- Author: Daniel Patrick
- Published: July 7, 2022
African violets (Steptocarpus ionanthus) are extremely popular houseplants that look amazing when cared for adequately. The vivid colors of the beautiful flowers can dramatically brighten any room in the house.
It’s relatively easy to grow African violets at home, even if you’re a beginner, as they don’t require much maintenance. They have a few specific requirements, but you shouldn’t have any difficulties as long as you provide suitable growing conditions and a bit of ongoing care.
Providing optimal growing conditions starts with choosing the correct container. Using the best pots for African violets is vital if you want strong and healthy plants. Plenty of good options are available, and I’ve written this post to help you pick the best of them.
I provide details on several of the best African violet pots below. I also explain what I look for when choosing pots for African violets and offer advice on repotting these plants.
Overview of the Best African Violet Pots
| Pot | Material | User Rating |
| Vanavazon 6-Inch Self-Watering Pots | Plastic | 4.6 |
| Window Garden Aquaphoric Self-Watering Planters | Plastic | 4.6 |
| Mkono Self-Watering Plastic Planters | Plastic | 4.4 |
| Atri Ceramic Glazed Porcelain Flower Pots | Ceramic | 4.4 |
| T-Trove Round African Violet Self-Watering Pots | Ceramic | 4.7 |
| My Gift White Ceramic Planter | Ceramic | 4.4 |
| Vensovo Large Terra Cotta Plants Pots With Drainage Hole | Clay | 4.6 |
| Yishang Shallow Terracotta Clay Pots | Clay | 4.7 |
| D’vine Dev Terracotta Pots for Plants | Clay | 4.8 |
How to Pick the Best Pots for African Violets
Understanding the needs of a plant is key to growing it successfully. You should consider those needs when deciding where to grow a plant, what soil to use, how often to water it, and so on. A plant’s needs are also the primary consideration when choosing which pot to grow it in.
When choosing the best African violet pots, there are a few main factors to consider.
- Drainage: African violets require moist soil, so you must regularly water them. The soil must only be SLIGHTLY moist, though, as the plant will start rotting if it’s too wet. As such, a well-draining pot is essential.
- Porosity: A porosity that allows for easy flow of air and moisture is best for African violets.
- Size: Keeping your African violets underpotted will help them bloom and stay healthy. However, keeping them in larger pots will allow them to grow more quickly. The optimal pot size depends on what you’re trying to achieve and the current status of your plants.
- Value: Even the very best pots for African violets are not super expensive. It’s still important to consider value for money, though.
These are the factors I gave the most weight to when making my recommendations. Other considerations mostly come down to personal preferences. For example, you’ll probably want to consider the color and overall appearance. You should also decide whether you want a self-watering pot.
Let’s now look at my recommended pots for growing African violets. I’ve split them into three groups based on material.
Best Plastic Pots for African Violets
Plastic pots are typically among the most affordable plant containers. They also tend to be lightweight and thus easier to move around, and they come in many different shapes, styles, and colors.
A potential problem for growing African violets in plastic pots is that the material is not porous and doesn’t help with drainage. However, plenty of options come with drainage holes in the bottom. Many also have a built-in saucer bottom that collects the excess water as it drains.
Here are my top-rated plastic pots for African violets.
Vanavazon Self-Watering Pots
- Size: 6 inches
- Available Colors: Black, Gray, White
- Shape: Cylindrical
These Vanavazon self-watering pots are perfect if you’re looking for an elegant style. They look great, and they’re also very durable. Their double-layer system allows for storing water in the bottom part of the pot for self-watering.
The design is slick, and the setup is straightforward to use. These are definitely among the best African violet pots for beginners.
Window Garden Aquaphoric Self-Watering Planters
- Size: 5 inches
- Available Colors: Charcoal Matte, Chartreuse Matte, Ivory Matte, Ivory Gloss
- Shape: Square
These pots are more like complete grow kits as they come with fiber soil included and a self-watering system. Inexperienced plant carers who want to be sure their African violets survive will love these.
Read the instructions, follow them carefully, and you should end up with thriving plants. Your flowers will receive enough water even if you can’t get the job done manually. The interesting range of colors is another good reason to consider these pots.
Mkono Self-Watering Plastic Planters
- Size: 3/4/6 inches
- Available Colors: Black, White
- Shape: Cylindrical
I love the Mkono self-watering planters for several reasons. The durable material and the smart system make them easy to use. Once you fill up one of these planters, there’s enough water for ten days. That’s awesome for busy people who want to grow African violets indoors.
The Mkono brand is very respected in the gardening world. We recommend several of their products on Gardenzy.com, including one of their products for easy indoor gardening.
Many Mkono products look great, and this pot is a fabulous example as its simple design is a classic. Available in black and white, it will fit well with most interior styles. You should easily find a spot where it looks good while it helps your African violets blossom.
Best Ceramic Pots for African Violets
Ceramic pots are also a viable choice for African violets. You must be cautious with them, though, and not make the same mistake many beginners make. It’s not uncommon for people to think that ceramic pots are the same as clay pots, but that’s not exactly the case.
While ceramic and clay pots are not ENTIRELY different, ceramic pots are typically glazed with lacquer. This “extra layer” affects the porosity and means they don’t allow as much moisture out. So, if you’re growing African violets in ceramic pots, drainage holes are essential.
