African Violet
Saintpaulia ionantha
Compact flowering houseplant with velvety leaves and clusters of purple, pink, or white blooms. Flowers reliably year-round on a bright windowsill. One of the few houseplants that thrives under artificial light.
Best rooms for african violet
Light requirements
Best near a window with filtered light — avoid harsh direct rays.
How to care for african violet
Place in bright indirect light or under a grow lamp. Water from below to avoid marking the leaves — sit the pot in a saucer of tepid water for 30 minutes. Feed fortnightly with a half-strength liquid fertiliser during the growing season. Keep above 15°C and away from draughts.
Watering
Water when the top 2–3cm of compost feels dry. Roughly weekly.
Propagation
- Leaf cuttings in water or compost
- Division of crowns
Toxicity
This plant is not known to be toxic to cats or dogs.
Common problems
- Crown rot from overhead watering
- Leggy growth in low light
- Powdery mildew in poor air circulation
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