african violet

The African Violet originates in Africa and isn’t a violet at all, but belongs to the family of Gesneriaceae. The common name comes from the primary flower color, although you can find the “violets” in pink, blue and white flowers.
This low-growing, hairy-leafed plant hold leaves roughly oval in shape and dark green. There are hundred of varieties of Saintpaulia whose blossoms range from pink to blue to violet. The flowers, sometimes run up to as much as an inch and a half across but usually smaller, some miniature varieties also exist.
Overall african violets adapt very well to home-growing conditions. They will thrive in a an environment of 70° to 75° temperatures during the day and not below 60° at night.
In the winter if the temperature gets down much below below 60° the plant should be moved away from the windows for the night. In nature african violets live in a moist, humid African jungle, it needs even more humidifying than most plants.
The best way to “create” this growing condition is to set plants in a deep pan or saucer on an inch layer of pebbles filled with water to just below the pot.
The best practice in growing African Violets should be self watering system that waters from below, or from above with a watering can with a long spout.
The long spout lets you reach inside the foliage and wet the soil without splashing the leaves. One of the major troubles the home gardener runs into with Saintpaulia is the problem of white spots forming on the leaves. This is usually caused by cold water splashing on the leaves. Always use room temperature water or warmer. You can also use the wick-type watering system.

One of the reasons these little plants have been enjoyed for decades is they don’t require, great deal of sun. An east or west window is best, although many African Violets can grow well in a northern exposure but usually only in the summer time. To keep the leaves of your African Violets free of dust, clean them with a soft brush — a small soft paint brush will do the trick.
African Violets like a rich soil, an african violet soil which is a special soil mix designed for them and can be purchased in the garden center. As with other commercially packaged soils, this mixture has been scientifically prepared to the exact specifications for Saintpaulia for maximum growth. When potting or transplanting an African Violet, be sure the soil is not packed too tightly as they like a well aerated soil and thrive in a more roomy pot.
The most common way of propagating African Violets is by the leaf-cuttings, preferably in the spring. This way new plants can benefit from summer weather to grow. It will generally take about ten or twelve weeks for the first new leaves to appear. A successful new plant will flower after four to six weeks. That’s why you start the process in the early spring and should have a grown and flowering Saintpaulia by fall.