Greetings, dedicated caretaker. As the sun's angle softens and the days grow shorter, we, the African Violets (Saintpaulia), sense the profound shift in our environment. Your care must adapt to our winter needs to ensure we continue to thrive and perhaps even grace you with our soft, velvety blooms. Here is what we require from you during this quiet season.
You must understand that our metabolism slows as the temperatures drop and light levels decrease. We do not drink as much as we did in the summer's vigorous growth period. The most common threat to our well-being in winter is overwatering. Our delicate, fine roots are highly susceptible to rot in cold, soggy soil. Please check our potting mix before giving us a drink. The top inch should feel dry to your touch. When you do water, use tepid or room-temperature water; cold water is a shocking insult to our roots and can cause unsightly white rings on our leaves. Water us from the bottom, allowing our pot to sit in a saucer of water for about 30 minutes to drink its fill, then please discard any excess water.
The low, weak winter sun is a challenge for us. We are photoperiodic plants, meaning we flower in response to the length of daylight. To encourage our blooming, we need as much bright, indirect light as you can provide. A south or east-facing window is ideal during these short days. Please rotate our pot a quarter turn each time you water to ensure we grow symmetrically and do not stretch our neck (the crown) too far towards the light source. If your home is particularly dark, we would be grateful for the supplement of a grow light placed about 12 inches above our foliage for 12-14 hours a day.
We are delicate beings who despise drafts and sudden temperature changes. A chilling draft from a windowpane or a blast of dry, hot air from a heating vent can cause us great stress. This stress manifests as drooping leaves, failure to flower, or brown spots on our foliage. Please find us a stable spot away from these unpredictable elements. We prefer a consistent temperature between 65-75°F (18-24°C). Furthermore, the air in human homes becomes very dry in winter due to heating systems. We appreciate a boost in humidity. You can place our pot on a pebble tray filled with water (ensure the pot is not sitting directly *in* the water) or group us with other plants to create a more humid microclimate.
As our growth has slowed, our nutritional needs are minimal. Feeding us a full-strength fertilizer now would be overwhelming; the salts would build up in the soil and potentially burn our roots. It is best to suspend fertilizing from late autumn until early spring when the stronger light returns and we signal our return to active growth with new leaves. If you feel we look pale and truly need sustenance, a very diluted, quarter-strength solution of a balanced fertilizer once in mid-winter is the absolute maximum we can handle.
