Use Paintbrush this Way for African Violets for Best Growth, more blooms, and clean leaves. Find how this budget-friendly tool works!
Using a paintbrush to boost African violets’ growth might sound weird, but this tool is really easy and cost-effective. You can use the brush to mimic natural pollination, stimulate growth, and keep those fuzzy leaves dust-free.
Sounding a little too good to be true? We’ll show you how it works!
Why Use a Paintbrush for African Violets?
In their natural habitat, African violets rely on small insects for pollination. But if you’re growing one of these indoors, the pollinators may have a hard time getting to the plant.
Of course, African violets can reproduce asexually through leaf cuttings or division, but you can use a paintbrush to pollinate them and even get dual-colored varieties!
That’s not all; you can use a paintbrush to clean the fuzzy foliage of the plant and keep it dust-free. And the icing on the cake is that making the same motion with just a tad bit more pressure will help your plant grow better! How so? Auxin’s the answer!
Auxin is a plant hormone that helps cell elongation, stem growth, and root development. In the wild, stimuli like the wind or touch can release auxin in plants. We know you cannot bring the wind indoors, but you have the next best thing–brushing the foliage and tender stems! Pretty sweet, right?
How to Use a Paintbrush for African Violets
The first thing is choosing a good quality brush. Get a small, clean, soft-bristled paintbrush; a watercolor brush or makeup brush will work perfectly. Avoid stiff bristles as they may damage the delicate flowers. Once you have it, here’s how to use it on your plant.
1. Use it for Pollination
You need to know the flower before you dive right in with a paintbrush. Each African violet flower has two main parts involved in pollination–the stamen, which produces pollen, and the pistil, the central part that receives pollen.
The stamen is yellow or whitish but may have slight variations in shade. The pistil, on the other hand, is often a lighter color, sometimes whitish or pale green.
Once you’ve identified the parts, gently swirl the brush around the stamen to pick up pollen. You should see a fine, yellowish powder on the bristles when you’re done. Be careful, and lightly brush the pistil of the same or a different flower to transfer it. That’s it!
You will need to repeat this process for multiple flowers to ensure even distribution. Do it once every few days while the plants bloom. Regular pollination with a paintbrush also signals to the plant that it’s thriving, which leads to improved growth and vigor.
2. Use the Brush to Clean the Leaves
If your African violet’s leaves haven’t been looking their best, it’s time to clean them. They will look as good as new and absorb better light for photosynthesis!
These plants have fuzzy leaves, so you’ll have to be gentle. Just use the brush and wipe off any dust particles that you see (don’t skip the undersides) on the leaves. Once you’re done, take a damp cloth and wipe them. And you’re done!
If you water the African violet from the top, don’t forget to move the paintbrush across the leaves to wipe out the droplets so they don’t leave water stains. Since the foliage is fuzzy, water gets trapped easily and can lead to crown and leaf rot if left unchecked. We don’t want that, do we?
Note: You don’t have to do anything else to stimulate auxin production if you’re cleaning the leaves regularly. Just apply a bit of pressure, but be gentle.
3. To Collect Seeds From the Plant
Did you know you could also use a paintbrush to pick seeds and grow more of these lovelies?
Wait for a flower to open and note which one blooms first—this will be the “female” flower. After two or three days, another flower will open, which will be the “male” one.
Once this male bloom is open, use a small paintbrush to swirl around its center to collect pollen gently. Then, brush the pollen onto the center of the female flower. Here’s where you’ll have to be patient–if pollination is successful, a small pod will start forming in about 25-30 days.
In case no pod appears, just pick up your brush and try it again. Of course, if a pod does form, let it mature for about 6-8 weeks, and when it’s ready, you can remove it and collect the seeds inside.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Avoid using a stiff-bristled brush, as it can harm the delicate flowers.
- Overhandling the flowers can also cause damage, so be gentle and careful.
- Always clean your brush before each session to prevent transferring pests or diseases between plants.
Now that you know what a paintbrush can do for your African violets for best growth, it’s time you gave it a try. Do share your experience in the comments below!
