I need light to create my beautiful blooms, but direct, harsh sunlight will scorch my delicate leaves and stress me out. Please place me in a spot with bright, indirect light for 8-12 hours a day. An east-facing window is my absolute favorite, as it gives me the gentle morning sun. If you only have a south or west window, a sheer curtain is perfect to diffuse the strong rays. You’ll know I’m happy if my leaves are a lush, deep green and I’m growing symmetrically. If my leaves are dark green and leggy, I’m reaching for more light. If they are pale or have brown spots, I’m getting too much. Turn my pot a quarter turn every week so I don’t grow lopsided, leaning toward the light source.
My fuzzy leaves hate getting wet; it causes unsightly spots and can lead to crown rot, which is fatal. Please, never pour water over my head. Instead, I deeply prefer consistent, even moisture at my roots. Water me from the bottom by placing my pot in a saucer of room-temperature water for about 30 minutes. Allow me to drink my fill, then drain any excess water. I do not like wet feet! Let the top inch of my soil dry out slightly before watering me again. The frequency depends on the season, the temperature, and the light I receive. Cold water shocks my sensitive root system, so always use tepid water.
Blooming is an energetically expensive process for me. To produce flowers again and again, I need a steady supply of nutrients. A balanced, water-soluble fertilizer formulated specifically for African Violets is ideal because it has the higher phosphorus content (the middle number on the package) that promotes blooming. However, please feed me at half the recommended strength every time you water me during my active growing season (spring and summer). Over-fertilizing, especially with full strength, will burn my roots and leave a crusty salt buildup on the soil surface, which harms me. In the shorter, darker days of late fall and winter, you can reduce feeding to once a month to allow me to rest.
I am a creature of comfort and prefer the same temperatures you do—between 65-75°F (18-24°C). I thrive in the humidity of a bathroom with a window, but you can also place my pot on a pebble tray filled with water (ensure the pot is on the pebbles, not in the water) to increase humidity around me. Keep me away from cold drafts, heating vents, and sudden temperature changes, as this stress will cause me to withhold my flowers. Furthermore, I bloom best when I am slightly pot-bound. Do not repot me into a container larger than one-third the diameter of my leaf span. A pot that is too large will focus its energy on filling the space with roots instead of producing the beautiful blooms you desire.
When my flowers begin to fade, it is time for you to help me prepare for my next act. Carefully remove the spent flower stalks by pinching or snipping them off at the base. This tells me to redirect my energy into creating new buds instead of trying to sustain old ones. Regularly remove any dead or damaged leaves by giving them a firm sideways tug; they should snap off cleanly. This keeps me tidy, improves air circulation, and allows more light to reach my center, where new growth and flower buds emerge. This simple act of grooming is a clear signal that it’s time for me to get back to work and bloom again for you.
