African Violets have been my favorite houseplants for over two years. I have made several mistakes while caring for them and some ended up dying. I can now admit that watering and humidity are vital factors when caring for African Violets.
African Violets are native to the tropical forest of East Africa. Creating a tropical environment at home will make these plants to bloom all year long and stay happy. Most African violet varieties love high humidity, but some species like average humidity to thrive.
So, can you spray water on African Violets to increase humidity? African Violets do not like to be misted like other plants since their leaves are vulnerable to rotting. Besides that, long-term exposure might kill your houseplant.
Growing indoor or outdoor African violets is a science and an art. These plants can be picky about their humidity, the water temperature, soil pH, and the pot. I wrote this article to share my experience and answer the above question.
Can You Spray African Violets with Soapy Water?
African Violets are highly susceptible to insect infestations. Dealing with these pests can be daunting experience for beginners and even experienced houseplant enthusiasts. Any slight mistake will ruin or kill your favorite houseplant.
Some people prefer using home remedies to eliminate pests from houseplants. This technique might work on specific tropical plants and not others. Soapy water is an excellent solution for getting rid of pests from houseplants.
So, can you spray African violets with soapy water? The solution will can leaf damage despite eliminating the pests. African violet plants have hairy leaves that won’t tolerate soapy solutions due to their chemical content. (Source: University of Florida).
We recommend testing on a single leaf and wait for 2-3 days to examine the damage degree. If your African violet species can tolerate, go ahead and spray with soapy water. But I recommend using insecticidal solution to get rid of pests.
Consult a professional or experienced houseplant expert for tips about African violet care and problems handling. Learning how to care for African Violets indoors from experts will save you time and money in the long run.
Should You Spray Water on African Violets?
I do not recommend spraying water on your African Violets. But it should not be completely out of the question if your home is extremely dry. It is acceptable to spray water on your African Violets without overdoing.
Too much misting can damage the leaves and invite pest infestation. The best option is to group your houseplants together and create a micro-climate. The technique will boost humidity level around the plants and keep them happy.
Installing an automatic electric humidifier is an excellent option. The gadget can detect when the indoor air is dry and increase the humidity. It also reduce the risk of spreading diseases when grouping the houseplants together.
Be sure to water your houseplant from the bottom up. The method allow the soil and roots to access water first and nourishes the plant. Most African violet plants prefer this method to keep their leaves lush and promote blooming all year round.
Remember light misting with room temperature and well ventilation won’t harm your favorite houseplant. Do not overdo since long-term misting will damage the leaves and enhance stem or crown rot problem.
How Often Should You Spray Water on African Violets?
Indoor environment usually experience frequent humidity fluctuation. The situation forces many houseplant enthusiasts to mist their indoor plants when the air is dry. Some houseplants may enjoy misting and others won’t.
African Violets are among a few houseplants that do not need misting. Spraying water on your African Violets will increase the risk of stem rot or crown rot. Sparsely and light misting is acceptable when humidity is below 30%.
Misting frequently will cause leaf damage and directly affect the overall health of your African violet plant. Improvise techniques of boosting humidity around your houseplant other than spraying water.
How Can I Increase Humidity around My African Violets?
African violets thrive in a humidity range of 70-80%. But this tropical plant should stay happy and healthy in average humidity level. African violet plant leaves curling and turning brown are some signs of low humidity.
Installing a humidifier in your house is the most effective way to increase humidity around your favorite indoor plant. Another option is placing several African violets or other tropical plants close to each other to boost humidity level.
Do not spray water on African violets since they are not huge fans. Cold water will shock plant and kill vital cells. Even room water temperature can create an ideal environment for fungal growth on the leaves.
Final Thoughts from Experts
African violets are picky houseplants when it comes to watering and humidity. But these plants are quite easy to please and keep them healthy. You only need to provide all their needs by not compromising with their care routines.
Watering from bottom up and moderate misting is acceptable when humidity is low. Excessive misting will cause crown rot and root rot problems. Allow your African Violets to dry between watering and use humidifier to boost humidity around them.
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