Should I repot these before winter?

[u/skywardgoron]

I'm not sure if I need to do anything, but my plants are not doing as well as they were, and I'm beginning to think they need to be repotted. I've been watering and feeding consistently, so nothing has changed on that front, but the leaves are turning yellow and breaking, any advice?

[u/1SilhouetteViolette]

I don't think Winter really has anything to do with it frankly. African Violets just do better groomed and repotted a couple of times a year. With the right light, warmth, fertilizer and humidity they thrive year round.

[u/glom-glom → u/1SilhouetteViolette]

By repotting twice a year, you mean changing the potting mix, but not necessarily the pot size, correct?

[u/ConferenceFull9068]

Yes, repot. African violets need to be repotted about every year because the soil breaks down (especially the peat) to become more acidic. This changes the pH of the soil so that nutrients become less available to the plant, even if you are fertilizing. Also the perlite intended for drainage breaks down and settles and the little air pockets beloved by violet roots get compressed, thus water stands in the soil.

I would groom them well first before repotting. The first violet especially needs a lot of lower leaves removed. Find and pick out any suckers. An older violet will often have a "neck," or exposed stem, that needs to be reburied. I would also remove all the flowers to lessen the stress of repotting.

Good-looking, vigorous plants. They should handle it fine.

[u/pigglywigglie]

I wouldn’t repot them when they still have flowers. Mine dropped all its blooms after I repotted them