African reddish blue is one of the most beautiful houseplant you may have . That is unless it has become schmaltzy or discolored as a result of too much water .
Many houseplant gardener make the mistake of overwatering . When trying to wish for your plant , it is well-situated to exaggerate it .
But , by the end of this post , you ’ll know precisely how to fix ( and avoid ) overwatering your African Violet !
Contents
Overwatering Vs. Underwatering: How to Tell the Difference
If you need your African Violet to thrive , you must interpret its best watering practices .
When it comes to African Violet care , one of the most vulgar mistake mass make is overwatering .
It ’s normal to become enamored with your plant life to the point where you water it regularly .
You ’ll have trouble if you water your African Violet too presently after it has dried out . Overwatering will cause damage to your African Violet .
Too much water supply will stifle your African Violet and induce it to rot .
On the other hand , if you let the soil dry out out too much , it will suffer from a want of moisture job .
You will eventually lose your industrial plant due to a want of water because it causes nutrient deficiency .
The plant ca n’t get the soluble nutrients from the ground if there ’s no water uncommitted .
By search at the soil , you’re able to evidence if your African Violet is getting enough water . If the soil is dust - dry , nutty , and firm , you should water it more oftentimes .
In addition , the leaves will let you know if they require extra water . If they are ironic and crispy , dark on the edges , or your African Violet is no longer flowering , you may need to water them more .
Signs of Overwatered African Violet
Brown Spots on Leaves
Brown spots on your African Violets are never a good thing . Overwatering harms the root system by cause base rotting , and as a result , the plant is cut down off from the nutrient supply system .
Your African reddish blue leaves will develop yellow and browned spotlight if you do not render Mg or N .
Overwatering can sometimes cause edema , triggered by the plant consuming too much water . Extra water consumption harms the cells of the African purplish folio cell .
If it has hydrops , you will notice brown , wart - like smudge near the basis of your African Violet ’s leaves .
Any leaves with brown spot should be remove . regrettably , once brown spots seem on the folio , they can not be revived .
By removing them , your African Violet will be able to grow new , healthy leaves more easily .
Root Rot And Foul Smell From Soil
An inordinate amount of tearing encourages the growth of fungi in the soil .
The fungus that grow will decompose the root word if the grime does not dry out completely between waterings or if the drain system is not go correctly .
For African Violet Root Rot , there are a few things you’re able to do to make things better . understand this articlefor whole step - by - step program line .
Remove the plant life from its sens and clean up any shitty ground before embed it again . After that , look into the stems and root .
absent brownish or drippy root to see your plants have unassailable , sizable roots .
Disinfect the remain rootage by dipping them in a fungicide solution after you ’ve cleaned out the infected areas .
Repot your African Violet in a well - drained , clean bottom of potting soil . ( New soil is ideal , but cleaning the existing soil should suffice if Root Rot is pocket-sized . )
We have a limited amount of clock time ! Because root rot spreads quickly , you ’ll have a better chance of prevent it if you act rapidly .
remove any leaves that have spring up brown spots is a skillful idea . Unfortunately , once the leaves grow chocolate-brown spots , they will be unimaginable to retrieve .
By remove them , your African Violet will have an easier time producing new , respectable leaf .
Crown Rot
Crown Rot is diagnosed and care for in the same way that Root Rot is . The master note is where the rot has taken detainment .
It is possible for stem hogwash to hap on any of the roots , and the damage can be minor or life-threatening . Crown rot is a disease that affects the roots at the top of the organisation .
Complete the Root Rot treatment measure and spray a fungicide on the origin system to treat Crown Rot . Be aware that if your plant has severe Crown Rot , it may not go .
Mold Growing on Soil
If you find mold in your soil , that is a clear sign your African Violet is get too much water . Moldy whitened dots will appear on the top layer of the territory .
This mould wo n’t threaten your African Violet ( or your phratry ) . But , it is still important to remove it as shortly as you note it .
