African violets are beloved houseplants that produce beautiful flowers even in low light conditions. While most people start with nursery plants or cuttings you can also grow African violets from seeds. It takes more time and care than other methods but it’s rewarding to nurture your own plants from seed. Follow this step-by-step guide for tips on successfully growing African violets from seed.
Obtaining Seeds
You can collect seeds from your own African violet plants through hand pollination However, it’s easier for beginners to purchase seeds from a reputable online seller African violet seeds available for sale have usually been pre-sorted to increase germination rates. The seeds will likely produce plants different from the parent, since African violets grown from seed don’t come true.
Germination Mix and Containers
African violet seeds need a light, porous starting medium like peat or coconut coir-based seed starting mix. Moisten the mix before planting seeds. Plastic containers or cell packs work well for starting African violet seeds. Make sure containers have drainage holes.
Planting the Seeds
Spread seeds evenly over the starting mix surface. Tap the seeds out of the packet onto a piece of paper first, then tap paper gently to disperse them. Covering the tiny seeds with mix may bury them too deep.
Place the planted seeds 9-12 inches below fluorescent grow lights or in bright indirect light. Maintain a temperature of 70-80°F for best germination.
Germination Time
Keep the starting mix moist but not soggy. Germination takes 1-2 months. African violet seeds are slow to start. Be patient and resist the urge to disturb them. Once seedlings emerge, wait until they develop 1-2 true leaves before transplanting.
Transplanting
Use an African violet potting mix in small pots. Bigger pots delay flowering. Water carefully to avoid dislodging tiny seedlings when transplanting. Place in bright, indirect light. Growth accelerates after transplanting into individual pots.
Flowering
With ideal care, African violets grown from seeds may flower about 6-9 months from sowing. Proper lighting, temperatures, watering, and monthly feeding will encourage faster growth and flowering.
Repotting into slightly larger pots while plants mature helps prevent stunted growth. Give plants plenty of bright indirect sunlight. Maintain even moisture in the potting mix.
Tips for Success
Here are some key tips to help you successfully grow African violets from seeds:
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Start seeds in sterile seed starting mix, not potting soil.
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Keep seeds warm (70-80°F) with grow lights or bright indirect light.
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Cover containers to retain moisture and humidity.
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Allow 1-2 months for emergence; don’t disturb seeds.
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Transplant seedlings when they reach 1-2 true leaves.
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Use fast-draining African violet potting mix.
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Give mature plants 10-12 hours of bright indirect sun daily.
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Water when top of soil is slightly dry; avoid overwatering.
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Apply houseplant fertilizer monthly.
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Repot into slightly larger pots as plants grow.
With proper care, you can enjoy blooming African violets grown from seed in less than a year. Though it requires more time and patience than other propagation methods, nurturing your own plants from seed is a fun and rewarding way to expand your African violet collection.
Are African Violets Easy to Grow?
African violets are such a popular houseplant because they are so easy to grow. Even though you shouldn’t forget about African violets, they are very easy to care for and do best in homes with low humidity and moderate temperatures.
In fact, with just a little care, African violets can thrive for years. When you get one or two African violets and they start to work, you’ll want to get even more. African violets only care about how many hours of light they get each day.
My other houseplants have noticed when I forget to water them for a few days when life gets busy, but my African violets have never seemed to mind. African violets are easy to take care of, which makes them a great choice for anyone with a sunny window sill.
You’ll be glad to know that African violets are also pretty easy to grow from seeds if you want to grow them that way. Starting African violets from seeds is not hard or complicated, but they do need a little more care during the germination stage.
Read 5 Growing Tips to Think About Before You Buy an African Violet Plant to learn more about how to take care of them.
How Do You Start an African Violet?
If you want to grow African violets from seeds, let’s talk about what you need to do.
Step 1: Gather your materials.
Here’s what you need to start an African violet from seed.
- African violet seeds
- Growing medium, like African violet potting mix or seed-starting mix with coir in it
- Small containers
- Tap water
- Piece of paper (about the size of an index card)
- Plastic wrap or a lid
Step 2: Prepare the growing medium.
Before sowing your seeds, you need to adequately moisten the growing medium. Add tap water to your growing mix until it is moist, but not soaking wet. Add a few tablespoons of water per cup of growing mix.
Place the mix into your container (or containers). Aim for at least a ½ layer of growing mix. Gently smooth out the surface of the growing mix, but don’t compact the mix too much.
Step 3: Sow the seeds.
The African violet seeds are very small and can be hard to pick up one at a time. This is where the piece of paper comes in handy. Carefully tap some of the seeds from their envelope onto a piece of paper. If you tap the paper as you move it across the container, you can try to spread the seeds out evenly.
You can do a little more with the paper than if you just dumped the seeds out of the envelope, but the spacing probably won’t be perfect.
It’s not a bad idea to sprinkle in a few extra seeds because not all of them will grow.
Step 4: Create a humid environment.
Once the seeds are in the container, you need to ensure that the environment stays humid. If you have a clear plastic lid for your growing container, place that on top of the container. That way, you can cover the pot with plastic wrap or a bag to keep the growing mix from drying out.
No need to worry about the mix drying out because of the cover. If you see that it seems dry inside the container, take off the cover and mist the growing mix with more water.
Step 5: Keep the seeds at optimum temperature and light levels.
African violet seeds germinate best in environments between 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 27 degrees Celsius). Most homes are in this temperature range, but if you put your seeds somewhere that is usually warmer or colder than this ideal temperature, you may need to make changes to make sure they stay at this temperature.
The seeds need about 10 hours of light a day to germinate. It’s possible to put the containers in a window that gets this much indirect light every day, or you can use lights to give them enough light to begin sprouting.
To use artificial light, place a fluorescent light on a timer about 10 inches above the top of the seeds. You can purchase lights that are specifically advertised as grow lights, but fluorescent lights will work in the same way. Seeds grown with artificial lights generally start faster due to consistent light, but it is not absolutely necessary to use artificial lights if you have a spot that receives indirect sunlight for 10 hours a day.
Sowing African violet seeds
FAQ
How long do African violets take to grow from seed?
Why are African violets so hard to grow?
Are violets easy to grow from seed?
What is the secret to growing African violets?
How long does it take for African violet seeds to grow?
If the pod forms, it takes about two months for it to fully mature. After two months, remove the pod from the plant and carefully crack it open to harvest the seeds. Planting African violet seeds starts with the right growing medium. A popular growing medium for starting African violet seeds is peat moss.
How to plant African violet seeds?
Planting African violet seeds starts with the right growing medium. A popular growing medium for starting African violet seeds is peat moss. Fully dampen the peat moss before you start planting the African violet seeds. It should be moist but not wet.
Can African violets grow from a cutting?
When you start an African violet from a cutting, the baby plant is the same as the parent plant. However, seeds are formed by cross-pollinating two plants. For most varieties, there is no guarantee that the resulting seeds will grow into the same types as the parent plants.
How do you grow African violet seeds from peat moss?
Use a spray bottle to lightly mist the top of the peat moss and then cover the container in plastic wrap. Place the container in a bright window out of direct sunlight or under fluorescent lights. Make sure the peat moss stays moist and spray the peat moss when it starts to dry out. The African violet seeds should germinate in one to nine weeks.