Hello, human caretaker. I am an African Violet, a plant known to you as Saintpaulia ionantha. To help me thrive and share my velvety leaves and cheerful blooms with you, please understand my needs from my perspective.
First, I need a comfortable home. My roots despise being cold, wet, and cramped. Please plant me in a small pot; one that is only about one-third the diameter of my leaf span is perfect. A pot that is too large will hold excess soil that stays wet, suffocating my roots. Ensure the pot has drainage holes. The soil must be light, fluffy, and airy. A specialized African violet potting mix is ideal, as it provides the perfect balance of moisture retention and drainage that my delicate roots crave.
Water is my lifeblood, but it is also my greatest threat. My fuzzy leaves and crown will rot if they get wet. Please never pour water over the top of me. Instead, water me from below by placing my pot in a saucer of room-temperature water for about 30 minutes. Allow me to drink what I need, then discard any remaining water. Alternatively, you can use a long-spouted watering can to carefully water the soil directly, avoiding my leaves and center. Let the top layer of soil dry out slightly between waterings.
I need bright, indirect light to produce the energy for my beautiful flowers. A north or east-facing window is often perfect. If you place me in a south or west window, filter the harsh afternoon sun with a sheer curtain. Too much direct sun will scorch my leaves, leaving brown spots. Too little light will make me stretch weakly towards it and refuse to bloom. If you notice my leaves becoming dark green and leggy, or if I stop flowering, I am likely pleading for more light.
I am a tropical plant and enjoy the same comfortable environment you do. I thrive in daytime temperatures between 70-80°F (21-27°C) and slightly cooler at night. Please keep me away from cold drafts, heating vents, and sudden temperature changes. I also appreciate moderate humidity. You can place my pot on a pebble tray filled with water (ensuring the pot sits above the water line) to increase the humidity around me, especially during dry winters.
To continuously produce my vibrant blooms, I require regular nourishment. During my active growing season (spring and summer), please feed me every two weeks with a fertilizer formulated specifically for African violets. These fertilizers have the right balance of nutrients, particularly phosphorus, to promote blooming. Dilute it to half the recommended strength to avoid burning my roots. You can reduce feeding in the fall and winter when my growth naturally slows.