You may be able to scrape the top layer of soil off and get rid of all the clay sculpture that direction . you may also kill the mould with a diluted hydrogen peroxide mixture .
expend one part H peroxide to five voice water . If the mold extends beyond the top layer of soil , it ’s clip to repot .
Shriveled Appearance and Mushy Stems
If your African Violet ’s root are mushy , or the industrial plant has shriveled , you are overwatering . A healthy works will bet satisfying and vibrant , with unwavering stem turn . There is an issue if the bow has any give when you bosom them .
Mushy stem indicate a fungous contagion produce by too much water supply . A shriveled visual aspect is another sign that your African Violet has rotted . In both showcase , remove the diseased bits , cleanse the industrial plant , and allow it to dry out . ( Source : Iowa State University )
Wilting
A wilted African Violet can think of one of three thing . Either you are not irrigate enough , you are watering too much , or you have pests . The dirt will be the key to identifying which it is .
You are overwatering if your African Violet has wilted and the dampish soil .
This drowns the roots , and the African Violets can not get the oxygen they need . Repair any legal injury , and allow your African Violet to dry out .
seem for pests if your soil does not feel too dry or blotto . Cyclamen mites and Mealybugs are the most uncouth pests for African Violets .
To get rid of pests , you take to clean your leafage . you’re able to suffocate the pests by spray your leaves with neem oil colour or insecticidal soap .
If you have to rub alcohol around your mansion , you’re able to wipe each foliage with it to rid your African Violet of cyclamen pinch or mealybugs .
Yellow Leaves
jaundiced leaves are another planetary house of moisture tension from overwatering . If your African Violet has yellow leaves , remove them and condition the residuum of the plant ’s health .
If your leafage are yellow , there is a good opportunity your root have decompose , and you will need to do some damage dominance .
Wrinkled Leaves
wrinkle leaves indicate that overwatering has caused important issues to your radical . Wrinkling signifies that no water can travel up the roots to the plant tissue paper .
Take a flavor at your roots . Healthy roots should be white and plump .
If your root are brown and mawkish , they need to go . Wrinkled leaves may signify that most of your root have rotted .
If you still have feasible roots , it is worth it to clean them and repot . Unfortunately , if the roots all look brownish and mushy , it is metre to try again with a different African Violet .
Curled Leaves
curling leaves are a foretoken of overwatering . But , it is also a planetary house that the temperature of the water is have strain to your African Violet .
If you are water with stale water , it will chill the solution of your African Violet .
This causes the leave to coil downward . elbow room temperature water is best , as it reduces the potential for any temperature shock .
Read this article to revivify yourdying African violet .
Saving Your Overwatered African Violet
You will need to postdate these steps to cure an overwatered African Violet . There is a abbreviated list and then a detailed description below .
Step One: Assess the Overall Damage
It is essential to see how damage your overwatered African violet is .
When you find few farewell have brown spots , but your stems are firm and salubrious , you will not need to rehabilitate as much as if the disease is present in other areas .
If any steps below do n’t utilize to your works , finger free to skip before until the step are applicable .
Now , If your roots are healthy , there is no need to dispatch the damage one , etc .
Step Two: Remove Damaged Leaves and Blooms
Remove any icteric leave , leave with brown smear , or wilted heyday .
observe : Do not take leaves that curl downward from temperature shock . As long as they look salubrious in every other way , leave them .
As you adjust the temperature of the water , they should revive themselves .
Clearing the damaged leave allows your African Violet to focus on healing .
It no longer has to expend energy send nutrients to area of the flora that are non - revivable .
First , wash your mitt . dispatch damaged leaves / blooms by pinching the leaf with your fingers near the basis of the stem .
If you prefer to cut the leave off , insure that your scissors hold are clean and sharp .
transfer near the grease line sets your African Violet up for success in originate novel leaves / blooms .
Step Three: Assess the Soil
Now we get to the affection of the issue . Overwatering causes many publication for the soil and solution organization .
It ’s essential to realise your soil ’s precondition before you’re able to work on repair it .
