How and when do I repot African violets?
Answer
The best time to repot an African violet (Saintpaulia) is every 6 months to a year. Repotting will help keep your plant blooming.
Use a clean pot. (A 4-inch pot is sufficient for a standard-size African violet). Remove all but the freshest, healthiest leaves and blooms. If you keep them now, you'll only have to remove them later. Gently massage away some of the old soil and root system. A general rule is: The size of the root system below the soil should be large enough to support the foliage above the soil. Remove about half of the foliage and about half of the roots. This will encourage new roots and leaves.
Special Note:
Encourage more flower buds to form by maintaining a single crown plant. Carefully remove any sucker growth as soon as it forms in the leaf axil to prevent overcrowded growth in the pot. If there is an excess of nitrogen fertilizer in the soil, too many leaves will be produced at the expense of flower formation. Remove the outer rows of the largest leaves to promote use of nitrogen and production of flowers.
More cultural care tips from our guides linked here.
- Courtesy of NYBG Plant Information Service
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