Please, provide me with a comfortable home. I need a pot with excellent drainage holes, as my roots despise sitting in water and will quickly rot. A lightweight, well-aerated potting mix is perfect for me. Look for a blend specifically for container plants or African violets; it should be peat-based or coir-based with added perlite or vermiculite. This allows my roots to breathe easily, access water, and absorb the nutrients I need to support my bright, cheerful blooms.
My watering needs are specific. I enjoy consistently moist soil, but I am not a aquatic plant. The goal is damp, not soggy. Please water me deeply when the top inch of my soil feels dry to your touch. Direct the water at my soil, around my base, and avoid wetting my crown and leaves. This helps prevent fungal diseases like powdery mildew. In the warmer, sunnier months, I will drink more frequently. In the winter, when my growth slows, I will need much less. Always empty the saucer beneath my pot after watering to ensure my roots are not submerged.
I am a sun-worshipper, but I appreciate a little afternoon shade in very hot climates. For the strongest stems and the most vibrant, prolific blooms, place me in a spot where I can receive at least six hours of bright, direct sunlight each day. A south or west-facing window is ideal indoors. If I do not receive enough light, I will become leggy as I stretch to find the sun, and my flowering will significantly decrease. My blooms may also fail to fully open. Ample light is the fuel for my spectacular floral display.
Producing my large, colorful flowers requires a tremendous amount of energy. To keep me blooming from spring through fall, you must feed me regularly. I prefer a water-soluble fertilizer that is balanced or one with a slightly higher phosphorus content (the middle number on the fertilizer package). Phosphorus promotes strong root development and bountiful blooms. Please feed me every two weeks during my active growing season. In the winter, when I am resting, you can stop fertilizing altogether as I will not be using the nutrients.
To encourage me to continue blooming, you must help me with grooming. My energy is a finite resource. When a flower begins to fade and wilt, I start diverting energy to try and produce seeds from that spent bloom. By deadheading—carefully removing the old flower stem at its base—you signal to me that my work is not done. This prompts me to produce new flower stalks and buds instead. Regularly remove any yellow or damaged leaves from my base to improve air circulation and keep me looking tidy and healthy. This simple practice greatly extends my flowering period.
