I've been growing African violets for over five years and using self-watering wick pots for the past two. To see whether wick pots genuinely improve growth, I grew genetically identical African violet plants using two different watering methods for around 7 months and compared their growth, leaf size, flowering, and overall performance.
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I’ve been testing growing African violets in regular pots, against these small self-watering pots, and the growth difference has been surprising.
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Self-watering wick pot experiment showing increased leaf size and more vigorous growthDo Wicking Pots Improve African Violet Growth?Yes. In my comparison using genetically identical African violet plants grown under the same conditions, the plants in self-watering wick pots produced:
The regular-pot plants still grew healthy, but they were smaller, produced fewer flowers, and grew more slowly. Comparison of African Violets Grown in Wicking Pots vs Regular PotsThe wick pots cost more than standard nursery pots. However, after using both methods for years, I find the reduced maintenance and improved growth easily justify the extra cost. I lose fewer plants to drying out, spend less time watering, and achieve more reliable flowering. This table summarises the key differences observed in the experiment, comparing growth rate, flowering, watering needs, and overall plant performance under identical growing conditions.
Are There Any Downsides to Wick Pots?While wick pots performed better in my comparison, they are not perfect. The main disadvantage is the higher upfront cost compared to standard plastic nursery pots. They also work best with a very free-draining potting mix. I use roughly 50% perlite and 50% potting mix, which helps prevent the soil from staying too wet. Wick pots can also encourage faster growth, which means plants may need repotting sooner than those grown in regular pots. For me, the reduced watering and improved flowering easily outweigh these minor drawbacks, but regular pots are still a perfectly viable option for growing healthy African violets. Recommended Self-Watering Wick Pots for African VioletsBased on this experiment, self-watering wick pots were the clear winner for faster growth, larger leaves, and more consistent flowering. If you want to try the same setup, I recommend using small wick pots (around 7–10cm wide) with a built-in water reservoir. These are ideal for African violets and help maintain steady moisture without constant watering.
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| More African violets for comparison |
I got my first African violet around May 2021, which is over 5 years ago now. I have grown many African violets from leaf cuttings. Some I grew in wicking pots like these ones, others I grew using regular watering. I have a few plants in each type of pot, the photos you see below are all plants I grew. I still have some of these plants, others I have since sold.
The wicking pots come in different colours, I have some white and some grey and I like them both. The regular pots I use are about 10cm across, I tend to buy them in bulk like this as I find them perfect for many different plants that I grow.
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| Regular pot (left) showing slower growth vs self-watering wick pot (right) with larger leaves |
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| The same plants as above - from a different angle |
The potting mix I use for African violets
I tend to do things cheap, and I only want to do things that work long term. You certainly could use specialised African violet potting mix, but it often seems expensive. Instead I make my own blend of potting mix and perlite, it is inexpensive and clearly effective, as shown by the length of time my African violets have been thriving.
I buy a cheap potting mix and mix it with perlite. I mix them together in a 50:50 mix, but sometimes include more perlite than soil.
It's very easy to make my own mix like this. I get a pot full of perlite and tip it into an ice cream container, another pot full of potting soil, mix them by hand, and I have two pots worth of African violet mix ready to use. This works over the long term, I have many African violets growing in this mix and have never had issues with rot or damping off.
My Simple African Violet Soil Mix (Budget-Friendly)
I don’t use expensive specialty African violet mixes. Instead, I’ve had long-term success using a simple blend of standard potting mix and perlite.
- 50% standard potting mix
- 50% perlite (sometimes slightly more perlite)
This creates a light, well-draining mix that works especially well with wick pots.
Supplies I use:
My African violet wick growing vs regular pot experiment
I took a leaf cutting of an established African violet. Once it had some leaf babies, I let them grow until large enough to handle easily, then I divided them.
Interestingly, I find I can replant the mother leaf several times and get extra baby plants. This is particularly useful when dealing with rarer varieties or varieties with sentimental value.
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| African violet leaf babies before division, all grown from the same parent leaf for a controlled comparison |
By using leaf babies from the same mother leaf I was using genetically identical plants. When I divided them they were the same age, and were much the same size. This helps any differences I noticed to be based on growing conditions rather than genetics or age.
I used exactly the same potting mix, that I mixed on the same day, and transplanted them all the same day. Some were planted into regular pots, some were planted into wicking self-watering pots, that was the only difference. I don't have any photos of transplanting these because my hands get all wet and grubby while dividing African violets.
I grew the plants side by side in the same tray (I grow them in a tray so I can move them easily) for around 7 months. All plants in this experiment were grown side by side under identical light conditions, mostly they were in the tray near a window, some days I moved the tray outside into bright shade. The difference in vigour and size was noticeable from early on.
African violets grown in regular pots
The African violets grown in regular pots grew well. They are all healthy, and grew large. I have grown plenty of African violets like this, it works well for me.
