How to Make an African Violet Lay Flat

African violet leaves should lie flat.

Whether you prefer miniature African violets that fit in a teacup or giants more than a foot in diameter, these favored houseplants look their best when given careful attention. You want lots of flowering, of course, but to show off those blooms to their best advantage, the plant's leaves should lie flat and grow horizontally out from the crown. If your plant's leaves are curled or otherwise off-kilter, there are a few cultural practices to double-check to improve their appearance.

Things You'll Need

• Grow lights (optional)
• African violet potting soil
• Cotton swabs (optional)
• Alcohol (optional)

Instructions

1. Place your African violets in a north-facing window in summer but move them into a bright eastern exposure in winter. Vase-shaped plants with leaves that grow at an upward angle aren't getting enough light. Alternatively, use grow lights placed 10 to 12 inches above the plants and keep the lights on for 12 to 16 hours each day.

2. Keep your African violets out of direct sunlight, which scorches the leaves. Plants receiving too much light also develop stunted and distorted leaves.

3. Rotate plants grown near windows every two or three days for even growth. If you don't rotate the pots, the plants will grow toward the window, distorting the crown and the leaves on the far side.

4. Keep the air temperature around your violets between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If necessary, use insulated curtains over your windows at night to shield the plants from drafts. African violet leaves exposed to cold drafts cup under. Temperatures that are too high or too low also interfere with blooming.

5. Use a fast-draining medium such as a prepackaged specialty mix for African violets. Water your plants when the top inch of the soil feels dry. Discard any water remaining in the saucer after 10 minutes. Overwatered plants have soft, weak stems and leaves that flop downward.

6. Check the underside of distorted plant leaves for insects such as mealybugs and mites, both of which can cause the leaves to curl under. Remove mealybugs with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol, but discard mite-infested plants and sterilize the pots they grew in before reusing.

Tips & Warnings

• Some African violet cultivars have leaves that are naturally wavy or corrugated, so these leaves will never lie completely flat. Just enjoy their novel appearance.

• Old plants with overcrowded crowns don't provide enough room for the leaves to lay flat. They need to be divided. Remove the plant from the pot and carefully knock off as much soil as possible. Slice the crown into several pieces, making sure each piece retains some of the original roots. Repot the divided sections in fresh soil and cover with a plastic bag to keep the humidity high while the plant develops new roots. If small plants have developed on the outside of the main crown, remove them as well. (ref 2)

References

• University of Vermont Extension: Your African Violet
• University of Florida IFAS Extension: African Violets
• Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service: African Violet Care
• Clemson Cooperative Extension: African Violet