African Violet
Streptocarpus sect. Saintpaulia
Through the year 🗓️
☀️ Summer now
Consistent warmth and moisture; keep out of hot windows.
🍂 Fall
Keeps blooming under lights; feed lightly.
❄️ Winter
Chilled roots stop the blooms, so move it off the cold sill and water lukewarm.
🌱 Spring
Blooming ramps up; refresh the soil around now each year.
The details
Light & placement
- Light
- Bright indirect; an east/north window or a few inches under a grow light
- Ideal PPFD
- 150–300 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹
- Grow-light distance
- 10–14 in below LED
Water & feed
- Watering method
- Water at the base or from below with room-temp water; keep lightly moist. Cold water or wet leaves cause pale ring spots.
- Fertilizer
- Dilute African-violet feed at ¼–½ strength every 2 wks while growing.
Home & habit
- Soil
- Light, airy African-violet mix (peat + perlite/vermiculite); pH 6.0–6.5
- Humidity
- Average–high (40–60%)
- Temperature
- 65–75 °F; dislikes cold
- Mature size
- 6–16 in rosettes
- Repotting
- Every 6–12 mo into a pot ~⅓ the leaf-span wide
- Propagation
- Leaf cuttings: a healthy leaf with its stalk in water or soil sprouts plantlets.
When something looks wrong
- Overwatering signs
- Mushy crown, limp yellowing leaves, root rot
- Underwatering signs
- Wilting, dull drooping leaves
- Common pests
- Cyclamen mites, mealybugs, thrips, fungus gnats
Common problems 🩺
The usual suspects when African Violet looks unhappy. Most houseplant trouble is watering or light, not disease — see all plant problems if you are not sure which plant is the culprit.
Pale rings and blotches on leaves
Likely cause
Cold water splashed on the foliage.
What to do
Water from below with room-temperature water and keep the leaves dry.
Leaves but no flowers
Likely cause
Too little light, or too much nitrogen.
What to do
Bright indirect light and a bloom-focused feed; it flowers best slightly pot-bound.
Mushy crown and collapsing leaves
Likely cause
Water sitting in the crown, or soil kept too wet.
What to do
Always water from below and let the top of the soil dry slightly between drinks.
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