Troubleshooting
African violet problems — and how to fix them
African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha) is generally forgiving once you match its basics, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Brown spots on leaves
Cold water touching leaves — water from below instead.
No flowers
Insufficient light, over-large pot, or natural rest after heavy flowering.
Long necks (bare stems)
Normal as plant ages; repot deeper or behead and re-root the rosette.
Crown rot
Water sitting in the crown — always water from below.
Prevent african violet problems before they start
Most african violet issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
African violet problems — FAQ
Why is my african violet brown spots on leaves?
Cold water touching leaves — water from below instead.
Why is my african violet no flowers?
Insufficient light, over-large pot, or natural rest after heavy flowering.
Why is my african violet long necks (bare stems)?
Normal as plant ages; repot deeper or behead and re-root the rosette.
Why is my african violet crown rot?
Water sitting in the crown — always water from below.