How to Grow Browallia - Planting & Caring

By Sharon & Team   /   Herbaceous Category   /   2023

Browallia, also known as bush violets or amethyst flowers, are annual plants that are easy to grow and make excellent bedding plants. They are native to Central and South America and have been introduced to Europe and North America. Browallias are usually grown as annuals, but they can be perennial in warmer climates. The plants have small, blue, violet, or white flowers that bloom in summer and fall.

How to Grow Browallia - Planting & Caring

Growing Easiness

Is it easy to grow Browallia plant? Unless you have a really green thumb, it's probably best to avoid Browallia. They're difficult enough to keep alive as it is, let alone grow. Even experienced gardeners have a hard time with these plants. They require a lot of attention and care, and even then they often don't make it. If you're looking for a challenging plant to grow, Browallia might be the one for you. Otherwise, you're better off sticking to something a little easier.

Plant Size

How big can it be? Since these plants are usually grown as annuals, they don't usually get too big. However, some varieties can reach a size of up to 30 – 50 cm in height. This makes them great for adding a splash of color to any garden or landscaping project.

Growth Rate

How fast is the growth? When grown in ideal conditions, Browallia plants can reach up to 2 feet in height. They prefer full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. browallia plants are annuals, so they will only live for one growing season. However, they are very easy to care for and can tolerate a wide range of conditions.

Browallia Basic Knowledge

Plant Form Herbaceous
Family Solanaceae
Origin Mexico, Colombia

Lifespan, Perennial or Annuals

How long is the lifespan? known as Amethyst flower or African violet, it is a beautiful little plant that can brighten up any room. The plant is difficult to maintain after flowering, usually thrown away.

Ideal Temperature

What is the ideal temperature? Since it is a tropical plant, it requires high temperatures both in summer and winter, at least 75.2 degrees Fahrenheit in summer and not below 59 degrees in winter.

Humidity

What about the humidity? The Browallia plant cannot be sprayed with water because it will cause the plant to rot. The plant does best in an environment with high humidity, such as a bathroom.

Light Requirement

What amount of light this plant needed? Because this plant prefers scattered light, a south-west or southeast window is best. The plant does best in bright, indirect light but can tolerate some direct sun if it is not too hot.

Soil Composition

What is good soil for Browallia? Unless you want to grow Browallia in water, you will need to find potting soil that is suitable. The plant grows best in soil that is fertile and well-drained with a neutral reaction, similar to the substrate for violets. A good potting mix for Browallia plants is two parts garden land, two parts humus (leafy earth), and one part coarse sand or perlite. You can also use a substrate based on peat. Always use a pot with a hole in the bottom to allow for proper drainage.

Watering Time

How much I must water Browallia? When to water the Browallia plant? How often to water the Browallia plant? The Browallia plant needs frequent watering during the summer, especially during the flowering period. Every 3 days should be sufficient. However, in winter the plant will need moderate watering.

Fertilizing and Nutritient

About fertilizer. known as the amethyst flower, the Browallia plant is a heat-loving annual that produces violet, blue, or white blossoms. It is a self-seeding annual, so it will come back year after year in zones 10-11. If you live outside of these zones, you can still enjoy this plant by planting it in a pot and bringing it indoors during the winter months. When it comes to fertilizing your Browallia plant, you will need to do so every two weeks from May to September. Use a liquid fertilizer with a reduced nitrogen content and dilute it by half with respect to the recommended dose.

Reproduction

How to reproduce Browallia? Because this plant doesn't produce flowers in winter, the only way to propagate it during this time is through cuttings. The apical cuttings should be placed in a mixture of wet peat and perlite. It's best to do this in the summer. After ukortneniya, the plant will need to be pinched several times as it grows. You can also propagate seeds from January to April at a temperature of 77°F by sowing them in a mini-greenhouse in a mixture of peat and sand. A month after the emergence of the sprouts, the plants can be transplanted.

Bloom

Why Browallia won't bloom? known as amethyst flower, this annual plant is part of the family Solanaceae and is native to Central America. Growing to a height of about 30 cm, it has purple flowers with a white star-shaped center. Browallia is a heat-loving plant and thrives in full sun. It is drought-tolerant and does not require much care.

Transfer or Repotting

How much I must water Browallia? So, the plant is propagated by seed. In this case, the seedlings are grown in a seedling box or pots. The soil for planting should be loose, breathable and nutritious. The seed is sown in it in early April at a depth of about 1 cm. Water the seedlings regularly so that the soil does not dry out. When 2-3 true leaves appear on the seedlings, they pick them up and plant them in separate pots. When the seedlings grow, they are transplanted into the open ground.

Caring The Browallia

How to care the plant? The plant needs support especially when young and the shoots are weak. If the shoots are too long, it is better to pluck them so that the plant can flower better. The plant is also suitable for hanging baskets.

Pests & Challenges

What is the challenge when caring Browallia plant? Unless kept very small, it becomes spindly and unkempt looking. Aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, and scale insects are all pests that can infest Browallia plants.

Toxic & Poisonous Type

Are Browallia poisonous? known as amarillis, bush violet, and jewelflower, is a genus of about 40 species of flowering plants in the family Solanaceae, native to tropical and subtropical America. Many species are popular garden ornamentals because of their attractive flowers. All parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested. Browallia plant can cause symptoms ranging from redness, itching and rash to painful blisters and skin burns.