You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!
Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.
Login
If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.
So many African violets… so little shelf space! Fortunately, there’s a solution. Welcome to the charming world of MINIATURE African violets.
Miniature African violets come in the same remarkable variety of colors, blossom forms, foliage types, and so forth that you'll find in their bigger siblings. But they take up only a fraction of the space on your plant shelf or windowsill. For me, that does not mean less space devoted to plants. It does mean I can fit a lot more pretty little bloomers into the same amount of space! Although they look dainty, they are as tough as standard sized plants. A few care tips will make it easy for you to add a "mini" or two to your own indoor plant collection!
Miniature African violets (AVs) are genetically distinct from their larger counterparts. AVs come in three recognized sizes: standard, semi-miniature, and miniature. When mature, semi-miniatures grow to less than 8 inches in diameter and miniatures to less than 6 inches, with many being much smaller. Although you can force a standard AV to maintain a small leaf size and small diameter by dwarfing it in a little container, it may never bloom, and it may eventually become unhappy and die. Standard African violets are hybrid varieties descended from the species Saintpaulia ionantha. Mini and semi-mini AV hybrids resulted when the smaller species Saintpaulia pusilla or Saintpaulia shumensis were added to the genetic mix. [1]
Grooming, repotting, and propagating techniques are pretty much the same for African violets of all sizes. The smaller scale of the mini AVs can make them a little challenging to work with. You may find that it's easier to use the tip of a pencil rather than your finger to dislodge suckers. Little embroidery scissors are useful for trimming away flower stalks and leaf stubs. Although I usually bottom water or wick water, for occasional top watering it's useful to have a plastic squeeze bottle or watering can with a small spout.
Overpotting is one of the most common mistakes people make with African violets, and it's especially easy to do with mini AVs. Putting a miniature AV into a 4 inch pot won't make it grow larger, but it may lead to "wet feet" and root rot issues. When you repot a mature mini, it's generally best to put it back into the same size pot, trimming the bottom of the root ball a bit if you need to plant it more deeply to cover a bare "neck." Most miniature plants will never need anything larger than a 1 ½ or 2 inch diameter pot (3 inches for semi-miniatures). As with standard African violets, the diameter of the plant can be up to three times the diameter of the pot. African violets don't need or want extra room around their roots. Repotting a mature plant isn't done to give it a bigger pot but simply to refresh the soil and to give the plant a boost.
Miniature AVs like the same light potting mix that standards seem to prefer. I use a little more than one part perlite to one part good quality soil-less potting mix. I also add just a pinch of polymer moisture crystals, without which I'd probably have to water these little every 4 to 5 days rather than once a week. Follow directions with the moisture crystals; adding too many will make the little plant heave right out of the pot as the crystals expand with water. Miniatures will appreciate repotting more often than the annual repotting that seems sufficient for most standards.
Don't be intimidated by the delicate stems and little leaves of miniature African violets. They're just as easy to propagate as the standard size ones. Plastic "clamshell" takeout containers with holes in the top (for ventilation) and bottom (for drainage) make great propagation trays for the tiny leaves or suckers of miniature AVs. Plantlets can potted up initially in 1 inch plastic condiment cups with a hole in the bottom for drainage. When the roots fill the cup, pot up into a slightly larger container.
Some hybridizers specialize in miniature AVs. Dr. Ralph Robinson (of Rob's Violet Barn) introduces several new miniature or semi-mini varieties each year. His varieties are noted for their strong blooming and are frequent ribbon-winners at shows. H. Pittman is another favorite hybridizer of miniature AVs. The symmetrical, pointed foliage of a Pittman's AV looks so neat and elegant, even when it's not in bloom. The "Storytella" series of minis have the added attraction of fun fairytale names. I've also found miniature "teacup" violets at my local nursery, but named varieties of minis often seem to bloom better for me.
Whether you already have dozens of standard size African violets or have never grown an AV before, I hope you'll try a couple of these diminutive charmers!
Photographs by Jill Nicolaus.
[1] Article by Dr. Leonard Perry, extension professor at the Univesity of Vermont
Also, check out the great information in the culture pages at Rob's Violet Barn
About Jill M. Nicolaus
Better known as "Critter" on DG, Jill gardens in Frederick, MD. This week, I've been cutting lavender, putting up pluots (plum-apricot fruits), and pulling weeds (always, LOL). I love being outside in the cooler morning -- coffee cup in one hand, watering hose in the other -- watching the birds and butterflies among the flowers.(Images in my articles are from my photos, unless otherwise credited.)
