This low-growing, easy-care houseplant with thick, fuzzy leaves blooms repeatedly.
Some varieties of these popular houseplants also feature double blooms and ruffled petals.
The individual flowers last for a week or more.
Credit:KRITSADA PANICHGUL
In a window, place the plant twelve to eighteen inches from the glass.
Keep them away from heat sources such as radiators where the air is very dry.
Light
African violets grow well in bright east- or north-facing windows.
Credit:KRITSADA PANICHGUL
Turn plants weekly to encourage even growth on all sides.
you could also purchase a specially formulated African violet potting mix.
The soil should be moderately moist at all times.
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Room temperature water is best.
The way you water African violets also matters.
Overhead watering methods damage the foliage.
Credit:KRITSADA PANICHGUL
When water droplets fall on the fuzzy leaves, they often leave behind ugly brown spots.
Instead ofwatering from above, place pots in a shallow dish filled with about an inch of water.
The plants will absorb water from the bottom.
A baking pan or flat-bottom soup bowl is perfect for watering African violets.
Leave the plants in the water tray for about 30 minutes.
Temperature and Humidity
African violets hail from moist, humid environments.
In winter, the air in most homes doesn’t have enough moisture for great growth and flowering.
You canbump up the humidity around your plantsby creating small water reservoirs.
Fill a shallow tray, such as a pot saucer, with an inch or two of gravel.
Add water to the tray so it is just below the surface of the gravel.
Place your African violets right next to the gravel trays.
The water will evaporate and humidify the atmosphere around your plants.
Water plants thoroughly after potting to promote good contact between the roots and soil.
Generally, African violets grow and bloom best if you repot them about once a year.
Choose a pot that is slightly wider than the previous container.
Pests and Problems
Common problems of African violet include powdery mildew, root or crown rot.
Thrips are a common pest of African violets.
They not only feed on the plants but also transmit a deadly virus called Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus.
How to Propagate African Violet
African violets can be easily propagated from leaf cuttings.
Fully insert the stem and about 14 inch of the leaf in it.
Cover it with a perforated plastic dome or a zippered plastic bag.
Keep the medium moist at all times in a warm location away from direct sunlight.
It may take two months for new plantlets to form on the leaf.
Repot the new plants in individual pots with suitable potting mix.
Vermont African Violet
ThisSaintpaulia ionanthaselection blooms in rich, deep purple.
Its medium green leaves have reddish petioles and undersides.
Tomahawk African Violet
Saintpaulia ionantha’Tomahawk' has cherry red blooms and deep green leaves.
Always handle them gently to avoid bruising the leaves.
Failure to bloom is often because of a lack of light.