One significant advantage of ceramic pots is that they can be very aesthetically pleasing. Here are my recommendations for growing African violets.
Atri Ceramic Glazed Porcelain Flower Pots
- Size: 6 inches
- Available Colors: White
- Shape: Round
This pot features two pieces. The inner piece where the African violet goes is made of clay, which allows the soil to stay moist but not too wet. The outer part is much larger and is made of durable porcelain. It holds the water used for self-watering of the plant.
As long as you refill the outer pot periodically, you won’t need to maintain a regular watering schedule. Your African violets will get all the water they need.
I really like the clean design of these pots and expect they’d look great in any home. They’re a little more expensive than most of my other recommendations, but I think the price is justified.
T-Trove Round African Violet Self-Watering Pots
- Size: 6 inches
- Available Colors: Ocean Blue, Jade Green, Tropical Red
- Shape: Round
These ceramic pots are made specifically for African violets. They come with an inner pot made from plastic, where the plants go. The outer pot, made from durable ceramic, stores the water for self-watering.
The combination of great looks and efficient watering at a great price makes these pots easy to recommend.
MyGift White Ceramic Planters
- Size: 4 inches
- Available Colors: Ribbed White, Scalloped White
- Shape: Round
This MyGift planter is perfect if you’re looking for a smaller ceramic African violet pot. It has a classic style with its round shape and white color. There are two patterns to choose from, and they both look fabulous.
There’s no self-watering system in this one, so you’ll need to be prepared to stick to a regular watering schedule for your African violets. There’s a drainer at the bottom, with a saucer to collect the excess water.
This option is the cheapest of my recommended ceramic pots for African violets.
Best Clay Pots for African Violets
Clay or terracotta pots are generally great for African violets. They tend to have excellent porosity to help keep the soil well-drained, which reduces the risk of rot and other problems that soggy soil can cause.
However, the efficient drainage of clay pots means it’s vital to monitor your plants and make sure the soil doesn’t get too dry. You’ll likely have to water your African violets a little more often when using clay pots.
That’s the only notable downside, though, so clay pots are definitely an option for growing African violets. Let’s take a look at the best of them.
Vensovo Large Terra Cotta Plant Pots With Drainage Hole
- Size: 6 inches
- Available Colors: Brown, Gray, Pink
- Shape: Cylindric
This classic terracotta pot is the kind of simple pot for African violets that I’d expect many experienced gardeners to prefer. It looks great in the traditional brown color, and there are some other color options if you prefer something lighter.
Thanks to the drainage hole and saucer, you’ll be able to give your African violets proper watering without drowning them. Just bear in mind that there’s no self-watering system, so you’ll have to regularly check whether your plants need water.
Yishang Shallow Terracotta Clay Pots
- Size: 5 inches
- Color: Brown
- Shape: Round
This Yishang product is a classic clay pot that comes in brown. There’s no self-watering system included, so you’ll have to maintain the soil moisture manually.
On the bright side, the pot offers good drainage thanks to the material used and the hole at the bottom. There’s a saucer to collect the excess water, too. Overall, this is a nice and simple pot that offers premium quality at a reasonable price.
D’vine Dev Terracotta Pots for Plants
- Size: 4.2/5.3/6.5 inches
- Color: Brown/Dark Brown/White
- Shape: Round
This product is a set of three planter pots of varying sizes. The unglazed material makes the pots breathable, allowing for good air and moisture flow.
There’s nothing spectacular about these pots, but they’re durable, attractive, and reasonably priced. They also come with detachable saucers and drainage holes. What more do you need? These are not just among the best pots for African violets; they’re ideal for a wide range of succulent plants.
How to Repot African Violets
African violets have a long lifespan, and you can enjoy their bright colors for several years if you care for them properly. You’ll need to repot them periodically to give them the best chance of long-term survival.
I recommend repotting African violets roughly every six months or so. This does depend on the growth of the individual plant, though, so you’ll need to monitor things and judge when repotting is necessary.
African violets are typically at their best when slightly underpotted, but you don’t want to let them become completely root-bound. If you see roots showing at the pot’s rim or drainage holes, that’s the most obvious sign that your African violet has outgrown its current pot.
Once you’ve identified that the time is right, here’s how to repot an African violet.
- Prepare the new pot: Start by preparing the new pot with a fresh layer of soil. Make a hole in the middle of the soil that’s big enough for the plant you’re repotting.
- Loosen the plant from its old pot: Carefully press the sides of the pot to a wall or another hard surface. Doing this should loosen the soil enough for you to take the plant out. If it doesn’t, use a knife or small trowel to break up the soil gently.
- Remove damaged leaves: Look for any leaves that are unhealthy or growing in an unorthodox way and cut them off. This will help the long-term health of the plant.
- Remove damaged roots: Roots that are showing any signs of rot need getting rid of.
- Add the plant to the new pot: Place the plant in the hole you made and pack the fresh soil around it. Water deeply and make sure the soil is draining well.
Follow these steps and your plants should continue to bloom so you can enjoy their beauty. Just remember to use the best pots for African violets when repotting, too!
Check out the following resources if you’d like to learn a little more about these houseplants.
- African Violet Society of America (Official Website)
- African Violet Facts and Characteristics (University of Minnesota)
If you’re interested in some alternatives to African violets, take a look at the following.