remove the pests by hand. If you want to go completely natural, you can buy predators such as parasitic wasps or ladybirds in specialist shops. The breeder should make sure that the stressed environmental conditions of these animals are also given. In general, he should always prefer biological means to the chemical variant.

A pest infestation cannot be completely ruled out, since the parasites feel comfortable in the same site conditions as Saintpaulia ionantha. It is quite different with the disease Saintpaulia. This is caused by improper care. The most common cause is water that is too cold, which the owner gives when the sun is intense. The following symptoms are typical of an outbreak:

• light green or yellow speckles on the leaves
• African violet does not bloom

In this case, too, only biological fungicides should be used for treatment.