How to grow African violet

Streptocarpus ionanthus · Saintpaulia, Saintpaulia ionantha

Compact rosette of velvety leaves with clusters of violet, blue, pink, red or white flowers. Given enough light it can flower for months on end, all year round.

Quick facts

Type	Houseplant
Family	Gesneriaceae
Light	Partial shade
Frost	does not tolerate frost
Soil for sowing	from 16 °C
Where it grows	At home

When to plant

Sow straight into the bed after your last spring frost, once the soil has warmed.

Frost dates · When to plant

Care

At home

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Growth	every 6 days	16…24 °C	balanced (NPK), 14 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 44 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 74 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 104 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 134 days into the stage; balanced (NPK), 164 days into the stage
Winter rest	every 12 days	16…24 °C	—

Growing notes

Light

Bright light without direct sun; from spring to autumn a north- or east-facing windowsill, in winter a south- or west-facing one. It needs at least 10 hours of light a day to keep flowering; too little light is the usual reason it stops blooming.

Soil

Light, free-draining compost, such as two parts loam-based compost to one part coir, or a ready mix for African violets. Use a pot only slightly larger than the roots and no wider than about 10 cm.

Care

Water with room-temperature water once the surface of the compost is dry, onto the compost or from below for half an hour; cold water and wet leaves leave pale spots, and soggy compost rots the crown. Keep it at 18–24 °C by day and not below 16 °C at night, and stand the pot on a tray of damp gravel rather than misting. Feed with a dilute liquid houseplant feed every three to four weeks in spring and summer, pick off faded flowers, and repot every two to three years in spring. Non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Pests and diseases of African violet

Sources

Figures checked against these sources.