How Often Do African Violets Bloom?

The African violet – which is not actually a true violet although it has similar flowers – is a common windowsill houseplant. Ranging in size from two- or three-inch miniatures to plants a foot across, African violets produce flowers in a variety of shapes and colors, including bi-colors. Given the proper conditions, Africa violets will bloom almost continuously.

Best Growing Conditions for African Violets

African violets need plenty of indirect bright light, the right potting soil, fertilizer, adequate humidity and proper watering to bloom. If any of these factors is out of kilter, your violets will produce leaves but no flowers. A west-or south-facing windowsill, pots with commercial African violet mix and low-nitrogen/high phosphorus fertilizer come first. Mist one or more times a day. Water to keep soil moist.

How African Violets Bloom

Most properly grown African violets will have a single crown (species varieties and trailers are exceptions). They should not have suckers – the beginnings of small new crowns that look like small leaves along the stem. The plants produce flowers from new growth, usually the first three rows of leaves. If your violet has four or five rows of leaves, it will bloom poorly or not at all.

Botanical illustration of an African violet showing the single crown, bloom zone, and suckers to remove for better blooming. — Understanding the structure of your African violet helps direct its energy into producing more flowers.

Plant Maturity and Bloom

African violets, like many flowering plants, will not bloom until they are mature. Depending on the variety, that will take about six to nine months. When you buy an African violet that is in bloom, it has obviously reached maturity. However, if you don’t give it the proper conditions, even though it is mature it will not continue to bloom.

Reliable Bloomers

African violets with single flowers and plain foliage often are the most reliable bloomers. Hybrids may have been bred for characteristics other than bloom. These are generally reliable:

Illustration of a blooming African violet in a pot on a windowsill, highlighting light, humidity, water, soil, and fertilizer needs. — Providing the right balance of light, moisture, and nutrients encourages year-round blooming.

Colonial Broome
Christening Gown
Fun Trail
Harbor Blue
Ness’ Foggy Blues
Phantom Flash
The Alps

Flower Buds on African Violets

Just because an African violet has flower buds, that does not guarantee blooms. Low humidity and inadequate watering are two possible culprits, as either can cause the buds to die. If you use self-watering pots, make sure to check the soil periodically to make sure it is moist. Powdery mildew and cyclamen mites may damage buds and prevent them from developing into flowers.

When an African Violet Won’t Bloom

If your African violets won’t bloom and you are following all the proper cultural and environmental practices, you can try tapping the pot against the counter several times. This miniature “earthquake” sometimes shocks the plants into bloom. Repotting is another possible strategy. Some plants are simply shy bloomers – if that’s the case, discard and get another plant.

Text: Elizabeth Garcia

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