2024 Year of African Violets

hairs on african violets collect water out of the air. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

2024 Year of African Violets

According to the National Garden Bureau, 2024 is the year of African Violets, a plant that has fallen out of favor based on availability and that’s a shame.

I’ve loved African Violets ever since I can remember. Maybe it’s because I love native violets, which have a short flowering season. Nevertheless African Violets take up little space, are easy to grow and with proper care bloom almost continuously. They’re also favorite flower gifts.

african violets are sold as houseplants in most us home and garden centers. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

History of African Violets

African violets were discovered in the late 19th century by a German colonial official named Baron Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire in Tanzania (formerly Tanganyika). He found the plants growing wild in the Usambara Mountains. The discovery led to their introduction to Europe in the late 1800s.

Later, in the 20th century, African violets gained popularity as houseplants due to their ease of cultivation and beautiful flowers.

Today there are more than 20,000 hybrids from single petals to multi-petalled, speckled and even miniature varieties.

African violets are also available in doubles and a variety of colors. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

How to Care for African Violets

1. Light: African violets prefer bright, indirect light. Avoid placing them in direct sunlight; it can scorch their leaves. East or west-facing windows are usually suitable.

2. Temperature: They thrive in a consistent temperature range of 65-75°F (18-24°C). Avoid exposing them to cold drafts or sudden temperature fluctuations.

3. Watering: Water African violets from the bottom to prevent water from touching the leaves. Use room temperature water; don’t use softened water or the salt will kill these delicate plants.

   Pour into the saucer beneath the pot, allowing the plant to soak up the water through the drainage holes. Empty excess water after about 30 minutes.

   On the other hand, I carefully water from the top without wetting leaves and that seems to work well.

4. Humidity: They appreciate moderate humidity. Placing the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water or using a humidifier nearby can help maintain suitable humidity levels.

5. Soil: Use a well-draining, porous potting mix specifically formulated for African violets. The mix usually has peat, perlite, and vermiculite.

6. Fertilization: Feed African violets regularly but sparingly with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer specifically designed for flowering houseplants. Dilute the fertilizer to half or a quarter of the recommended strength and apply it during the growing season.

7. Potting: Repot African violets every 6-12 months or when you notice crowding or diminished growth. Choose a pot that's slightly larger than the current one and ensure it has drainage holes.

8. Pruning: Remove faded or spent flowers and any yellowing or damaged leaves to encourage new growth and maintain the plant's appearance.

9. Propagation: African violets can be propagated from leaf cuttings. Select healthy leaves and carefully cut them, ensuring each cutting includes a small section of the stem. Place the cuttings in a moist, sterile medium until new roots form.

   I’ve pressed a damaged stem into a hole in the same spot and it generated a new plant.

10. Enjoy. I love seeing what plants are blooming every morning. These plants take up little space and give back for many years!

    Charlotte

New Gift Poinsettias

One of my cats checks out the “Winter Rose” Poinsettia gift. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

New Gift Poinsettias

A friend recently surprised me with one of the many new gift poinsettias on the market. Poinsettias (Euphiorbia pulcherrima) are the iconic Christmas flower, the traditional red of their leaves, or bracts, adding a bright Christmas vibe to any room.

And before I get started on some of the new varieties, poinsettias are not poisonous to cats or children. They do have a mildly irritating white sap that when ingested by pets can cause diarrhea. Some pets may also try to regurgitate the sap because of its bad taste. My advice is keep the plants away from both pets and children and you won’t have to worry.

Some New Gift Poinsettias

This ruffled leaf variety in the top photo was new to me so I did a little research. These beautiful poinsettias with the leaves turned under are called “Winter Rose” poinsettias. They certainly do look like roses in full bloom.

Winter Rose Poinsettias reportedly will last a couple of months longer than the traditional red poinsettias.

The popularity of poinsettias has encouraged breeders to come up with some other new poinsettia varieties.

This variegated poinsettia has white specks on red leaves called Red Glitter. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

German farmer Albert Ecke began breeding poinsettias in Los Angeles in 1909. Following in his father’s footsteps, Paul Ecke founded the world’s first poinsettia nursery in Encinitas, California in the early 1920s.

The Eckes are the source of these new poinsettia varieties in a wide array of salmon pink, peach, and a wild range of variegations.

Though Ecke Ranch was sold to a Dutch grower in 2012, the site is still home to the largest poinsettia growing and breeding operation in the world. 

If you like poinsettias, there are a number of new colors that would make this a plant for use year around. These pink and white poinsettias would work well for Valentine’s Day.

Pink and white poinsettias have been around for awhile. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Blue flowers are rare in nature and frankly non-existent even in hybrid flowers. This “blue” poinsettia is most likely a Pure Glow poinsettia sprayed with blue paint to get this blue mottled color.

The same approach is taken to get blue orchids, blue roses and even blue daffodils.

With Classic Blue being the color of 2020, this unusual blue poinsettia would definitely make any room the height of fashion all year.

These are painted blue, not bred to grow as a blue variety. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Here is the original Pure Glow poinsettia, often sold as a “white” poinsettia.

Compared to a whitish sofa in the background, you can see the poinsettia color has more of a yellow tint to it, which I’m sure inspired the “pure glow” name.

This is a good choice to have around after the loud Christmas holiday decorations are put away. It has a calming, almost winter vibe to the hue.

Pure Glow poinsettia is now common on the Christmas gift market. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

As much as I enjoy seeing, and caring for some of the new poinsettias on the market, there still is a very special place for the lovely original red poinsettias in my home. I can remember seeing them in their native Mexico growing to the size of small dogwood trees..

The original traditional red poinsettias, still very pretty on its own. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Legend has it two children approaching the manager carried a bouquet of weeds, or wildflowers. An angel transformed the weeds into a poinsettia as they approached the baby crib.

Poinsettias may be a favorite Christmas plant but i enjoy mine all year!

Charlotte