Posted by docgipe (from NORTH CENTRAL PENNSY, PA) on April 28, 2008 at 8:46 AM:
I drilled my first teacup without breaking it for the first minature I ever rooted. I am watching the flea markets for small interesting pots.
Nice article.......you got me into these cute little violets. Thank you.
...
Posted by critterologist (from Frederick, MD) on April 28, 2008 at 9:04 AM:
Good for you! They're adorable in teacups... I usually don't have the nerve to drill, though.. I just use the cups as cache pots and pot the plant in a little solo cup inside. That works well for bottom-watering, too. I use the cups from Grandma's china set, in fact (and of course I'd never drill those!).
Come on over to the AV forum... we need to see photos of your new little plants!
...
Subject: Every time...
Posted by cathy4 (from St. Louis County, MO) on April 24, 2008 at 2:24 PM:
Every time I read one of your articles, I find myself running to the garden store, gotta have it! Thanks for great information, as always.
...
Posted by critterologist (from Frederick, MD) on April 24, 2008 at 6:57 PM:
Thanks, Cathy! I think you'll fall in love with these little guys... they're just too sweet!
...
Posted by planolinda (from Plano, TX) on April 24, 2008 at 7:12 PM:
i love those little guys! i will be on the lookout for some
...
Posted by Syrumani (from San Antonio, TX) on April 24, 2008 at 7:51 PM:
See? And now I'm also browsing the Rob's Violets store as well . . . but not being able to get any for another two weeks is going to drive me nuts! I've been wanting to try mini's for along time . . .
...
Posted by critterologist (from Frederick, MD) on April 24, 2008 at 8:16 PM:
Rob's isn't the only good vendor for minis... but he does hybridize a lot of neat varieties! You'll find other vendors in the Garden Watchdog as well as on the vendor list in the resource "sticky" at the top of the AV & Gessie forum. :-)
...
Posted by Syrumani (from San Antonio, TX) on April 25, 2008 at 8:52 AM:
I never realized how confusing Garden Watchdog could be . . . but, for a first step, I did place an order w/Rob's. I put 4 on the list, so we'll see! Exciting! I've only had standard size noid's up to this point . . .
...
Posted by critterologist (from Frederick, MD) on April 25, 2008 at 8:57 AM:
I hope you'll have a blast with your new plants! Which ones did you get? You were a lot more restrained than I was with my first Rob's order... I found his site in late fall and managed to make myself wait for cheaper spring shipping, but by then I'd drooled over the website all winter and chosen enough plants to completely fill one of his shipping boxes, LOL. I have this thing about "well, if it's not going to cost more shipping, maybe I should buy another plant..." Saves me a lot of money, I'm sure -- hahaha!
...
Posted by Syrumani (from San Antonio, TX) on April 25, 2008 at 9:00 AM:
Well, I didn't want to spend too much of DH's bonus . . . I figure, start small, get used to it, then get more! Anyway, I put on the list: Cherry Soda, Fuzzy Naval, Ice Ripples, and Ramblin Lassie.
...
Posted by critterologist (from Frederick, MD) on April 25, 2008 at 10:21 AM:
Oh, I'm glad you included a trailer in the mix! Rob's Cherry Soda is one of the best varieties I've ever grown, too. You're wise to start with a few... I tend to get carried away, I know!
...
Posted by cathy4 (from St. Louis County, MO) on April 25, 2008 at 10:29 AM:
Don't we all, haha!
...
Posted by Syrumani (from San Antonio, TX) on April 29, 2008 at 12:00 PM:
Oh, my . . . they're on their way! Will be here in a day or two! WooHoo!
...
Posted by critterologist (from Frederick, MD) on April 29, 2008 at 12:19 PM:
Photos! We will need to see photos! :-)
...
Posted by cathy4 (from St. Louis County, MO) on April 29, 2008 at 12:21 PM:
I was looking at the almost bare plant stand in the kitchen where I start my seeds indoors. They are outside now, what shall I do with all that empty space?? Hmmmm.......
...
Posted by critterologist (from Frederick, MD) on April 29, 2008 at 12:26 PM:
Cuttings! It's time to start taking cuttings of something, surely... :-)
...
