African violets are such pretty plants. You’ll likely love owning them simply because of how beautiful they are.
If you haven’t ever cared for these plants before you might not know what to expect. How big do African violets get on average?
Read on to get important information about these beautiful plants. This will help you to learn how big they get as well as what you should be doing to help them thrive.
Average African Violet Size
The average African violet size differs quite a bit depending on the variety that you’re looking at. There are a number of different varieties that are classified in different categories.
You’ll find four distinct categories of African violets to choose from. These categories are miniature, semi-miniature, standard, and large.
Standard African violets are the most common and you’ll likely be more familiar with these plants. These plants grow to be between eight and sixteen inches long.
The other categories contain African violets that grow to be either smaller or larger than this. If you’re interested in the biggest African violets around, you’ll want to go with large African violets.
Later, you’ll learn a bit more about the three other categories. This will help you decide which African violets you’ll want to purchase for your home.
What Is an African Violet’s Growth Rate?
You’ll also see that the growth rate of African violets will differ from plant to plant. Some African violets grow slowly while others grow a bit faster.
The best course of action is to look up the growth rate of individual plants. This will tell you what to expect so you can ensure that you’re caring for the plant well.
On average, African violets will take eight to ten weeks to pop up when you start growing them. It takes around three months for them to be ready for transplant.
These plants are capable of flowering several times per year. To get the plants to grow well, it’s important to water them correctly and give them enough sunlight.
African violets do best in bright indirect sunlight. They like temperatures that range from 65 degrees Fahrenheit to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Large Types of African Violets
There are quite a few large types of African violets that you’ll enjoy. African violets are categorized as large when they exceed sixteen inches in length.
Some African violets will grow to be thirty inches or larger. So there are some rather big plants out there that you can look into.
There are hundreds of varieties of African violets out there, but the large varieties are somewhat harder to find. These plants are often simply sold as “large African violets.”
However, it’s more common to find standard African violets being sold in garden centers and nurseries. You might have a tough time tracking down the bigger plants.
If you’re interested in buying large African violets, it’s recommended that you speak to a local expert. For example, you could talk to someone who owns a garden center or nursery.
Ask for large African violet varieties and see what they have for you. Buying from chain locations will often make it hard to find specific information about how large the plant is capable of growing.
Some large African violets to seek out are the EK Dream Princess, the Pueblo African violet, and the Charline African violet. All of these plants grow to be pretty big and fall into the large category.
How Big Do Mini African Violets Get?
Miniature African violets are the smallest ones that you can buy. These plants are also fairly common and you’ll see them being sold in small pots at garden centers.
These tiny plants only grow to be less than eight inches in diameter. Since they’re small, they often come in cute little pots.
If you’re interested in having smaller plants that will easily fit on shelves in your home, it might be worthwhile to go with miniature African violets. This will give you beautiful plants that won’t get too big.
As you’d expect, there are some miniature African violets that are more popular than others. It’s recommended to check out Morgan’s Declan duff African violets, Rob’s rinky dink African violets, and Rob’s soliloquy African violets.
If you love tiny plants you can find quite a few great African violets that fit the bill. These plants will stay small and you’ll be able to love them for a long time so long as you care for them well.
How Big Do Semi-Miniature African Violets Get?
Semi-miniature African violets are also fairly small, but they grow to be a bit bigger overall. These plants are capable of growing to be between six and eight inches long.
The size difference isn’t huge between miniature and semi-miniature African violets. Some places that sell the plants won’t differentiate between the categories.
Regardless, it’s good to know that this category exists. These plants stay pretty small, but they’re still going to be rather beautiful.
There are many great semi-miniature African violets that you can buy at the store. Some of the best recommendations include the Jolly Texan, Rob’s Marching Band, and Ness Puppy Dreams.
All of these African violets are gorgeous and they’re pretty small. They could be ideal for your situation depending on what you’re looking for.
Are All African Violets Easy to Care For?
Yes, all African violets are pretty easy to care for. This doesn’t mean that the plants are invincible, of course.
African violets are thought of as good flowering plants for beginners. They can die if you neglect them, but they’re excellent for teaching new plant owners about responsibility.
You can keep African violets in good health by paying attention to their needs. Take care of the basics well and they will stay in good shape for a very long time.
Enjoy your African violets to the fullest by watering them correctly, giving them enough sunlight, and keeping them in a temperature-controlled environment.
If you protect these plants well they can live for decades. They’re plants that have the potential to live indefinitely when you care for them properly.
Do African Violets Need Fertilizer?
Fertilizer isn’t necessary to grow African violets. The plants can thrive without it, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be helpful.
Using fertilizer can help you to grow the plant faster. Some say that utilizing fertilizer will help the plant to bloom more as well.
Since you want to help your plant bloom as much as possible, it makes sense that you’d be interested in fertilizer. Fertilizing this plant can be good, but you need to buy fertilizer that is specially formulated for African violets.
Using the wrong fertilizer could easily be detrimental. So seek out African violet fertilizer that’s balanced and contains the right mix of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Be sure to follow the instructions when using the fertilizer. This helps to prevent problems from using too much fertilizer or failing to dilute the fertilizer properly to protect the plant.
The Best Soil for African Violets
Getting the soil right helps to grow these plants, too. African violets need to dry out between watering sessions.
These plants are known for being easy to overwater. You can avoid such problems by checking the soil with your fingers before water.
It also helps to use well-draining soil that contains the right nutrients for African violets. When potting these plants, it’s best to use slightly acidic soil.
Typically, potting soil for these plants will contain key ingredients such as peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, and coarse sand. You can buy many commercial potting mixes that will work nicely for these plants.
Final Thoughts
You’ve learned that African violets have the potential to grow to be rather large. There are different categories of these plants.
Some African violets fall under the large category and will grow to be larger than sixteen inches. There are even some plants that will grow to be thirty inches or larger.
Standard African violets only grow to be between eight and sixteen inches. Semi-miniature plants grow to be between six and eight inches.
The smallest African violets are known as miniatures and those plants are less than six inches in size. Depending on what you want, you might gravitate toward one plant or another.
All African violets are pretty and fun to take care of. Use what you learned above to have a good experience with your new houseplants.
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.