African Violet Leaves Are Wilted After Being in the Cold

Temperature Preferences

• African violets grow in the tropical Usambara Mountains and cannot tolerate cold or hot weather. Violets should not be exposed to temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit or in excess of 80 degrees F. Even a short exposure to cold below 60 degrees F or heat could have adverse consequences. However, some varieties need slight temperature variations -- up to 10 degrees difference either side of 70 degrees -- in order to flower best.

Consequences of Cold Exposure

• Cold exposure has worse effects for African violets than heat exposure. The best case scenario for a cold-exposed plant is that flowering stops and growth slows for awhile. However, severe symptoms can appear. The violet goes into shock, and flowers and leaves wilt. The plant can develop mushy areas on stems and leaves, and rot will set in to these areas. If mushiness develops at the crown of the plant where the leaves emerge, that usually means the death of the plant. A longer-range effect on the plant, especially if the violet was wet when exposed, is that the cold makes the plant more likely to get crown rot, a fungus disease which is usually fatal.

First Aid

• If you were aware of the cold exposure, immediate action is needed. Put the plant in a warm area of around 70 degrees F. Examine the plant for any signs of mushy, destroyed tissue. Remove any damaged leaves or stems. Stop watering and fertilizing the violet. Keep the humidity high by putting the plant in an appropriately sized clear plastic bag, and either zip the bag shut or secure the top with a tie. Examine the plant daily for any mushy spots. If you are lucky, the plant will begin to perk up within a few days. It should be kept in the bag for a week. If you were unaware of the cold exposure, your African violet has a lessened chance of survival, since plants often don't show symptoms for 36 hours after the occurrence. Follow the bagging technique already described but check frequently for damage or plant death.

Continuing Care

• If the African violet looks recovered after a week in the clear plastic bag, it can be returned to its normal position and care schedule. Analyze why the cold exposure happened so its recurrence can be prevented. Inspect the plant frequently for signs of crown rot, since it is now more susceptible to the disease. Symptoms of crown rot are mushiness and dark color, either brown or black, of the center of the plant that is above the soil, and darkened wilted leaves. To prevent spread of the disease it is best to discard the plant in its pot to remove infected soil and contaminated pot.