How to Use African Violet Pots

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Emerson Creek Pottery’s African Violet Pots are the perfect home for African violets. A favorite among flowering house plants, African violets are easy to care for and come in a variety of colors and sizes. 

African Violet Overview

African violets (Saintpaulia) are herbaceous perennial flowering plants native to eastern tropical Africa. Several species and subspecies are endangered, and many others are threatened because their native habitats are being cleared for agriculture. 

Despite their name, African violets are not a close relative of true violets. Saintpaulias are available in regular and miniature varieties, ranging from 2.4-6 inches tall and 6-11.9 inches wide. Wild species generally have violet, purple, pale blue, or white flowers, but modern hybrids come in a rainbow of colors, including red, yellow, and green.

African Violet Care

African violets are native to tropical, mountainous areas of Africa and thrive under the cover of other flora, according to the Violet Barn. For this reason, they make excellent houseplants and thrive in indirect light, though they will flower in low light. 

Saintpaulias are very sensitive to temperature changes, and their leaves are likely to rot if they are exposed to too much humidity. Cool water can also change the color of the plant’s leaves. The Farmer’s Almanac suggests bottom watering with room-temperature water because it keeps the leaves dry. 

Because of their tropical origin, they will need to be moved away from drafty windows during the winter and put in a warmer, more humid environment until the weather warms up.

For more information on taking care of your African violets, visit VioletBarn.com. 

African Violet Pots

Emerson Creek Pottery’s African Violet Pots are made from durable, non-toxic stoneware. Each pot includes two pieces: an inner pot and an outer pot.

Inner pots are fired at a lower temperature to keep the clay porous. You may notice some cracks in the glaze of the inner pot. This “craze” is a result of the lower firing temperature. You may also notice slight discoloration between the inner and outer pots because of the different firing temperatures.

Plant your violet in the inner pot using a peat-based “soilless” mix with 30-50% course vermiculite or perlite, according to the Violet Barn, and fill the outer pot with room-temperature water. The porous inner pot nestles into the outer pot, allowing the plant to “drink” from the outer pot. Check on the water level in your outer pot every week or so to make sure your plant has plenty of water.

Keep your violets in small pots and repot once a year to mix in fresh soil. According to the editors of the Farmer’s Almanac, “Plants should be shifted to larger pots as they grow, but keeping African violets slightly root-bound can encourage them to bloom. The optimal time for repotting is after some leaves have wilted a bit.”

Our African Violet Pots are available in a variety of glazes and hand-painted designs, including fan-favorite Field of Iris, Virginia-inspired Dogwood, and patriotic American Blue. Choose the glaze or design that best suits your home decor and complements the color of your plant’s flowers. All of our pottery is made by hand in the heart of Central Virginia using sustainable, non-toxic materials.

If you already have one of our pots or are planning to purchase one, we’d love to see a photo of it in action! You can send photos of your plants in their Emerson Creek Pottery pots to Marketing@EmersonCreekPottery.com or tag us on Facebook (@EmersonCreekPotteryVA) or Instagram (@Emerson_Creek_Pottery).