How To Save An African Violet From Dying?

Regardless of the thoroughness of care and the number of specimens in the collection, there are cases where violets die. Damage by pests and diseases or care errors can completely destroy an individual, and sometimes several at once.

If it is too late to take treatment measures, all that remains is to reanimate the dying violet. How to reanimate violets at home depends on the problem due to which the plant dies, on the experience of the grower, and the materials available.

how to save an african violet from dying

From our article you will receive the most detailed information about why the violet disappears, how to reanimate it in different cases :

  • how to save a violet if it is flooded;
  • what to do if the violet is burnt in the sun;
  • how to save a violet that has lost its turgor and in other difficult situations.

why African violet is dying?

When growing African violet, everyone can have mistakes. Sometimes there may be problems that do not depend on compliance with all the rules of care, the place, and conditions for growing African violet.

If the violet dying, the reasons for this may be the following:

  • hypothermia or temperature drops;
  • waterlogging or lack of moisture;
  • sunburn;
  • rot;
  • parasites;
  • bad soil;
  • infections.

Each problem has a treatment, if you do not have time in time, you have to reanimate the flower.

Check solution to Powdery Mildew On African Violets.

Causes of wilting and death of african violet indoor

The main factors leading to the death of a flower consist of mistakes made in the care, diagnosis, or treatment. If we talk about mistakes that can be made in room conditions, the following three are the main ones.

Conditions of detention

Improper care is the most common factor leading to disease and death of violets.

Some growers are frivolous about the choice of soil and plant their African violet in the wrong substrate. The consequence of such a decision can be root disease, and when the problem is started, rotting begins.

Hypothermia and freezing

The most dangerous periods for the occurrence of such a problem are spring and autumn, under certain conditions, this can happen in winter:

  • Spring:
    • when the heating is turned off, the temperature in the house can drop sharply, the pots on the windowsills can freeze from the window, especially if the leaves touch it;
    • even if the heating has been turned off for a long time and the temperature is suitable, there is a risk of spring temperature drops if a cold snap leads to problems.
  • autumn – unexpected frosts, late turning on of heating, or simply the temperature is below 16 degrees in the house;
  • winter – in cases of cold window sills, low room temperature or heating shutdown, the plant can freeze and get sick.

Even a short-term drop in temperature can harm the plant, especially if it is accompanied by an increase in humidity. In such conditions, fungus or rot can form and develop rapidly.

Important! Draft, especially in cold weather, can lead to severe hypothermia and is the onset of flower disease.

Solar influence

Violets and sunlight are some of the stumbling blocks for budding florists. On the one hand, the violet needs a lot of bright lighting, and on the other hand, they do not like direct sunlight, as they quickly get burned and this leads to the death of the plant.

It is necessary to avoid placing flowerpots on the southern windows, and if there are no other options, then they need to be shaded.

There is also a risk that African violet will get sunburn even on the west or east windows. This is possible in summer, when the sun is active, or in winter, if the windows are on the first floor, and there is a lot of snow outside.

See also Get African Violet To Bloom Again.

how to save an African violet from dying?

Plant resuscitation can vary greatly depending on the cause. If a violet disappears through factors associated with indoor conditions, then it is quite simple to reanimate them, but it is important to follow all the rules.

Hypothermia and freezing

What to do if the violet is frozen depends on the area affected by the cold:

  • leaves and stem (with growth point damage) :
    • remove all affected leaves. If the african violet is frozen from above, the top with the growing point is cut off to deciduous rows that have not suffered, or have not suffered much. The sections are treated with activated carbon;
    • the flowerpot is moved to more comfortable conditions;
    • caring for a resuscitator does not differ from caring for healthy plants, but watering must be slightly reduced;This is what frozen leaves look like.
    • to speed up the resuscitation process, you can water the flower with the addition of dressings every week;
    • after a while, stepchildren form on the stem, near the leaf axils ;
    • if possible, the violet deepen, for contact between the ground and the stepsons. Under such conditions, they can form roots prior to separation from the mother plant;
    • when the kids grow up to a size allowing them to root separately, their is deposited;
    • follow-up care is consistent with the care of young violets .
  • root system:
    • the frozen violet is taken out of the pot, the roots are examined, the spoiled ones are cut off;
    • if there are enough healthy roots, the plant is planted in a new smaller pot, moved to a warmer place and cared for as usual;
    • in a situation where there are very few or no roots at all, the violet needs to be rooted:
    • rooting a violet in the ground, the lower part of the stem is stripped from the leaves and planted in the ground. Care should be more thorough, you need to maintain constant humidity, but not overmoisten the earthen lump. The temperature should be at least 20 degrees;
    • rooting a seedling in water, leaf stripping is also done. The bottom of the stem is placed in the water and monitored until roots are formed. Then they are planted in a pot.

Advice! The upper part of the violet can be rooted in sphagnum moss, hydrogel, and peat. You can also use Kornevin to speed up the process.

