AFRICAN VIOLET Facts

COLORS

White, pink, lavender, purple

LIGHT

Bright light, but not direct sun. A window with eastern exposure is best.

SOIL

Light and airy to accommodate fine, hair like roots.

WATER

Keep evenly moist. Do not allow to dry out. Use room temperature water. Water that is too cold can damage leaves.

pH

HARDINESS

The main cause of problems with African violets is over watering.

USES

Popular indoor plant

TIP

AFRICAN VIOLETS

An extremely popular houseplant, African violets are rare in that they bloom continuously if properly maintained. They have fuzzy, heart-shaped leaves with smooth edges that grow compactly around the flowers, giving the plant a bouquet effect. Leaves are plain or scalloped and green, bronzed or variegated. Flower colors include pale lavender, purple, violet, pink, white, blue, magenta, pink, coral and white. The flowers are about an inch wide. Some are ruffled or fringed, others are bicolored. All have a bright yellow stamen in the center. Standard-size plants grow up to a foot tall.

An extremely popular houseplant, African violets are rare in that they bloom continuously if properly maintained.

FERTILIZING AFRICAN VIOLETS

African violets are relatively easy to care for. One reason for that is that they prefer the same temperatures as people do -- between 60° and 70° is good. They don't need direct sunlight and respond especially well to fluorescent lights and growing lights. They prefer humid air and evenly moist soil, although it is permissible to let the soil dry for a day or two if the plants are not in an active growth period. Avoid wetting the leaves during watering.

African violets respond very poorly to over-watering and poor drainage. As a rule of thumb, don't water them on a set schedule. Instead, use room-temperature water to water from top or below the plant when the top of the soil is dry.

African violets need a moisture-retentive yet fast-draining potting mix. Packaged mixes specifically for African violets are available. If you make your own, use 3 parts of peat moss to 1 part perlite and 1 part compost or sterilized loam. Plant in a pot a third the diameter of the plant. Roots grow better in pots that are not too large.

African violets need to be fertilized regularly. If you're using a mix without soil, you should feed them every time you water them. Packaged African violet fertilizers are available, or Vigoro® All Purpose Water Soluble Plant Food at half the suggested dosage is common. Also, let your fertilizer mix stand overnight so that the chlorine will evaporate. Chlorine is not good for the plants.

To keep your African violets healthy, repot every six months. This gives the plant fresh soil and eliminates the problems of fertilizer salts that might accumulate. When repotting, remember to moisten the soil, turn the plant upside down and tap it out of its pot. If root-bound, the plant should be put in the next largest-size container.

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