| Anyone can grow beautiful African Violets if they | | | | towel to prevent leaf spotting.Soil:A potting medium |
| provide the simple conditions required for healthy | | | | suitable for African Violets should be sterilized, and light |
| growth.Natural Light:Adequate light is the most | | | | and airy to allow root penetration. Soilless mixes are |
| important factor in promoting flowering. Place plants | | | | ideal - they contain sphagnum peat, vermiculite and |
| near any window that has bright, but filtered, light. An | | | | perlite.Atmosphere:Temperature and humidity are |
| east window is best because it gets morning sun. A | | | | important factors. Most violets can tolerate |
| thin curtain will be necessary if placing plants in a south | | | | temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees. Ideal |
| or west window. In order to develop a nice symetrical | | | | temperatures are 72-75 degrees day-time and 65 |
| form, plants must be turned 1/4 turn every | | | | degrees night-time. The preferred humidity range is |
| week.Fluorescent Light:If adequate natural light is not | | | | 40% to 60%. A humidifier or bowls of water placed |
| available, plants can be grown under fluorescent lights. | | | | near plants can be used to increase you home's |
| Use double tube fixtures with one cool white bulb and | | | | humidity during heating season.Feeding:Lack of regular |
| one broad spectrum bulb. Lights should be 8 to 10 | | | | feeding is one of the reasons an african violet will not |
| inches above the top of the plants and turned on for | | | | bloom. The best way to feed is to use a dilute fertilizer |
| 12 to 14 hours a day. If plants have tight centers or | | | | solution every time you water. Use 1/8 to 1/4 tsp. |
| seem to be bleaching out, reduce the number of hours | | | | fertilizer to one gallon of water. A balanced fertilizer |
| to 8-10 a day.When to Water:More violets die from | | | | should be used such as 20-20-20 or 12-36-14. Find a |
| overwatering than from any other single cause. Violet | | | | fertilizer with a low nitrogen urea content as urea |
| soil should be kept evenly moist and never allowed to | | | | burns the roots. Some brands are Peters, Optimara, |
| become soggy. Water only when the top of the soil is | | | | Miracle Grow, Schultz.Sharon Rosenzweig has been |
| dry to the touch. Always use tepid water.How to | | | | growing African Violets for more than 30 years. She is |
| Water:You can water from the top, bottom, use wicks | | | | a Board Member of the Baystate African Violets |
| or use self watering planters. However, about once a | | | | Society (BSAVS) in Massachusetts. She is the owner |
| month, plants should be watered from the top to flush | | | | of The Planter Depot which specializes in Oyama Self |
| out accumulated fertilizer salts. Never allow plants to | | | | Watering African Violet Planters and other growing |
| stand in water (unless wicked or Oyama Planters are | | | | supplies. |
| used). If water gets on the leaves, dry with a paper | | | | |