African violets are one of the world's most popular houseplants and for good reason. These compact, low-growing plants flower several times a year, and they are available in a multitude of leaf forms and colors. African violets are distinguished by a rosette of thick, fuzzy leaves and violet-like flowers that bloom just above the evergreen foliage.
Don't be put off by their reputation for difficulty: providing you follow a few simple rules, African violets should thrive indoors. With a little experience, it's possible to keep these slow-growing plants in flower nearly all year round and grow them to the size of dinner plates.
African Violet Care
African violets will thrive in bright, warm and humid conditions. Keep water from touching their leaves or it will leave brown spots.
1 Remove dead flowers and leaves as soon as you see them to encourage a healthier plant. Regularly check the soil for excess moisture. This will encourage rot.
2 Growing these houseplants is really a matter of balance; you have to make sure that the different factors that go into their cultivation all are weighted against each other. They should be kept in moist enough conditions that they don't dry out, yet still exposed to a fresh breeze to avoid letting them get too stuffy, and exposed to sunlight without damaging their leaf tips. Don't be discouraged if your African violets suffer some damage—it's all part of the process.
Light
African violets do well in bright but not direct sunlight. They are commonly grown under fluorescent lights placed 12 to 15 inches above the leaves. If the leaves start getting light green, your plant is getting too much light, while thin and dark green leaves or a leggy plant indicate too little light.
Soil
A well-drained potting mix is essential for African violets. Poor drainage can cause root rot, in which the plant becomes waterlogged and its leaves begin to fall, so make sure that the plant is never allowed to be exposed to standing water for an extended period of time.1
Water
Keep soil moist with warm water and strive for high humidity. Do not allow water to contact the leaves of the plant to prevent damage, other than light misting. Water from below, or push the water spout into the soil when watering. Don't allow the plant to sit in water.
Temperature and Humidity
African violets like warm and humid conditions and thrive at 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not allow the temperature to fall below about 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Do your best to keep the plants away from any drafts in the home.
Fertilizer
Feed with an African violet fertilizer every other week during the spring and summer. For the amount to use, follow product label instructions.
How to Get African Violets to Bloom
These plants love to show off their beautiful blooms and if cared for properly, can bloom year round. Provide it with the proper light, water, humidity, fertilizer, and soil, plus keep it free from pests and diseases, and you will have a happy, healthy plant. African violets like to feel cozy and tight in their pots, but not to the point of being root bound. This is when they start blooming and flowering for longer periods of time. When the flowers are spent, make sure to deadhead them as that will encourage the plant to flower more, and hopefully, you'll see new blooms in about six weeks.