Remove any mold develop in the soil . Then take your African Violet out of its pot to examine the root organisation .
This is an first-class sentence to add some supererogatory drain to your sess .
Broken bit of terra cotta pot , large Rock , and reprocess plastic all exercise well .
point these at the bottom of your pot before repot to help the water drain through the dirt well-situated .
Step Four: Remove Damaged Roots and Clean the Soil
Removing any damaged base that you find during the review is vital . Your plant life wo n’t be able to recover if all the harm is not removed first .
To do this , use your finger to free the infected filth and remove rotten base .
Remember , these will be brown and schmaltzy . African Violet ’s roots are fragile , so move softly with this measure .
You do n’t need to accidentally break up off any healthy roots .
Clean off the persist roots and use fresh soil and a raw potentiometer to repot your African Violet .
go Modern land is good , but it is possible to disinfect your soil .
essay washing it with a bleach and water answer ( one - part bleach to five parts water ) , and allow it to dry .
you could also expend a fungicide or a homemade H peroxide resolution ( stretch the same as the bleach ) .
It is full to bribe new potting territory if potential . Then you cut the endangerment of reinfection .
Step Five: Dry it Out
Before you repot your African Violet leave the plant life out of the batch for a minute to dry .
point the plant life with the remaining roots and grime on a safe aerofoil overnight .
Laying down some newspaper publisher or putting it in an old composition board box can reduce the mess .
This gives the beginning and soils a chance to dry out more accessible than they could do in a mountain .
leave behind your plant there for a day until the soil seems decent and ironic . allow for your African Violet somewhere safe if you have pets or little children .
Step Six: Repot
Once the grime dries , it is time to repot your African Violet . you may scavenge and disinfect the pot that your African Violet was in before .
But if you had significant Root Rot , it ’s worth it to get a young pot . This thin out the luck of repeat contagion .
check that that your pot has worthy drainage holes in the bottom .
Boost the drain potential by tot up enceinte rocks , broken terra cotta , or plastic bit to the pot ’s bottom . Then plant your African Violet in invigorated soil .
If you are purchasing a new pot , you might want to consider a self - lacrimation passel .
You pelt the water into the pot , and then the African Violet takes what it call for without sitting in the water .
They withdraw much dead reckoning and can be a great prick if you are worried about inconsistent tearing .
Step Seven: Water Smarter
Once your African Violet has recover from too much water , this stone’s throw is critical .
A repeat offence will be more brutal to come back from .
Listening to cues from your African Violet will set you up for unspoilt succeeder than trying to create a water cycle free-base on the calendar .
irrigate your plant when the top 1 - 2 inches ( 2.54 - 5.08 cm ) are dry .
This is roughly the distance to your first knuckle joint , but if you ’d instead not stick your finger in the pot you may also purchase a water story marker .
If there is wet in that top layer of territory , leave it a bit longer . heed to your industrial plant , and you should find a agenda that will help your industrial plant thrive !
Common Watering Mistakes
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the leaves on my African Violets soft, limp, and mushy?
When an African Violet gets too much water system , the leafage will often keep on some of the supernumerary piss in the leaves . This will cause the leaves to soften and become limp and mushy
How do I know if my African Violet has Root Rot?
test your grime and root scheme to identify Root Rot . sizeable root are white and plump . Roots that have Root Rot will be brown and kitschy .
It is all-important to unclutter the pathologic root , clean the dirt , and repot them in a blank tummy .
What is a self-watering pot?
A self - watering pot allows you to water less ofttimes . You pour water supply into a reservoir that does not touch your African Violets ’ soil or roots .
As the weewee evaporate , it propel to a new sleeping accommodation from which your African Violet can drink .
This shrink the chance of overwatering because it is a regulated system . It is a pop alternative for citizenry who keep African Violets in their nursing home .
Should I top or bottom water my African Violet?
African violet do well with both top and bottom watering . When potential , it is important to not water the leave . This can cause spots on the leave of absence .
communion is deal !
