Question: All I am getting are new leaves. How often do violets bloom?
Answer: Given the proper care and conditions, African violets can bloom nearly constantly. If your plant is producing new, healthy, leaves, but no blooms, the likely causes are either insufficient light and/or excess crowns or suckeres. Properly grown, unless this is a species or trailing variety, your violet should have only one “crown” or growing point–the place from which new leaves are formed. It should also not have any “suckers”. These are the beginning of small crowns, new growth that will appear as small pairs of leaves, along the stem in the leaf axils. This is where flower buds could be forming, but won’t if your plant is busy producing suckers at those points. You don’t need a lot of leaves to produce bloom. Like most plants, African violets produce bloom from the new growth, generally the first (youngest) three rows of leaves. This means that more than 4 or 5 rows, or 12-15 leaves, is unnecessary. Limiting foliage grown will encourage blossom production (the plant will have no choice). If you’ve done this, ask yourself if there is enough light. You want to provide as much bright light as possible without exposing the plant to hot, or intense, sunlight. If growing under artificial lights, try moving the plant closer to the bulbs or leaving them under the lights for an hour or two more.