African Violets
Streptocarpus sect. Saintpaulia
Introduction to the Section
African violets are a group of around ten species in the former genus Saintpaulia, now considered Streptocarpus sect. Saintpaulia, in the family Gesneriaceae. They are native to tropical rainforests in Tanzania and Kenya, with many species found in the Nguru mountains of Tanzania. Many of the plants found in the houseplant market are cultivars of Streptocarpus ionanthus, though hybrids have been developed between other species.
General Care
Light
African violets do best in bright, indirect light. The ideal distance from a window is 2 feet with no direct sunlight hitting the leaves. Insufficient light can cause the stem of the plant to stretch as it looks for light, while too much light can cause bleaching and sunburn on the leaves. If the plant is not receiving enough light, it may not rebloom. Grow lights can provide supplemental light for this purpose.
Water
African violets in cultivation prefer to not have their leaves wet when watered, but they don’t mind having their roots exposed to near-constant moisture. Self-watering pots are a popular choice, but they aren’t necessary. They can also be watered by placing in a saucer and watering from the top gently until the water has moved through the soil and the saucer is mostly full. Allow the plant up to an hour to absorb all of the water that it needs and then empty the saucer. When the plant pot feels light, water again. African violets will not always need water weekly but they should be checked at least twice a week.
Fertilizing
Liquid fertilizers are the easiest to use with African violets as they can be fed every time they are watered. Some recommended fertilizers are Schultz African Violet 8-14-9 or half-strength MaxSea All Purpose 16-16-16.
Transplanting
African violets ought to be in a pot that is smaller than the spread of their leaves. The African Violet Society of America recommends using a pot that has a diameter one-third the spread of the leaves, meaning that most plants sold in trade can remain in their current pots for a while before needing transplanting. As long as the soil does not compact or break down too much, African violets do not need much root work or replanting. When you do need to transplant, use a mix with plenty of aeration and drainage. The AVSA recommended 1:1 potting soil to coarse perlite.
