Saintpaulia ionantha
African Violet
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African Violet (Saintpaulia ionantha) - Description
African Violets are tender, herbaceous flowering indoor perennials. They have thick, fuzzy leaves, and when treated right they produce a mound of vibrantly colored flowers. The care is quite easy as they simply love the same temperatures that we humans do at around 65 to 75 degrees being their comfort zone. Any cooler than that and their growth may stunt, without being able to recover all the way.
African Violet (Saintpaulia ionantha) - Blooming
If conditions are right, African Violets will flower continuously throughout the year. Provide 12 hours of light per day to prolong flowering; however, do not allow the African Violet to get any direct summer sun (even indoors).
African Violet (Saintpaulia ionantha) - Growth
African Violets grow low to the ground and the flowers sprout from the center of the plant. Normally grown as an indoor, potted plant. Does best when the temperatures average 60 to 70°F/16 to 21°C. Prefers high humidity. If the house air is dry (which can happen artificially in winter when people heat their homes), place the pot in a gravel filled saucer. The saucer will collect water to increase the local humidity, while the gravel will prevent the pot and growing medium from coming in contact with the water. That would not allow the growing medium to thoroughly dry out.In winter move the African Violet to the brightest indoor light.
African Violet (Saintpaulia ionantha) - Planting
Can be sown from seed, but can also be propagated for rooted cuttings or divisions.African Violets should be repotted at least once per year, and they should be repotted into a container that is similar in size as the original container (it can be the same container if the African Violet did not grow much). It is important not to overpot as they do best with cramped rootzones. The pot should be smaller than the overall width of the full grown plant. Repot when the width of the plant is 3 times larger than the width of the pot. If a plant gets to be 9" wide, the pot should be 3" wide. If the plant grows to be 12" wide, repot the plant in a pot that is 4" wide.Another good way to know when it is a good time to repot is if the potting soil always dries out quickly.
African Violet (Saintpaulia ionantha) - Pest
African Violets are susceptible to aphids, cyclamen mites, thrips and mealy bugs.
African Violet (Saintpaulia ionantha) - Interesting facts
The genus name, Saintpaulia, is named for the person who allegedly discovered the African Violets in the wild. Baron Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire sent specimens of the African Violet to Germany in 1892. At the time Baron Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire was a district commissioner in Tanzania where the African Violets are native. Since the flowers had a violet hue, they were given the common name African Violet.
African Violet (Saintpaulia ionantha) - Soil and irrigation
African Violets have unique needs for watering. Irrigation water should be room temperature or slightly warmer. They should not be allowed to sit in standing water for over 2 hours after an irrigation event. The growing medium should be thoroughly wet after irrigating, but do not water again until the soil feels dry to the touch.
