African Violet Growing Tips

LIGHT. Adequate light is most important for abundant bloom. Any window that has strong, bright, light is good. Most gesneriads prefer bright light, but not direct sun. Which window provides this will depend upon climate, season, and your particular home. Grown under florescent lights, plants will nearly always be in bloom. You can use shoplights found at your local department store, and place bulbs about 18" above standard African violets and streptocarpus, and 10-12" above miniature violets. Keep lights on 12-13 hours a day.

WATERING. Use room temperature water, when the soil surface feels "dry to the touch". Plants may be watered from the top, from the bottom, or by wicks.

FEEDING. Regular fertilizing is needed for maximum growth and blooming. Follow "constant feeding" directions on the container, usually about 1/4 tsp. of dry fertilizer per gallon of water (follow instructions on the package for feeding every time you water). A balanced fertilizer, such as a 15-15-15 or 20-20-20, for example, is best. Feed each watering.

ATMOSPHERE. African violets and most other gesneriads thrive in the same conditions in which people are comfortable--not too hot nor too cold, with 40-50% humidity.

SOIL. Use a light, "soil-less" mix, consisting of at least 30-50% vermiculite or perlite. When buying a prepackaged mix, don't believe the "violet soil" label! A bag of a good soil mix should feel like a nice, fluffy, soft, pillow. Most commercial mixes are too dense and heavy, and will need to have perlite and/or vermiculite added. The wetter you plan on keeping your plants (such as wicking), the more perlite you will need to add.

GROOMING. Except for trailing varieties, do not allow extra crowns ("suckers") to form on violets. Streptocarpus, episcia, and other gesneriads can be grown multiple crowned. Remove old, yellowed, leaves and spent blossoms.

POTTING. Most flowering houseplants will need repotting into fresh soil every 6 months or so. When repotting a violet, remove some of the bottom of the root ball and lower into fresh soil to cover the bare trunk ("neck"). Pot into larger pots only when root ball fills pot, never into a pot more than 1/2 the diameter of the plant. Shallow pots are best.

PROPAGATION. Use very light rooting media. For violets, cut the leaf stem at 1/2" to 3/4" and push down into lightly moistened mix. For streptocarpus, remove midrib from leaf, then firmly insert two halves (rib or center-side) down into media, like "slices of bread in a toaster". Leaves can be protected by placing in a clear plastic bag or covered container. Place in moderate light and separate and pot "babies" when they are big enough for you to comfortably handle.