February Birth Flower, Meaning, and Gift Ideas

Violets

The birth flower for February is the violet. Violets are often associated with modesty, loyalty, and faithfulness. In the language of flowers, they can also symbolize love, humility, and affection. The violet’s deep purple and blue hues are often linked with royalty and dignity, while the delicate petals reflect the sweetness and charm of those born in February. Another flower sometimes associated with February is the primrose, which is also considered a symbol of youth, love, and the promise of spring.

Why You Should Grow Violets

Now that you know the flowers have you ever considered growing them? How fun would it be to have a garden full of the birth flowers of all your loved ones? Maybe your children, siblings, or loved ones that have moved on from this life. You can be in your garden and remember them, or maybe feel them with you. How healing for the soul, or just fun! Your front yard could depict your family without a family photo. Flowers have such a healing effect on the soul. My front yard is dedicated to flowers. Flowers I love and flowers that the people I love, love. Shasta daisies for my mother in law, lilacs for my grandma Mary, daffodils for my grandma Oda, hydrangeas for my mom, and peonies for me. Grow flowers that have meaning, and I think growing birth flowers is a great place to start.  

Violets, the February birth flower, are also easy to grow and can handle colder nights and days.

How to Grow February Birth Flower Violets

Growing violets, especially African violets (the most common type grown as houseplants), can be a rewarding experience. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you grow healthy and beautiful violets:

Choosing the Right Variety

• African Violets (Saintpaulia): These are the most common houseplant varieties, known for their colorful flowers.
• Sweet Violets: Are the most common violets that are grow outdoors usually coming in purple, pink, white, and yellow.

Ideal Growing Conditions

• Light: African Violets thrive in bright, indirect light. They can burn in direct sunlight, so placing them near a window with sheer curtains works well. Outdoor violets grow well with some afternoon shade.
• Temperature: They prefer temperatures between 65-75°F (18-24°C). Avoid placing them in drafts or near heat sources like radiators or air conditioners. Outdoor violets can also handle light freezing temperatures and grow well in spring and fall.
• Humidity: African violets enjoy moderate to high humidity, around 50-60%. To maintain humidity, you can use a humidity tray or a humidifier. Mist them lightly but avoid soaking the leaves wet.

Soil

• Violets grow well in well draining soil or pots.
• If growing in a pot use a well-draining potting mix. You can also mix your own by combining peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite for better drainage and aeration.
• Ensure the pot has a drainage hole to prevent water logging, which can cause root rot.

Watering

• Water violets moderately. Avoid watering from above, as this can damage the leaves. Water from the bottom (by placing the pot in a saucer of water) or use a watering can with a long spout.
• Let the soil dry out slightly between waterings, but never let it dry out completely. The soil should be moist, not soggy.
• Watering frequency will depend on the humidity, temperature, and size of the pot. Typically, watering once a week works well.

Fertilizing

• Feed your African violets every 4 weeks with a balanced fertilizer (e.g., 10-10-10 or a fertilizer formulated for African violets). Choose a liquid fertilizer and dilute it to half strength.
• Reduce fertilizing during the dormant period or during winter months.
• Outdoor Violets if planted in good soil will not need to be fertilized unless planted in pots, in which you will want to fertilize every 3-4 weeks.

Repotting

• Repot African violets every 1-2 years to refresh the soil and provide more space for root growth. This also helps prevent the plant from becoming root-bound.
• Choose a pot that is just slightly larger than the current one (about 1-2 inches in diameter bigger).
• Be sure to handle the roots gently, and avoid burying the crown of the plant (the point where the leaves meet the stem) below soil level.

Pruning and Deadheading

• Regularly remove dead or yellowing leaves and spent blooms to keep the plant looking neat.
• Deadhead spent flowers by pinching them off at the base to encourage new blooms.

Propagating African Violets

• Leaf Cuttings: You can propagate African violets easily by taking a healthy leaf with a short stem (about 2-3 inches) and placing it in water or directly in a moist potting mix.
• If propagating in water, change the water regularly, and once the roots are established (in a few weeks), you can transplant the cutting into soil.
• Always ensure the leaf is placed upright and doesn’t touch the water if propagating in water.

Common Problems

• Yellow leaves: This can be caused by overwatering, poor drainage, need to fertilize, or low humidity. Adjust your watering schedule or check the pot for drainage issues.
• Brown leaf edges: This often results from inconsistent watering, too much fertilizer, or dry air. Keep the humidity level stable and avoid over-fertilizing
• Pest issues: Look out for pests like mealybugs, spider mites, or aphids. Gently wipe the leaves with a damp cloth or use an insecticidal soap to treat infestations.

February Birth Flower Gift Ideas

Are you a February Birthday or have a loved one with a February birthday? I have come up with a few fun, beautiful and cute ideas to make your February birthdays feel special. 

1. Violet necklace or jewelry
2. Embroider a violet flower on an article of clothing or hat
3. Sticker of a violet
4. Violet Coloring Book
5. The actual violet seeds!

More Birth Flower Post

January Birth Flower- Meaning, Gift Ideas, & Growing Guide

March Birth Flower Meaning, Gift Ideas, & How to Grow

No matter what you do, enjoy this month, which is a lot for me to say who has a harder time being positive in the dark cold winter. I have found focusing on what I love, flowers, and the relationships I have make it a little better. Happy Birthday to all of the February birthdays. I hope you feel special this time of year because you are a lovely violet.

As always,
grow flowers to heal the soul,

Beth