Can You Force African Violets to Bloom?

The most likely reason your plant isn’t flowering is incorrect lighting. These houseplants need anywhere from 8 to 12 hours of bright but diffused or indirect light per day. You can grow them in a bright window or under a grow light – they can do well either way. Too much or too little light can cause them to stop blooming.

Too much direct sunlight can burn leaves and cause plants to appear bunched up. Too little light will cause leggy growth and a lack of energy for blooming. If you suspect your violet isn’t getting the right light, you can try moving it to a better location to improve the lighting situation.

Do not overwater this tropical plant! Allow the soil to dry briefly between waterings, and never let your violets sit in wet or soggy soil. Use lukewarm water and try to water from the bottom whenever possible.

African violets like humid environments with good airflow. Ideally, they like a humidity level of around 80%, but they will tolerate fluctuations between summer and winter humidity levels. Humidity by itself is unlikely to have a strong effect on the violet’s ability to bloom.

Temperatures between 65°F and 80°F, with a target temperature of around 70°F, are ideal for this houseplant. When temperatures are consistently too cold or hot, it can severely damage plants and prevent them from flowering.

If your plant has stopped flowering, ensure it’s growing within the correct temperature range, and adjust the temperature if necessary.

This species needs lots of energy to grow and flower. A plant that needs fertilizer will develop pale or yellowed leaves, slow growth, and it will stop flowering.

If you notice any of these signs but the plant looks otherwise healthy, there’s a chance it’s time to add some fertilizer. Use a product specifically formulated for violets and follow the directions for use. It may take your plant a little while to recover, but it will soon be back to blooming.

It is also possible for an African violet to receive too much fertilizer. Signs of over-fertilization include a buildup of fertilizer crystals on leaves, stems, and along the rim of the pot or soil surface. Leaves and stems touching the edges of the pot may become brown and die. An ailing plant will typically stop blooming.

If you have any reason to suspect you are using too much fertilizer, flush the soil with fresh water and wait a while before fertilizing again. Note that flushing the soil only helps rinse out chemical fertilizers or liquid organic fertilizers and that it will not eliminate granular organic fertilizers – but happily, it’s hard to overfertilize with granular organics!

African violets need loose, light, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Any heavy, poorly drained, or nutrient-poor soil will cause problems, including a lack of flowers.

Use good quality, specially formulated soil whenever you repot your violet. Many soil blends are designed for African violets, most of which have large particulate sizes and lots of chunky decomposing wood, and your violets will love those!

Pot size can make a big difference. Violets typically don’t start blooming until they become slightly root-bound in the pot. When you repot your plant, you do not need to use a larger pot unless it is much too large for its current pot.

This is true primarily for young violets that haven’t yet moved into their full-size pot. Otherwise, repotting only requires trimming off any dead vegetation, thoroughly cleaning the old pot, and setting the plant back in fresh soil.

A plant suffering from a disease or an insect infestation will probably show multiple symptoms, including a lack of flowering. Don’t expect your plant to flower again until the pests and diseases have been eliminated.

Once you have identified and corrected the problem, your plant will need some time to recover in ideal conditions before it regains full health and resumes flowering.

If your African violet has stopped blooming, you must correct the growing conditions to promote new flowers. Sometimes the plant needs a natural break from producing flowers, but it may have another issue to resolve. The best way to encourage your violet to flower again is to determine why it stopped flowering in the first place and correct any potential problems.

Check to be sure you are meeting all of its basic needs and check for any signs of illness. Once your plant has everything it needs, you may need to be patient while it gathers enough energy to continue blooming. Then you can enjoy another long stretch of beautiful and colorful flowers!