Can African Violets Change Color? (And How To Fix This)

Are you wondering if African violet can change color? If yes, then you are in the right place. In this article, we will answer this question and give you some valuable tips about preserving your colorful African violet.

Generally, plants don’t change color on their own. External environment changes are usually behind this change. Or it could be something related to the genetics of the plant, especially if the plant is hybrid or genetically modified.

In the following paragraphs, we will see if African violet does change color and what you should do if this happens.

Sounds good?

Let’s get started!

African violet changing color and turning pink

Can African Violets Change Color?

African violet can change color. In fact, this plant is known to change its original color or look darker than usual when it blooms. Once the bloom is over, this plant will revert back to its original color.

African violets can also change color if they are hybridized. This is usually the case with the bi-colored and tri-colored ones. The new hybrid plant inherits both parents’ traits when it is born. However, when the hybrid plants flower, they often revert to one of their parent plants.

However, if the plant is not hybrid or does not return to its original color after blooming, you should worry about this phenomenon.

Also, if African violet changes its original color from violet or blue to yellow or brown, you should worry about this change. In this case, you should check if the environmental conditions, such as humidity, temperature, and light intensity, are optimal for this plant.

How big can an African violet get? Read our article to get the answer.

Now, let’s go over the environmental factors that can cause African violet to change color.

Why Do African Violet Change Color?

The main factor that impacts African violet color is light intensity. In fact, light intensity directly influences the amount of chlorophyll, which is the pigment responsible for giving plants their original color.

When a plant receives less light, it will produce less chlorophyll. As a result, it will be less colorful and paler in color. On the other hand, if you provide the African violet with extra light, it will look more colorful and vibrant.

Excess fertilizer can also cause the African violet to change color. In fact, when you overfertilize this plant, it tends to grow very fast, especially at first. This results in tiny, weak roots that cannot support the plant’s weight.

When the roots are not strong enough, they will not be able to transfer enough water and nutrients to the rest of the plant, which makes the leaves and stems less colorful.

In addition, abrupt temperature changes can also cause African violet to change color. 

Finally, the ph level of the soil or water can also be responsible for color change in African violet. This happens because the plant’s leaves contain anthocyanin. These pigments change color according to the pH level of the environment. 

Acidic conditions turn anthocyanins into red pigments, while alkaline conditions make them look blue.

Now, I don’t want you to worry about the color change in your African violet because there are many solutions that you can implement to resolve this issue. And that’s what we will talk about in the next section.

Is your African violet growing sideways? Here is why and how to solve this issue.

What Should I Do If My African Violet Changes Color?

The first thing you should do if your African violet changes color is to test the soil pH. If the soil is alkaline, add a few drops of vinegar to a cup of water and pour it into the soil. 

To test the pH of your soil, you can use pH test kits. These kits are available online and in local gardening stores. 

To use a pH test kit, start by watering the soil, then dip the pH test stripe into the soil and wait for a few seconds. The strip will start changing color according to the acidity of your soil. If the soil is acidic, the kit will turn red. If it’s not acidic enough, the stripe will be blue.

Measuring soil acidity will also help you verify whether your plant is overfertilized. In fact, If you apply excessive amounts of fertilizer to your garden, it will make the soil more acidic. This is because most fertilizers contain nitrogen which can be easily converted into nitrate, which increases soil acidity.

If you have been fertilizing your African violet heavily and found that the soil pH is lower than 6.5, then you should raise the pH by using lime, peat moss, wood chips, or compost.

If the soil pH is not the reason behind the color change of your African violet, then you can check if the light and temperature are optimal for this plant.

If the temperature is outside the range of 65°F to 80°F, you should react accordingly. You should use a heating pad to increase the temperature if it’s below 65°F. On the other hand, if the temperature is above 80°F, you should install windbreaks to reduce the temperature,

Windbreaks can block direct sunlight and create a shaded microclimate for your plants.

Shade cloth is another effective way to keep your African violet cool. Shade cloth acts as a natural air conditioning unit and helps your plant to stay cooler.

Finally, you can check whether your plant is getting enough light. If the plant grows in low light, try to move it to a sunny spot or use grow lights. 

Is your African violet smelling bad? Click here to discover why and how to get rid of this problem.

How do I keep My African violet colorful?

Exposing an African violet to the sun to keep it colorful

You can do a few key things to keep your African violet colorful. Here are some tips to help you keep your plant looking its best:

  1. Provide the right light conditions. African violets prefer bright, indirect sunlight. Avoid placing them in direct sunlight, as this can scorch their leaves and cause the flowers to fade. A south-facing window is a good location for your plant as long as it is not in direct sunlight.
  2.   Water properly. African violets are sensitive to over-watering, so letting the soil dry out slightly between watering is essential. Water from the bottom by filling a tray with water and setting the pot in the tray. This will allow the plant to absorb water through the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot.
  3.   Use suitable soil. African violets prefer loose, well-draining soil. You can use a commercial potting mix specifically designed for African violets or make your own by mixing equal parts of peat moss, vermiculite, and perlite.
  4.   Fertilize regularly. African violets need regular fertilization to keep them healthy and produce colorful blooms. Use a fertilizer specifically designed for African violets, and follow the instructions on the package for the correct amount and frequency of fertilization.
  5.   Pinch off spent blooms. As your African violet blooms fade, pinch off the spent blooms to encourage the plant to produce new ones. This will help keep your plant looking full and colorful.

Following these tips can help keep your African violet healthy and colorful. With proper care, it will provide beautiful blooms for many months to come.

Click here to check our latest article about soil acidity preferences for an African violet.

Conclusion

African violets can change color when they bloom if they are hybridized or because of environmental changes.

You can fix the color change of an African violet only if it’s caused by environmental changes. You can increase the soil pH, adjust the temperature, and expose the plant to more light.

If your African violet is hybridized or changes color when blooming, you should not worry about it because the plant will return to its standard color after it finishes blooming.

So, this was the end of our gardening tutorial for today. We hope that you learned something new from this article and that you are not worrying anymore about the color changes of your African violet. If you have any questions or suggestions, please let us know.

Thank you very much for reading this article, and we wish you luck in your plant care endeavors.

If you found this content helpful, don’t hesitate to check our latest article about droopy African violet.

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