If you don't have your own garden, you might want to plant the violets in your home. But don't be too hasty! Are these plants even suitable for pot and indoor cultivation? And what care do they need?
Are violets suitable for indoor cultivation?
Most species of violets are unsuitable as houseplants because they require cool temperatures. However, the cyclamen and the African violet, which prefer cool or bright and warm locations with high humidity, are suitable as houseplants.
Most violets are unsuitable as houseplants
There are more than 500 species in the world of violets. Most require cool temperatures to encourage flowering. This also includes the well-known scented violet, the forest violet, the pansy and the horned violet.
But the temperature in the apartment is usually between 18 and 22 °C. That's far too warm for most violets! For this reason, most violets are not suitable as houseplants. In addition, the air in the living room is often too dry due to heating. Violets don't like that either.
The cyclamen – popular houseplant
Even though the cyclamen has the word 'violet' in it, it is not strictly speaking a violet plant. It belongs to a different family of plants. But it is often used as a houseplant. It has low demands and attractive flowers.
Cyclamens love cool locations (12 to 18 °C), for example in the hallway or in the bedroom. However, locations in an overheated living room are completely unsuitable. A lot of brightness is also important for these plants.
Care effort – high or low?
It is enough to water the cyclamen regularly, fertilize it and remove dead flowers. After flowering it should no longer be watered. All foliage is also removed so that it can recover in a shady place outdoors over the summer. In autumn the cyclamen is repotted and brought back into the house.
African Violet – another houseplant
The African violet is also not a viola. But this specimen also carries the term 'violet' and is extremely popular as a houseplant. It has the following location and care requirements:
- Location: bright, warm, high humidity
- Substrate: conventional potting soil (€6.00 at Amazon)
- Watering: keep soil moderately moist
- Fertilize: fertilize every 2 weeks
- Pruning: remove spent flowers
Tips & Tricks
If you really want to plant violets at home because you don't have your own garden, don't put them in the warm living room! The bedroom is a better location. It's usually cooler there.
