African Violet Care

Many of us may have fond memories of visiting our grandmother's house and seeing her beautiful African violets (Saintpaulia ionantha) blooming. As we grew older with our own house and family, she may have offered to give us a propagated cutting. Her plants thrived because they were living in an ideal situation, developed through many years of experience. Maintaining African violets as healthy and beautiful as our grandmother's plants is possible through understanding this plant's growing requirements and potential challenges.

One particularly important requirement is proper lighting. Bright light is needed, but it cannot be direct sunlight. African violets like a north, northwest, or northeast-facing window. Place the plant a good three feet away from a south-facing window. Supplementing with fluorescent lights may be necessary if you cannot find the ideal lighting situation.

As far as temperature, African violets thrive in the same range that we enjoy, between 60°F and 80°F. 

Proper humidity can make a difference in the health of your plants. If your home has dry heat, a small humidifier near the plants may be helpful. Setting a tray of pebbles and water nearby can raise the humidity. You can also set the plant directly on a tray of pebbles with water, but ensure that the base of the plant is above the water level in the tray. Water your African violet when just the top of the soil is dry, but before it becomes hard and crusty or the plant wilts. Avoid getting the leaves wet during watering. If water remains in the bottom saucer an hour after watering, you should drain this off. Otherwise, the roots may begin to rot.

African violets require fertilizing on a regular basis. Use a fertilizer that is specially formulated for African violets, as it will provide the proper balance of nutrients. Follow the directions on the container carefully.

If you have met all of these conditions and your plants are not thriving, pests may be the issue. Due to the structure of the plant, pests often hide at the base of the leaves or in the foliage. The best defense for pests, of course, is to make sure that you begin with healthy plants. Detecting pests can be difficult, but it can get easier when you know what to look for.

Several kinds of mealybugs infest African violets, including the citrus mealybug (Planococcus citri) and the Comstock mealybug (Pseudococcus comstocki). These insects have soft bodies that are covered with a white, waxy material, making them look like small pieces of perlite. Root mealybugs may not be noticed unless you look directly at the root ball. They damage plants by sucking out their sap. Sometimes there are obvious signs of an infestation, such as stunted or distorted leaves. But often the plant just doesn't look healthy. Light infestations of mealybugs can be controlled by removing them with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol. Heavy infestations may require the disposal of the plant to prevent spread.

Thrips, usually banded greenhouse thrips (Hercinothrips femoralis), are a common pest for African violets and can cause a great deal of damage. These very small insects (1/16 of an inch) are long and narrow and are yellowish to blackish in color. Thrips have narrow wings with long hairs along the back edge, which make them capable of flying. When they are disturbed, their rapid movement allows for detection. Before purchasing an African violet, tap or blow gently on the leaves. This will cause the pests to move, and you will be able to see them. Another sign of thrips is silvery spots on the flowers and/or foliage.

Cyclamen mites (Phytonemus pallidus) appear as unexplained patches of whitish dust on the leaves. You may suspect this problem when the center of the plant, where the new leaves develop, isn't growing properly. The new leaves and flowers may remain small and appear distorted. Discard heavily infested plants.

Treatments for these pest problems include insecticidal soap. Always read and follow the instructions on the pesticide label fully and carefully.

African violets are a joy. Once you understand their growing requirements and some of their challenges, you too may be giving offshoots from your collection to friends and family.