Why is my African violet turning white?

Why is my African violet turning white?

White powder on African violet leaves is an indication that your plant has been infested by a nasty fungal disease. Although powdery mildew on African violets isn't usually deadly, it can definitely impact the overall health and appearance of leaves and stems, stunt plant growth, and reduce blooming substantially.

What kind of light does an African violet need?

African violets need bright light to bloom, but cannot tolerate hot, direct sun because their leaves are easily scorched by intense light. Violets bloom best at temperatures from 65 to 75 degrees.

How often should you water your African violet?

“How often to water African violets?” is perhaps the most pondered African violet dilemma. The best guide is to feel the top of the soil: if it is dry to the touch, then it is time to water. African violets should be allowed to dry out between each watering for best results. Overwatering can kill a plant.

Why are my violets white?

Powdery mildew afflicts African violets. In severe cases, the leaves become covered with a powdery, white to pale gray coating. High humidity and poor air circulation contribute to the spread of this disease, which begins with a few isolated leaf spots.

How do you prune an African violet?

Using your forefinger and thumb to pinch off the leaf or flower is one way of pruning African violets. You can also use sterilized scissors. Remove plant material as close to the base as possible without cutting into the main stem.

Do African violets get bugs?

These pests can be light green, dark green, brown or black. If you have an African violet with aphids, you may not even notice the bugs until you notice honeydew, the sweet substance secreted by the bugs. Ants love honeydew, so aphids on African violets may lead to ants on African violets too.

Do African violets clean the air?

They absorb benzene and are touted as the top plant for ridding the air of the most common indoor pollutant, formaldehyde. Nontoxic to pets, African violets top nearly every list of edible flowers. They require bright light, and prefer warmer temps.

Can African violets get spider mites?

Two-Spotted Spider Mites are normally light green with dark spots just behind the head. All Spider Mites feed on the undersides of leaves and produce bronze-colored webs which cover the leaves and stems of African Violets. The damage they cause is compounded by the fact that many mites carry Botrytis.

What is the crown of an African violet?

What is the crown of an African violet plant? Crown is a plant term that describes one single center of growth, including all the leaves that developed from that center of growth. In African violets, the new leaves grow from the center of the crown.

Why do African violets get long necks?

New growth on African violets grows from the plant tip. As new growth grows from the top spending much of the plant's energy, the old leaves at the bottom of the plant die back. After time, this can leave you with long necked African violet plants.

Do African violets have deep roots?

Violets are shallow rooted plants compared to other house plants and don't need, and in fact, don't do as well, when grown in large pots.