2024 was named The Year of the African Violet by the National Garden Bureau and I am so here for it. The cheerful, compact, easy-care African Violet is a plant Ive always had a few of for the last 30+ years. They should come with a warning though. Theyre very addictive!
As well as my many mature African Violets, I have a converted Ikea cabinet with 20 or so variegated and girl leaf propagations growing right now, tucked up nice and warm and humid under grow lights. And no, I did NOT think ahead on what Ill do with them all once they get big, so I guess its African Violets on everyones gift list this year. I love how a simple single-leaf cutting can be popped in some Starter Mix and voila! Hello cute new plant. PS: These mini pots with humidity domes are superb for African Violet propagation and baby plants.
However, these adorable plants seem to be hit-or-miss with plant parents. Either you find them super-easy, or you kill them. There certainly are some African Violet rules that make them MUCH easier to care for once you know what to do (and not to do), and how to read their leaves. Here are the rules, African Violet tips and tricks, the care essentials covering watering, substrate, light, temperature, humidity and more, plus trouble-shooting tips throughout, including how to get your African Violet to flower. Lets jump in…
Amazon links in this post may be affiliate links which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through links (but doesnt change the price you pay). Learn more
African violets are prized for their velvety green leaves and vibrant blooms But when those leaves start turning brown, it can be cause for concern. Brown leaves are usually a sign that something is wrong with your plant’s care or environment
The good news is that brown leaves can often be prevented and treated if you catch the problem early Here are the most common reasons African violet leaves turn brown, along with solutions to get your plant back to health
Overwatering
Too much water is one of the top reasons African violet leaves turn brown These plants prefer soil that is evenly moist, but not soggy or wet. If the potting mix stays saturated for too long, it can cause root rot and make the leaves prone to browning
Fix it: Allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Water only when the top inch of soil becomes dry to the touch. Make sure the pot has drainage holes and that you empty any water that collects in the saucer beneath.
Sunburn
Direct hot sunlight can scorch and burn African violet leaves, causing brown spots or crispy edges. These plants prefer bright, indirect light instead.
Fix it: Move your plant to a location with bright, filtered light. East or west-facing windows are often ideal. Close blinds or curtains to diffuse harsh midday sun.
Cold Drafts
African violets dislike cold drafts from windows, AC vents, or doors. Exposure to cold air can shock the plant and turn leaves limp and brown.
Fix it: Keep your plant away from drafty areas and maintain indoor temperatures above 65°F. Move it away from cold windows or use curtains to block chilly air.
Old Soil
Over time, potting mix can become depleted of nutrients and overly acidic. This can cause African violet leaves to brown, wilt, or become stunted.
Fix it: Repot your plant in fresh soil every 6-12 months. Use an African violet specific mix for best results.
Water Quality
Tap water containing chemicals like chlorine or chloramines can burn and damage African violet leaves. You may notice brown spotting or browning along the edges.
Fix it: Use distilled, filtered, or rainwater for your African violets. Let tap water sit out overnight before using to allow chlorine to dissipate.
Fertilizer Burn
Too much fertilizer can build up salts in the soil that essentially “burn” the plant’s roots and leaves. This shows up as brown leaf edges or tips.
Fix it: Flush the soil to remove excess salts. Let water run through the drainage holes for a few minutes. Avoid overfertilizing and follow package directions.
Pest Problems
Insects like mealybugs, aphids, and mites can all feed on African violet leaves. Their feeding causes stippling, spotting, or browning.
Fix it: Inspect plants closely, especially along the undersides of leaves and at the base. Remove any pests you see by hand or use insecticidal soap. Isolate infested plants.
Age
As part of the natural growth process, African violet’s lower leaves will eventually yellow, brown, and fall off. This allows new leaves to form at the center. It’s normal for the oldest leaves to brown with age.
Fix it: Remove the declining leaves promptly. This conserves the plant’s energy so it can focus on new growth.
How to Prevent Brown Leaves
While brown leaves sometimes happen, you can take steps to prevent many causes:
- Water properly – allow soil to partially dry between waterings.
- Provide bright, indirect light from an east or west window.
- Keep away from AC vents, windows, and drafts.
- Repot in fresh soil every 6-12 months.
- Use distilled, filtered, or rainwater.
- Avoid overfertilizing.
- Inspect regularly for pests.
- Remove old leaves as they age and brown.
When to Worry About Brown Leaves
In general, an occasional brown leaf here and there is not cause for concern. But if brown leaves are widespread, increasingly common, or accompanied by wilting, it likely signals a cultural or pest problem.
Take action right away if you notice:
- Multiple leaves rapidly turning brown
- Brown spots spreading from one leaf to others
- Widespread browning and leaf loss
- Browning combined with drooping or wilting
With quick intervention, you can often restore African violets with brown leaves back to vigorous health. Just be sure to tackle problems early before they progress. With proper care, you can enjoy your African violet’s stunning blooms and lush foliage for years to come.
The dangers of wet leaves
A bit like the warning in the movie Gremlins: Never get your African Violets leaves wet (and if you do, always make sure to dry them). If you have a mature or full plant, its tricky to top water without the foliage getting wet, but if that does happen, have a paper towel on hand and dab the leaves dry right away, paying special attention to the crown.
Coming from a humid, sometimes very wet rainforest habitat in the wild, of course their leaves get wet, but its the staying wet thats the problem. Indoors the conditions mean they dont dry out as fast as they would outdoors in the wild. I personally prefer bottom watering or wick watering rather than risk getting the leaves wet when top watering (more about all watering methods coming up).
Water sitting in the crown of the plant in particular – where the stems of the leaves are tightly bunched together – can quickly lead to stem rot or crown rot. A common problem caused by the fungus Pythium or Phytophthora which can attack the roots and crown of African Violets, and tends to spread fast. Ive lost more than one African Violet to rot and its often a sentence to a quick death. Wet leaves can also develop botrytis or mildew. If youre wanting to clean the leaves of your African Violet, instead of water just use a small, soft brush. I use a soft toothbrush for mine.
How to water an African Violet
As you can probably guess from their natural rainforest habitat, African Violets prefer not to fully dry out. You want to maintain a lightly, evenly moist substrate (but never soggy!). Once you find the right combo of watering and substrate it makes watering African Violets so much easier.
There are 3 common methods for watering African Violets. My preferred method is bottom-watering. Theres also top-watering and wick-watering. More about each method coming up. For all methods its best to use room temperature to lukewarm water. Too cold and you can shock their delicate roots and leaves, causing leaves to curl down and develop brown or yellow leaf spots, called ring spot or leaf spotting.
6 Tips For Caring for African Violets!
FAQ
Should I cut the dead leaves off my African violet?
You do not have to remove them, you can just trim off the dead parts. Half a leaf can still help the plant grow.
What does an overwatered African violet look like?
There are a number of reasons why your African Violet leaves are turning soft, limp or mushy. If your African Violet plant has been over-watered, the soil will retain too much water. This retention of water will cause the leaves and /or leaf stems to turn soft, limp or mushy.
How to treat brown spots on African violet leaves?
To help the plant, prune off the dead stems and leaves and isolate them from other plants since fungal issues can spread quickly between plants. Place the plant somewhere with more air movement and more light, and treat the plant with a copper fungicide.
What do burnt African violet leaves look like?
In the most severe cases, too much sunlight can actually be fatal to African Violets. Leaves have brown spots on them. When this symptom is caused by too much sunlight, it is called Leaf Scorch, a form of necrosis.