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Why Is My African Violet Wilting? | Everything You Need to Know!

African violet is an ideal plant for any space in your house.

It is a delicate, lovely houseplant that is easily maintained and can be grown all year long. However, when the winter comes, you may wonder, “Why is my African violet wilting?”

Why? Because it wilts! It’s a common problem with African violet that people face.

There could be a lot of problems if you notice that your plant is drooping or otherwise appears unhealthy. Overwatering, low sunlight, and iron deficiency are major causes of wilting African violet.

This article will help you know what makes your African violet leaves curl, limp, and turn brown.

And once you know the situation, it will help you revive your African violet plant in no time.

So, keep on reading to learn more!

African violet drooping—why is my african violet wilting
Why is my African violet wilting? – Image via Reddit.

Why Is My African Violet Wilting?

African violets are tropical plants that are typically grown indoors.

They thrive in warm, stable temperatures and moist soil. Although African violet maintenance is simple, the plants can wilt in cold weather, at unsuitable soil moisture levels, or when they have a crown or root rot.

Although they are typically only kept as houseplants, African violets can grow as perennials outdoors in plant hardiness zones 11 and 12, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Overwatering

If you are wondering why is my African violet wilting, overwatering is the leading cause.

  • If the soil is overly wet or watered frequently when dry, it causes the leaves to droop.
  • Your African violet will wilt if the soil is too damp or soggy, as there isn’t enough oxygen for the plant to breathe.
  • So, always confirm the soil is damp but not soggy.

One of the most crucial things you can do to care for your African violet is to water it properly.

Temperature

However, if the plant is still wilting, even after you have hydrated it properly, there may be other reasons.

Maintain a temperature of 60–80 degrees Fahrenheit, as most plants thrive in this temperature range.

The too-high or too-low temperature in your home could be one potential factor that answers why is my African violet wilting.

Lighting Conditions

Low light levels cause wilting in African violet plants, so you should move them closer to windows or someplace where they receive adequate light.

Eastside windows work best to provide indoor plants with indirect bright sunlight.

Morning and evening lights are essential for most houseplants. Try to shade your African violet from the direct midday sunlight.

In an attempt to find more light for photosynthesis, your plant will lengthen toward the light source.

Nutrient Deficiency

Last but not least, if your plant is drooping, but its leaves are not wilting or soft, it may be due to iron deficiency.

Adding an iron supplement to your watering routine or cutting back any yellowing leaves and replanting them in new soil are two simple ways to fix this.

How to Fix a Drooping African Violet?

Here’s how you can fix a drooping African violet due to overwatering.

  • Stop watering the plant first if you notice limp, soft, or mushy leaves resulting from overwatering.
  • After that, gently remove any limp, mushy, or squishy leaves, and take the plant out of the pot.
  • Remove the old soil gently.
  • See whether any roots are particularly decayed or rotted.
  • If you see root rot and think this is why your African violet leaves are turning brown, the good news is that decayed root is not the reason for leaf browning.
  • However, if you notice a lot of mushy or brown roots, root rot may be to blame for your African violet’s weak, soft, or mushy leaves.
  • Cut the rotting, mushy, or brown roots carefully, if there are any.
  • Then repot that plant in new, dry soil and wait for at least a week before watering again.
  • Lastly, resume your watering routine gradually.

The bulk of the roots may already be infected with root rot if it is old.

Other leaves will turn dark or mushy as the root rot quickly spreads to the crown and kills the African violet within a week.

If so, put down the leaves to preserve the plant’s variety and to create leaf buds.

Watch this video to save African violet after overwatering:

These Methods Will Help You Save Your African Violets After Overwatering – YouTube

Why Are My African Violet Leaves Drooping After Repotting?

Are your African violet leaves drooping after repotting?

There’s a great potential that you overwatered the plant. Keep African violets soil evenly moist but not very humid. Your plant may suffer if you water it excessively or insufficiently.

You must know how to revive an African violet to prevent this problem.

  • Always combine part of the old potting soil from the earlier pot while repotting (if there are no signs of root rot). Use 2/3 of the old and 1/3 of the fresh soil and provide the plant with a small buffer.
  • With this, the plant doesn’t receive excessive amounts of nutrients all at once, which could otherwise cause it to wilt and possibly die.
  • After repotting, check for indications of root rot if wilting continues.
  • Suppose yellow leaves appear on one side of the African violets even after planting them in potting soil designed specifically for them. In that case, it is a sign that the roots aren’t getting enough oxygen from the water.
  • Your plant may have spider mites if none of the remedies works, and it continues to wilt despite your best efforts.
  • It indicates that there may be more going on with your plant than just wilting leaves.
  • Another cause of African violet wilting is the plant outgrowing its container.

That’s all!


Conclusion

African violet is a little flowering plant with broad leaves that grows in tropical and warm temperate climates.

For those rookie plant lovers, who cannot take care of plants, African violets make excellent houseplants as they are simple to grow. You can simply repot your plant if you have been wondering why is my African violet wilting. If African violet leaves droop even after repotting, diagnosing it can be difficult.

If your plants are not growing, it is always a thing to worry about.

Therefore, there are several causes for a drooping plant, and it’s critical to determine the cause before taking any action.

As you finish this article, you already know what you need to do about your African violet; you can go ahead to revive your plant.

Regards.