How do you get your African violets to bloom?

Answer 1

12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark initiates the bud formation. Often, in the house, they get too many hours of light because when the sun goes down you turn the lights in the house on. Try putting them where they will get 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness.

Water only when the top inch of soil is dry. And you Can use a liquid fert like Peters for AV a few times a month.

Answer 2

I've always had great luck using the "wick method." To do this you can use an empty plastic butter or cool whip type container and cut a small hole in the lid, or what I like to use is a glass "rose bowl" (1-2 dollars at your local craft store). I use a yarn needle (or a bent piece of wire) to thread a piece of yarn into the soil so that it hangs out the bottom of the pot and into the water in the container below. Make sure the soil is moist at the beginning and then all you need to do is keep the container full of water. The soil stays moist by drawing water through the yarn. If you use a rose bowl, make sure the neck is small enough that the pot doesn't sit directly in the water. I use this method and my plants bloom consistently.

Answer 3

I have a bottle of African Violet food that I squirt into the water every week or so. I put the violets in a window and they are blooming beautifully.

Answer 4

I collected African violets for a few years and this worked for me. Have them in a South window during the winter and North window during the summer. Direct sunlight will burn the leaves. They like to be in small pots, 4 inch diameter is the best with a tray underneath. When watering put the water in the tray. Keep soil moist (stick your finger in soil, it should feel moist about 1/4 inch under top crust) Soil should be light with lots of peat and vermiculite. Buy a liquid fertilizer especially for African violets and use as directed (Miracle Gro works great.) Seems like a lot of information but they are quite easy to look after. Good luck.

Answer 5

Make sure you put them in a window with morning sunlight, that is what they like best. Give them some water with African violet fertilizer, and they should bloom on their own no problem.