Posted by cathy4 (from St. Louis County, MO) on April 29, 2008 at 12:33 PM:
I have a varigated willow bush that I would love to take cuttings from, I'm going to have to read up on it. It is so cute in the spring when the wind blows the fluttery leaves. I don't have room for a willow tree, so this fill that need, lol.
...
Posted by Syrumani (from San Antonio, TX) on April 29, 2008 at 12:46 PM:
I have cuttings at my desk at work from two different african violets - they've been sitting in water since mid-February . . . I'll have to bring my camera in tomorrow and take pic's!
...
Posted by Syrumani (from San Antonio, TX) on May 1, 2008 at 10:51 PM:
They're heeeeeeerrrrrreeeee!
I'll post on the AV forum though, since I can't post pictures here.
...
Posted by critterologist (from Frederick, MD) on May 1, 2008 at 10:56 PM:
Hooray! I'm looking forward to seeing your new cuties!
Miniature African violets come in the same remarkable variety of colors, blossom forms, foliage types, and so forth that you'll find in their bigger siblings. But they take up only a fraction of the space on your plant shelf or windowsill. For me, that does not mean less space devoted to plants. It does mean I can fit a lot more pretty little bloomers into the same amount of space! Although they look dainty, they are as tough as standard sized plants. A few care tips will make it easy for you to add a "mini" or two to your own indoor plant collection!
Miniature African violets (AVs) are genetically distinct from their larger counterparts. AVs come in three recognized sizes: standard, semi-miniature, and miniature. When mature, semi-miniatures grow to less than 8 inches in diameter and miniatures to less than 6 inches, with many being much smaller. Although you can force a standard AV to maintain a small leaf size and small diameter by dwarfing it in a little container, it may never bloom, and it may eventually become unhappy and die. Standard African violets are hybrid varieties descended from the species Saintpaulia ionantha. Mini and semi-mini AV hybrids resulted when the smaller species Saintpaulia pusilla or Saintpaulia shumensis were added to the genetic mix. [1]
Grooming, repotting, and propagating techniques are pretty much the same for African violets of all sizes. The smaller scale of the mini AVs can make them a little challenging to work with. You may find that it's easier to use the tip of a pencil rather than your finger to dislodge suckers. Little embroidery scissors are useful for trimming away flower stalks and leaf stubs. Although I usually bottom water or wick water, for occasional top watering it's useful to have a plastic squeeze bottle or watering can with a small spout. 
Overpotting is one of the most common mistakes people make with African violets, and it's especially easy to do with mini AVs. Putting a miniature AV into a 4 inch pot won't make it grow larger, but it may lead to "wet feet" and root rot issues. When you repot a mature mini, it's generally best to put it back into the same size pot, trimming the bottom of the root ball a bit if you need to plant it more deeply to cover a bare "neck." Most miniature plants will never need anything larger than a 1 ½ or 2 inch diameter pot (3 inches for semi-miniatures). As with standard African violets, the diameter of the plant can be up to three times the diameter of the pot. 
African violets don't need or want extra room around their roots. Repotting a mature plant isn't done to give it a bigger pot but simply to refresh the soil and to give the plant a boost.
tle plant heave right out of the pot as the crystals expand with water. Miniatures will appreciate repotting more often than the annual repotting that seems sufficient for most standards.
They're just as easy to propagate as the standard size ones. Plastic "clamshell" takeout containers with holes in the top (for ventilation) and bottom (for drainage) make great propagation trays for the tiny leaves or suckers of miniature AVs. Plantlets can potted up initially in 1 inch plastic condiment cups with a hole in the bottom for drainage. When the roots fill the cup, pot up into a slightly larger container.
Some hybridizers specialize in miniature AVs. Dr. Ralph Robinson (of Rob's Violet Barn) introduces several new miniature or semi-mini varieties each year. His varieties are noted for their strong blooming and are frequent ribbon-winners at shows. H. Pittman is another favorite hybridizer of miniature AVs. The symmetrical, pointed foliage of a Pittman's AV looks so neat and elegant, even when it's not in bloom. The "Storytella" series of minis have the added attraction of fun fairytale names. I've also found miniature "teacup" violets at my local nursery, but named varieties of minis often seem to bloom better for me.
Whether you already have dozens of standard size African violets or have never grown an AV before, I hope you'll try a couple of these diminutive charmers!