I tend to buy these pots in bulk as they look good and are perfect for growing many plants including herbs and succulents and ferns.
Growing like this means I have to water often. If I go away, I tend to put them in a tray with a tiny bit of water, and hope they don't rot and don't dry out while I am away.
Overall this is not a bad way to grow them, and I have some plants that have been in regular pots for years and are still doing well.
Over the years I have lost a few small plants in regular pots due to drying out. This mostly happens if I have been unwell and the weather has been hot.
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| African violet in regular pot showing healthy growth but smaller overall plant size compared to wick pot plants |
Struggling with Drying Out or Inconsistent Watering?
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| Another African violet - looking good |
African violets grown in wicking self-watering pots
The African violets grown in the wick watering pots also grew well. I have grown many African violets this way, and am always happy with the results.
Watering these is simple, when the little well is low I top it up. This provides continuous moisture, even if I go away for a while or am too unwell to water plants. |
| African violet in self-watering wicking pot |
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| Another African Violet grown in a wicking pot |
Comparison between African violets grown in wicking self-watering pots or regular pots
As you can see above, African violets can and do grow well in wicking pots or regular pots. Wicking pots are certainly simpler, but I was curious to see if there was any difference in growth rate.
The African violets grown in wicking pots grew better for me. The leaf blade is larger, the petiole (leaf stalk) is longer and thicker, and there appear to be more leaves on the plants grown in wicking pots. All of this indicates stronger and healthier plants.
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| Side-by-side African violet comparison: self-watering wick pot (left) vs regular pot (right) |
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| Additional comparison plants showing consistent differences in vigour between watering methods |
Conclusion: Do Wicking Pots Improve African Violet Growth?
Based on my comparison, African violets grown in self-watering wick pots:
- grew larger leaves
- developed thicker petioles
- flowered earlier
- produced more blooms
- Were easier to care for
The plants grown in regular pots still performed well, but required more frequent watering and were more vulnerable during hot or dry periods. I suspect the improved growth comes from the plants receiving a more consistent supply of moisture, rather than going between wetter and drier conditions as happens with conventional watering.
Overall, I prefer wick pots for most of my African violets due to their consistency and reduced maintenance.
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| African violet leaf comparison, regular on left, wick pot on right |
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| Underside of African violet leaves - slightly more colour in wicking pot |
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| African violet grown in wicking pots produced larger leaves for me |
Wicking pots long term African violet growth
So now you have seen how African violets performed better in wicking pots under my growing conditions, the sensible thing to consider is will this continue to work long term. I don't care how fast and large they grow if they rot and die, I want long term successful growth, and I want many many vibrant flowers.
I am happy to say that I have been growing African violets in these wicking pots for about 2 years. The plants are healthy and strong, and they keep pumping out the blooms. While the photos below are of a different variety than the one used in the comparison, these two have been flowering well in wicking pots for quite a long time.
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| Long-term African violet growth in self-watering wick pot showing sustained flowering and healthy leaves |
Quick Summary
- Same African violet variety (grown from leaf cuttings from my existing plant)
- Same soil mix (50/50 cheap potting mix + perlite)
- Same light, temperature, water
- Only difference: pot type
- Wick pots = faster growth + more robust plants + more flowers
- Regular pots = still healthy but slower and higher maintenance
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| African violet in self-watering wick pot produce abundant blooms, sometimes with more flowers than visible leaves |
Where to buy Wicking Pots for African Violets
Start Growing African Violets the Easy Way
- Small self-watering wick pots
- Light potting mix with added perlite
- Bright indirect light near a window
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| Wicking pots produced larger African violet leaves |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do African violets like self-watering pots?
Yes. In my experience they grow larger leaves, flower earlier, and require less maintenance.
Can African violets stay wet all the time?
Not exactly. The key is using a very airy mix with plenty of perlite.
What size wick pot is best for African violets?
I prefer pots around 7–10 cm wide for mature plants.
Do wick pots cause root rot?
Not in my experience when using a 50% perlite mix.
How often do you refill a wick pot?
I water whenever the reservoir starts to get low, usually every few weeks.
Who should consider wick pots?
- People who forget to water plants
- People who water plants too much or too often
- Anyone growing multiple African violets
- People who travel frequently or go on holiday
- Growers wanting maximum flowering
You probably don't need them if you only have one violet and enjoy regular watering.
African Violet Leaves and Plants for Sale
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| African violets performing well in wicking pots (please ignore the mess birds left on the railing) |
I sometimes have African violet leaf cuttings available from my own plants, including the exact plants used in this experiment. These can be used to grow new plants at home, and are taken from my healthy, well-established African violets.
If you would like to try growing your own African violets, I list available leaves and plants through my for sale catalogue page. I am happy to provide detailed notes on how I grow them.
Keep an eye on that page as availability is highly seasonal and varies significantly depending on what I am currently propagating.
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