An African violet is just one type of violet, isn’t it? I thought so too, for a long time. In fact, when I bought my African violet, I remember changing the name to violet.
I told people that I had a thought in my house. I didn’t know there were two different types of violets: true violets and African violets. In this quick guide, I’ll explain what makes them different and what makes them similar.
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Are pansies and African violets the same?
It was nothing. You would be forgiven for thinking these two are fags and you could even describe them with the same word as me. But that wouldn’t be right.
Pansies, also called viola (in Latin), belong to the family thoughts Its genus, known as Alto, includes hundreds of species of violets native to the northern hemisphere.
You can also find them in the Andes in South America. They generally do well in temperate conditions and like to be in moist areas.
Still, they like some shade and won’t do as well in full sun. Interestingly, these plants can be perennials or annuals.
They take on small shapes and some look like bushes. violets of the genus Alto they are known as true thoughts.
What about African violets? These belong to the streptocarp sex. They were first available as S. Ionantha, but more varieties have since become available.
They are as varied as true pansies, with varieties producing single and double flowers in several colors.
The differences between the African violet and the violet mainly lie in their gender, root systems, light and flowering preferences, as I will describe below.
Note that any mention of pansies will now refer to real pansies, while African violets will be referred to as such. Let’s start:
African Violet vs Violette: What Are The Similarities?
Do these plants have a common base? Of course they do! Their similarities include:
His love for heat and humidity.
True pansies do well in temperatures between 40 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Since they grow outdoors, they can survive in colder areas, but they won’t survive below 20 degrees.
At this stage, the flowers are destroyed, and the plant suffers from anxiety. African violets also prefer warmer climates and do best at 70 degrees.
You can lower the temperatures as needed. But once it hits 60 degrees, temperatures don’t become ideal and the plant may stop flowering.
Additionally, both plants are moisture-loving and do well in moderate to high temperatures. humidity. If you want them to grow healthier, consider spraying them or growing them among other plants.
are flowering plants
Whether you choose royal purple or African violet, you can expect one bloom per year. Of course, the African violet blooms longer, but they all have beautiful flowers.
You can encourage them to thrive by keeping the soil moist, feeding the plants regularly, and making sure they have ample access. light to start producing buds.
They are regular feeders.
For these pansies to produce healthy flowers, feed them during the growing season. For the real thought, it would be in spring and summer.
You should use a slow-release fertilizer to ensure the plant doesn’t get too many nutrients that can cause leggy growth.
As for the African violet, its growing season is all year round. Therefore, add the specific African violet fertilizer to the potting soil twice a month.
You may also be interested in: Can African Violets Grow Outdoors?
African violet vs violet: what are the differences?
Dad, dad not exactly the case. It turns out that even though these plants have a term in their name, they have distinct differences that affect how and where you can grow them. Which are?
their root systems
True violets have a deep root system. They are best grown outdoors, where their roots can burrow into the ground, allowing them to reach water tables below ground.
These plants grow best in rich, well-drained soil. You can achieve this balance with a peat-based potting soil. If the soil drains too much water, you can amend it with compost to increase water retention.
And if it doesn’t drain enough water, you’ll need to add some coarse material like sand to make it all work. Due to its deep root system, you should avoid overwatering the plants.
They appreciate regular soaking, but when the roots have too much access to water, they drown and die. Fortunately, plants can survive long periods of neglect by relying on their roots to reach for more water on lower tables.
However, they stop producing flowers if left without water for a long time.
Can you plant the real thought inside? These plants are quite hardy and can survive outdoors very well. It is advisable to sow them directly into the ground and let them establish themselves in the ground.
Their deep root systems would struggle to spread in pots and would need to be repotted frequently. Also, some have lagging habits and wouldn’t do very well in a limited space.
Best grown indoors, the African violet is the more common houseplant of the two. It has a shallow root system which allows it to grow well in pots.
The plant likes to be loosely attached to the roots, so you can let it take up most of the space in the pot for a while before moving it to another pot.
However, you should transplant the plant if it has yellowed, drooping leaves, protruding roots, or water gushing to the surface.
What kind of soil does the African violet need? This plant in this case resembles true pansy: it does well in well-drained soil.
Shallow roots do not like to stay in water for a long time. Therefore, it may die due to root rot due to excessive watering.
The best approach is to keep the soil slightly moist to allow foliage and flower production throughout the year.
And since the leaves are sensitive to water damage, the plant should not be watered from the tip, but rather from the base or under the pot.
its flower
Most people who grow African violets, myself included, do so because this plant can bloom all year round. It’s like that!
If the plant has access to enough light, water, and nutrients, it will continue to flower throughout the seasons and may even produce flowers in the cooler months.
But real thought does not show this tendency. Instead, most varieties begin to bloom in spring through summer and no longer flower in fall.
For example, anyone who wants to enjoy a fresh bouquet in every season can turn to the African violet.
Your lighting preferences
Let’s start with the royal violet. This plant is native to temperate regions, so it does well in full sun, bright, direct light for at least 6 hours a day.
You can place it in direct sunlight and it would still survive. But is this the ideal light exposure?
Not exactly. If you want your real pansy to grow well, you must place it in a place with partial sun exposure: bright, indirect light for at least 4 hours a day.
And it should be to the east of the garden, which receives the morning sun instead of the west with the harsh afternoon rays.
What happens if the royal violet gets too much sun? This not only allows the leaves to burn, but also affects the ability to flower.
Flower loss also occurs more quickly due to stress on the plant. Note that this happens at the top USDA area.
Can the African violet grow in full sun? It was nothing. The African violet prefers bright, indirect light and would not grow well in full sun.
So it’s best to keep them indoors, where you can place them near east- or west-facing windows.
You can also grow them under artificial light to further protect them from direct sunlight. Interestingly, most African violets are frost tolerant but cannot withstand direct sunlight.
your appearance
True thoughts come in many forms, depending on your species. Its flowers, which come out in small sizes, usually grow on a single stem and have five petals.
You can tell the species of a particular pansy by looking at the end of the petal, which has a spur. In addition, the colors of the flowers differ depending on the species.
In some cases, the flowers are blue. And in others, the flowers are yellow, white, cream, or a combination of blue and yellow.
Like true violets, African violets also produce flowers with five petals. However, its flowers have an eye on each flower, which is not typical of true pansies.
In addition, these plants have fleshy leaves and bloom all year round.
Under the right conditions, the African violet can bloom continuously for five decades, especially in summer. And if kept indoors, flowering can occur even in the coldest months.
final thoughts
Did you know that real violets offer more than just aesthetic value? These flowers have long been eaten in salads or even as medicine.
However, care must be taken when ingesting the flowers or their derivatives, as in excess they can be toxic. It is always best to stick to the recommended dosage and reserve a few flowers for the bouquet.
Happy gardening!