Growing African Violets

How to plant African violets

• You can use an actual African violet potting mix or an all-purpose potting soil. 
• Keep them planted in small pots and re-pot once a year to mix in fresh soil.
• The soil should be loose and well-drained, and high organic matter content is beneficial. 

Care

How to care for African violets

• Keep the soil lightly moist and use room-temperature water.
• Leaves are susceptible to rot if kept in high humidity, so water African violets from the bottom to avoid getting excess water on the leaves.
• Dust dirt off the leaves with a small, soft brush.
• Fertilize every 2 weeks with a high phosphorous plant food, but only during the active growing season (spring and summer). Only start to fertilize when the plant appears to need an extra boost. Over-fertilizing is a more common problem than under-fertilizing.
• Many varieties prefer warm conditions (65°F / 18°C or warmer) though some can tolerate cooler conditions. Keep away from drafty windows in winter.
• Thin, dark green leaves and leggy stems tell you that the plant is getting too little light; light green or bleached leaves indicate too much light.
• Plants should be shifted to larger pots as they grow, but keeping African violets slightly root-bound can encourage them to bloom. The optimal time for repotting is after some leaves have wilted a bit.

Pests/Diseases

• Cyclamen mites can occur. They are nearly impossible to remove completely, so disposal of the infected plant and isolation of nearby plants is recommended.
• Powdery Mildew
• Various forms of rot and blight