African violets (Saintpaulia) are probably the most popular indoor houseplants in the world. You can create beautiful arrangements with their blooms, and they're not as fussy as you may have believed, says Charlie Nardozzi of the National Gardening Association. Members of the gesneriad family, African violets require bright light but no direct sun. They should be fertilized with a product designed for African violets (follow package directions for frequency), and they need annual repotting with an African violet potting mix. Because these plants don't like cold water on their leaves, bottom watering is advised. Pour lukewarm water into the saucer, and replace the pot. The water will be wicked into the soil in 20 to 30 minutes. Never allow African violets to sit in water longer than 1 hour. You can place several plants in a water-filled tray at one time. Provide humidity by placing the pots on a shallow tray filled with gravel (figure A) and adding water to the gravel. African violets may need additional light during winter. Supplemental full-spectrum light can be provided with grow lights, which should be positioned as close to the foliage as possible -- ideally 3" to 4" above the flowers -- for 14 to 16 hours a day. Propagation of African violets is easy, as they grow readily from leaf cuttings. Remove a mid-sized leaf with shears, leaving a bit of the stem (petiole) attached. Dip the cut end into rooting hormone, and place the prepared cutting into a pot filled with moist vermiculite. Cover the pot with a plastic bag, and keep the rooting medium moist. In a few weeks, the cutting will form roots and then new leaves, and you can transplant it into a soil formulated especially for African violets.
RESOURCES :
the African Violet Society of America
for the book African Violets
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