“Frozen in Time” – How Long Can Violets Bloom?

Every beginning flower collector wonders how long violets bloom indoors. Experienced gardeners know from experience what a joy it is to discover a new flower stalk on a new violet, promising to soon become its first flower. The first bloom is always a small miracle, a piece of magic, and although the violet often doesn't show its full potential during its first bloom, it doesn't detract from the joy and tenderness.

How long do beautiful violets bloom?

Everyone wants their violets to bloom for as long as possible. Or better yet, to "freeze" them in time—so they'll remain there forever. However, as experience shows, this is practically impossible. Each violet has its own flowering period, strictly measured by nature. We can, of course, influence its duration a little, but that's all.

First of all, the duration of blooming depends on the type of flower. Perhaps you've heard terms like "falling flowers" before? But this is only a visual effect. The term "falling flowers" means that the spent flower simply falls off, sometimes completely separating from the stem, leaving you with a "brooch," albeit one that doesn't last very long. And when we see a violet on a windowsill strewn with fallen petals, we immediately think it's finished blooming. But this is not the case—it continually grows and blooms new flower stalks. These violets can also form a beautiful cap of flowers above the leaves, but it's less long-lasting because the flowers are constantly falling off. A typical example of such a short-lived bloom is the Georgia Sunset variety.

There are also long-lived flowers – they can bloom practically without stopping for several months, for example, violets of the Frozen in Time variety (Frozen in Time is a very appropriate name, accurately describing the character of the variety) and the Yukako chimera (its first bloom can last almost 11 months).

In general, to prolong the blooming period of your favorite violets, you need to care for them properly. Everything needs to be in moderation: light, water, air, and humidity. Flowers will burn in too much sun, and if there's not enough sun, the violet will weaken and quickly stop blooming. Watering should be very careful – don't let them dry out or overwater (violets are very picky about watering, especially during flowering).

Avoid exposing blooming violets to drafts or open windows in summer. Before flowering, the violet (if it's not a new addition to your collection, but a well-deserved veteran) should be repotted in fresh soil. Experts recommend repotting violets at least once a year (or better yet, every six months), as during this time they "use up" all the nutrients from the soil and need fresh nutrients.

Another way to help violets prolong their blooming is to use various fertilizers and supplements. Be very careful when using them, as overdoing it can harm the plant.

Read also all about propagation of chimera violets.

We wish your violets lush, cap-like blooms for several months – may they delight their owners.