Learn the best way to prune out old flowers on African violets. It’s a good idea to be careful when you remove the flowers. How to prune the spent blooms off properly so that the plant re-blooms more quickly. Proper pruning allows the plant to put energy into creating new buds and flower stalks.
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Today, I’m going to answer a question that I sometimes get: how to prune these beautiful African violets once they’re no longer beautiful. When they get to the point where they’re all done, someone had asked recently, “What do I do?” This is a leaf that needs to be pruned out too, which I do have a video on how to do that. But this video will answer the question of how to prune the flowers once they’re done.
Apparently, the person was just pruning off the very top, and she said she has all these little stems sticking out, which you can see would happen if I took this top off. This one I’m going to leave because it’s still pretty, but it’s the only one left on the plant during this bloom cycle. However, I do have right in there a little bloom you can see, so that one will be coming on. But I do want to get rid of these old ones.
Now, one really good reason to get rid of these old flowers is so I can make room for the new ones—not only for the ones that are here that are going to be buds and bloom but also so the plant can put energy into making new flower stalks. If all this is here, it’s less likely to bud up and bloom or it’ll take longer to do so. So that’s another good reason to get these out right away.
Another good reason to get these old flowers out is that they attract pests and diseases. It’s also important because they can be unsightly, and you want to get them out of there to encourage more blooms.
When you are pruning, you want to prune all the way down. Follow that stem all the way down and prune it out at the very end. You can see here that I went all the way down to the very edge where it spurts up, starting at the base of the plant.
One thing you can do is take the top part and follow it down to the base of the plant. Then, carefully snip it out. You can also pinch it out with your fingers, but that can be a little more difficult because sometimes you may break leaves while doing this. I prefer to use pruners when I am removing spent flowers, but I will use my fingers when pruning foliage as well.
As you’re seeing, you want some smaller pruners. I put a link below for a smaller hand pruner that’s great for precision work. Once again, going back down to the base, I pruned that one out.
Sometimes when you’re pruning out the spent flowers, you may inadvertently prune out good flowers, which is unfortunate. However, you can put those flowers in a flower press. I have a series on pressing flowers, and I will be adding to that series soon with making some decorative items with the pressed flowers, so that is a possibility if you accidentally cut a flower off.
Another thing you can do is gently pull, and it may come out. But be careful when you do that; you don’t want to pull too hard on the plant and risk pulling up on the roots. It’s pretty easy to pull out a perfectly good flower at the same time—I’ve done that many times.
Those are some tips for doing this. I do see a little bit of a stem in here, so I’m going to get that out while I’m working on this. It probably was from a removed stem. Just some general cleanup as you remove the flowers.
Now we have made way for the little ones that are going to be coming in. As you can see, when you get rid of the old, unsightly flowers, it makes the plant look better overall. Before, when all these were there, you didn’t quite notice this pretty little bloom, but once those were gone, you can really get a good look at that lovely bloom. And that is definitely a beauty—even though there’s only one left, it’s a beauty, and there will be lots more coming on as well.
So there you go for how to prune out the flowers on African violets when they’re done blooming.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pruning African Violets
How do I prune African violets when they are done blooming?
To prune African violets, start by removing the old flowers to make room for new blooms. Follow the stem of the spent flower all the way down and snip it at the base of the plant.
Why is it important to remove old flowers from African violets?
Removing old flowers allows the plant to focus its energy on producing new flower stalks, encourages more blooms, and prevents the attraction of pests and diseases.
What tools should I use to prune African violets?
It is best to use smaller hand pruners for precision work when pruning spent flowers. You can also use your fingers to pinch out foliage, but be cautious to avoid breaking leaves.
Can I accidentally prune good flowers while removing spent ones?
Yes, it is possible to inadvertently prune good flowers. If this happens, you can press the flowers and use them for decorative items later.
What should I do if I pull out a good flower while pruning?
If you accidentally pull out a good flower, try to minimize damage to the plant’s roots and consider using a flower press to preserve the bloom.
How can I keep my African violets looking their best?
Regularly prune away old and unsightly flowers, which not only improves the appearance of the plant but also allows the beautiful blooms to stand out.
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