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African violet care
Streptocarpus ionanthus · Gesneriaceae
Also called Saintpaulia, Kenya violet.
A small rosette plant from the mountains of Tanzania and Kenya with soft, hairy leaves and clusters of purple, pink, blue or white flowers. Botanists now place it in Streptocarpus, but it is still sold as Saintpaulia. In good light it flowers almost all year.
Light
Bright IndirectWatering
WeeklyDifficulty
MediumPets
Non-toxic to cats and dogsHeight indoors
15-25 cm
Growth
Moderate
Temperature
18-27 °C
Not below 16 °C
Humidity
50% - 70%
Likes humid air
Soil pH
6.0-6.5
Slightly acidic soil
Native to
- Kenya
- Tanzania
Through the year
Keep the mix lightly moist using room-temperature water, ideally from below; cold water on the leaves leaves pale spots.
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Spring
WeeklyRepot into fresh mix if the plant has a long bare neck.
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Summer
WeeklyKeep it out of hot direct sun and watch for rot in hot weather.
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Autumn
WeeklyMove it to a brighter window as days get shorter.
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Winter
WeeklyKeep it warm and away from cold glass; growth stalls below about 16 °C.
Feeding
Every 2 weeks in spring and summer and autumn and winter. Fertilizer made for African violets at quarter strength. Yellowing older leaves often mean it needs feeding.
Care tips
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Give it steady light
An east or north window, or a bright spot out of direct afternoon sun, keeps it flowering.
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It flowers under lamps
Plants grown only under LED or fluorescent light do well with about 12 to 16 hours a day.
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Use a light, airy mix
Choose a peat-free African violet mix with extra perlite so water drains quickly.
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Keep one crown
Remove side shoots so the plant stays a single neat rosette.
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Propagate from a leaf
A leaf with its stalk pushed into moist mix roots and makes new plants in a few weeks.
Common problems
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Crown rot
What you seeThe centre of the rosette turns soft and dark and the leaves collapse.
What to doWater less, never into the crown, and repot healthy pieces into fresh, light African violet mix.
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Pale leaf spots
What you seeWhite or yellow rings and blotches on the leaves.
What to doUse room-temperature water and keep drops off the leaves.
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Cyclamen mites
What you seeNew leaves in the centre stay small, tight and crinkled.
What to doIsolate the plant at once; badly infested plants are best thrown away so the mites do not spread.
Pets
Is african violet safe for cats and dogs?
Non-toxic to cats and dogs. Listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses.
Good to know
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The old genus name honours Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire, who collected the first plants in what is now Tanzania.
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Wild plants grow on shaded, moist rocks in a small number of East African forests.
