Hello, it's me, your African Violet. I truly want to bloom for you—it's my purpose and my joy! Those clusters of delicate flowers are my way of saying thank you for your care. But when I can't, it's not because I'm being difficult. I'm just trying to tell you that one of my core needs isn't being met. Let me explain from my perspective what might be wrong.
Light is my food, the energy I use to create those beautiful blooms you love. But it has to be just the right amount and kind. If I'm sitting in a dark corner, I simply don't have the strength to produce flowers. My leaves might become thin and stretch out longingly towards any light source they can find. On the other hand, if the sun is blazing directly on me, especially through a hot window, my leaves will get scorched. They'll turn pale, yellow, or even develop brown, crispy spots. This sunburn hurts and stresses me out, making blooming impossible. I need bright, but indirect, light for most of the day. A north or east-facing window is often perfect.
My roots are very sensitive. They need to breathe! When you water me too often, or I'm left sitting in a saucer of water, my roots drown and begin to rot. This is a silent, underground crisis for me. With a rotten root system, I can't absorb water or nutrients, so I certainly can't support the massive effort of blooming. My leaves will feel soft and mushy and may wilt. Please, only water me when the top inch of my soil feels dry to the touch, and always let the excess water drain away completely. And whatever you do, please don't get cold water on my leaves and crown—it causes unsightly spots and can also lead to rot.
While I don't need constant feeding, blooming is an exhausting process that requires extra nutrients. Regular potting soil doesn't have enough of the specific food I crave for flower production: phosphorus. If you never feed me, I'll eventually use up all the nutrients in my soil and will be running on empty. Look for a fertilizer that is formulated just for me, an African Violet food. These are usually higher in phosphorus (the middle number on the fertilizer package). A little snack every 4-6 weeks during my growing season gives me the boost I need to put on a spectacular show.
This might sound strange, but I actually bloom best when I'm slightly pot-bound. If you plant me in a pot that is too large, all my energy will go into expanding my root system to fill that huge space. There will be no energy left over for blooming above the soil. A good rule for me is that my pot should be about one-third the diameter of my leaf spread. Also, if my pot doesn't have a drainage hole, we're back to the root rot problem. A cozy, well-draining home makes me feel secure enough to flower.
I am a tropical plant, and I remember my native home fondly. I thrive in warm, humid air. If you place me right next to a hot air vent, a drafty door, or a cold windowpane in winter, I go into shock. The dry air sucks the moisture right out of my leaves, and the cold temperatures make me sluggish. I will just sit there, stressed and unhappy, simply trying to survive. I won't even think about blooming. I love average room temperatures and appreciate a little humidity—just please don't mist my fuzzy leaves, as it can spot them. A pebble tray with water underneath my pot is a much better way to help.
