African Violet

African Violet Care

Saintpaulia ionantha

What is the plant

The African violet came to Europe in the 19th century and has been one of the most famous houseplants in the world ever since then. Ease of care, compact size, and delicate color have made African violet popular among gardeners.

African violet can be 4-6 inches (10-15 centimeters) high and 5-6 inches (12-15 centimeters) in diameter. Today, breeders have created wide varieties of African violet. All of them differ in the color of the flowers - from purple and dark blue to red, pink, and white.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

21°C - 24°C

Hardiness zone

9a - 12b

Difficulty

Easy

Hibernation

Cold Period

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Saintpaulia loves moisture. However, try not to flood the plant's leaves when watering the flower. Gardeners advise watering the violet two or three times a week, so the soil does not dry out.
Pruning
There is no consensus on whether it is necessary to remove violet leaves. The exception is when the leaves turn yellow with age. At the same time, experienced gardeners recommend cutting the bottom row, leaving 2-3 rows in the shrub to form a beautiful bush.
Fertilizer
Gardeners recommend using violet fertilizer only in spring and summer. You can use complex or phosphate fertilizers. Experts advise diluting fertilizer for violets twice as much as for other flowering plants. Therefore, the violet will bloom better.

Disease diagnosis

Check your plant’s health

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Sunlight
You need to pay special attention to lighting. If you want violets to bloom all year round, you should use both natural and artificial lighting. LED or fluorescent lamps can act as light sources. You can also use a photo lamp or a light tape.
Soil
You should better use a special primer for Saintpaulia. However, if you want to make the soil yourself, you will need leafy soil, sand, and peat in a 4:1:1 ratio.
Propagation
Propagation of violets is a fairly simple process. To do this, you can use one of the parts of the plant. It can be a leaf, sprout, or peduncle. You just need to put them in the ground and prevent hypothermia. You can also germinate violet from seeds.

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Temperature
Violet is a thermophilic plant. For a violet to germinate, the temperature must not fall below 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 Celsius). Even during the winter months, for the plant to feel comfortable, you need to maintain a constant indoor temperature of about 73 degrees Fahrenheit (23 Celsius).
Container
You should better choose a container that won't be too deep. The width of the container depends on the size of your violet. You should also choose a ceramic container for this plant because it retains moisture better.
Fun fact
The commandant of the German colony Saint Paul accidentally opened an African violet. In his honor, scientists named the genus of these plants — Saintpaulia.