African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha) care

Begonias & violets · straightforward to keep

African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha) wants bright indirect light. Water it every 6 days. Water from below: stand the pot in 2 cm of tepid water for twenty minutes, then drain. Cold water on the leaves leaves permanent pale rings. Pot it in a light African violet mix — peat-free compost with plenty of perlite. A high-phosphorus African violet feed at quarter strength with most waterings while in flower, and repot once a year. Humidity: above 50%. Non-toxic to cats and dogs.

The African violet: a rosette of furry leaves and clusters of small velvety flowers, on a plant that can bloom almost year-round on an east windowsill. It has been bred into thousands of named varieties since its discovery in Tanzania in 1892, and it is propagated from a single leaf — which is why grandmothers' plants outlive grandmothers.

Quick facts

Water: Water every 6 days. Water from below: stand the pot in 2 cm of tepid water for twenty minutes, then drain. Cold water on the leaves leaves permanent pale rings.
Light: Bright indirect light.
Humidity: Above 50%.
Soil: A light African violet mix — peat-free compost with plenty of perlite.
Feeding: A high-phosphorus African violet feed at quarter strength with most waterings while in flower.
Repotting: Repot once a year.
Toxic to pets: Non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Difficulty: Straightforward.
Mature size: 15–20 cm across.
Native to: The Eastern Arc mountains of Tanzania.

Watering an African violet

Water every 6 days. Water from below: stand the pot in 2 cm of tepid water for twenty minutes, then drain. Cold water on the leaves leaves permanent pale rings.

That cadence is the one PlantParlour sets for this species when you name it, and it is deliberately on the cautious side — a plant that asks a day early is safer than one that asks a day late. Log each watering and the reminder moves with the plant rather than with the calendar.

Light

Bright indirect light — an east window is close to perfect. African violets flower reliably at a light level that suits an ordinary room, which is much of why they have been popular for a century.

Humidity and temperature

Above 50%. Central heating in winter is what turns a comfortable room into a dry one, and it is the usual reason an established plant suddenly browns at the edges or picks up spider mites.

Soil and potting

A light open mix in a small shallow pot. African violets flower best when snug and rot if the crown sits in wet compost.

Feeding

A high-phosphorus African violet feed at quarter strength with most waterings while in flower. Stop feeding in autumn and start again when you see new growth in spring — feeding a plant that isn't growing just builds up salts in the pot.

Repotting

Repot once a year. Once a year, into the same size pot with fresh mix. Bury the bare stem a little deeper each time.

Common problems

Pale rings and blotches on the leaves
Cold water splashed on the leaves.

Fix: Water from below with tepid water. The marks are permanent on those leaves.
No flowers
Too little light, too big a pot, or too much nitrogen.

Fix: Move it to a bright east window, keep it snug, and use a high-phosphorus feed.
Crown going soft and brown
Water sat in the centre of the rosette.

Fix: Water from below only. A rotted crown is usually fatal — take leaf cuttings while you can.

Propagation

A single leaf with 3 cm of stalk, pushed into damp compost, makes a cluster of plantlets in two or three months.

A cutting taken in PlantParlour keeps its link to the plant it came from, so a propagation years later still traces back to the mother plant — which is the point if you ever sell or trade it.

Toxicity and safety

Non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Questions people ask

Why does my African violet have pale rings on the leaves?

Cold water splashed on the leaves. The furry surface holds droplets against the tissue and chills it, leaving permanent pale rings. Water from below with tepid water — stand the pot in 2 cm of water for twenty minutes and then drain it.

How often should you water an African violet?

Water every 6 days as a starting point — that is the cadence PlantParlour sets for Saintpaulia ionantha. Water from below: stand the pot in 2 cm of tepid water for twenty minutes, then drain. Cold water on the leaves leaves permanent pale rings. Light, pot size and the time of year all move that number, so treat it as a reminder to go and check rather than a rule.

How much light does an African violet need?