Sunburn

With the harmful effects of sunlight, only the upper part of the violet suffers. Ways to reanimate a room violet depends on the severity of the damage:

  1. A few leaves burnt in the sun can simply be removed ;
  2. If the core is affected, the violet must be completely reanimated :
    1. Cut off the entire affected top, it is imperative to leave a few leaves, or their healthy parts. All cuts are sprinkled with charcoal;
    2. Care corresponds to the usual, except for the amount of moisture, it is reduced;
    3. After a while, stepchildren appear;
    4. After growing up, the children are planted in separate containers, having previously rooted.

Improper watering

Moisture-loving African violet reacts very seriously to improper watering. If there is a lack of moisture or overflow of violets – what to do:

  • excess moisture – if there is always a lot of water, the roots rot and the violet dies. What to do if a violet is flooded with water:
    • the drenched violet is taken out of the pot, all damaged roots are cut off;
    • if there are enough roots, the plant is moved to an appropriately sized pot. A badly damaged violet is cut off at the bottom;
    • then rooting is carried out in the most convenient way:
      • in the ground;
      • in water;
      • in moss;
      • in a hydrogel;
      • in peat.
    • rooted plants are planted in permanent soil after the roots appear at least 1.5 cm.
  • lack of watering overdried violet loses its turgor, then the leaves dry out and soon the roots suffer, usually irreversible damage to the core occurs last 
  • How to revive a violet at home in this case:
    • if only the leaves are affected, watering will normalize and everything returns to normal;
    • in case of damage to the root system, transplanting and putting in order the irrigation system is enough to improve the condition;
    • in a neglected state for resuscitation, it is necessary to cut off the living apex and root it. After rooting, the plant is transplanted to a permanent place.

Wrong subtract

Improperly selected or old soil can lead to the decay of the root system.

In this case, the plant can only be saved from death by re-rooting it:

  1. The top is cut off;
  2. Remove the lower leaves;
  3. The stem is placed in water (you can use sphagnum moss or hydrogel);
  4. After the appearance of roots, from 1.5 cm in size, the top is planted in the ground (you can immediately root it in the ground, but this does not allow you to observe and control the process;
  5. Transplant in the pot longer do as required. Plant care should be consistent with juvenile care.

Advice! Healthy leaves obtained by preparing the tops for rooting can be used for propagation.

Are you in search of a solution for African Violet Leaves Turning Brown.

African Violet withers after transplant

Often after resuscitation, especially if the African violet had to be simply transplanted, there may not be an improvement or even a deterioration in the condition of the flower begins. These processes are manifested by general lethargy, loss of turgor, and a change in the shade of the leaves. In this case, how to save a violet that withers?

It is important not to panic and assess the condition of the individual, because it may just be a slow improvement after an illness, or it may be an incorrect diagnosis and/or incorrect treatment.

If the plant just slowly comes to its senses or there is no improvement at all, you should think about changing the resuscitation method or just watch and wait. For example, if the rooting of the top is carried out in the ground, it should be done in water. If African violet gets worse, it is urgent to inspect all parts of the flower for any problems not found and take measures to improve the condition.

If the violet withers after transplanting, check the correctness of your actions.

Also, wilting can begin due to improper care. If the reanimated plant is ever moistened, then even if this was not the problem initially, the excess moisture will play a negative role in the treatment.

Attention! Having determined why the violet withers and how to save it, you should immediately start resuscitation actions!

Can dried violet flower be saved?

A very dangerous condition for violets is a lack of moisture. A dried violet is difficult to reanimate, if it is not completely gone, there is a chance.

In such a situation, it is important to identify the living parts of the plant:

  1. If drying began from the core , which happens extremely rarely, it is necessary to cut it off, then, with proper watering, stepchildren are formed;
  2. The plant that has dried up from the bottom is transplanted, removing all damaged parts, if necessary, the top is re-rooted.

If you notice changes in the state of the flower in time and take action, it may not come to resuscitation. Sometimes the reason for the lack of the right amount of moisture is not forgetfulness, but planting in a new pot, using a new type of watering, or other changes in care, in which the owner does not even notice that the plant is not receiving moisture.

See also Can You Repot African Violets?

Use of succinic acid for African violet

Succinic acid in floriculture is used for plant nutrition and their rehabilitation after diseases. For violets in the process of resuscitation, this dressing is also applicable.

Succinic acid stimulates the formation of new roots, improves the condition of the leaves, and the overall health of the flower. Succinic acid is diluted in water according to the manufacturer’s instructions and watering is carried out or the necessary part is simply rooted in this solution.

Conclusion

Having examined the reasons why African violet from dying, and how to save an African violet from dying, it becomes clear that the reanimation of a flower is a rather long process, and its result completely depends on the diligence of the owner.

To achieve success, it is not necessary to be a very experienced florist, it is enough just to correctly determine the method and follow all the rules. It is also important not to be afraid to start over with a different method if the desired improvement is not there.

I am an avid plant enthusiast and horticulture aficionado with a deep passion for houseplants. With years of nurturing green companions, my expertise in caring for indoor foliage is well-rooted. Through my journey, I've cultivated insights into optimal plant care, propagation techniques, and creating vibrant indoor ecosystems. Join me as we explore the verdant world of houseplants together. Let's turn your living space into a thriving oasis of botanical beauty. Connect with me on admin@houseplantspro.com and Facebook and explore more at Houseplantspro. 🌿🪴