How to grow and care for the African violet, a famous indoor flowering plant

The African violet (Saintpaulia) is a small, elegant plant with thick, velvety leaves, rich flower colors, and graceful flower shapes. It blooms continuously through all four seasons and is easy to manage, making it an important indoor ornamental plant.

The African violet originates from the understory rocky areas of montane rainforest regions at 1,000 to 2,000 m in tropical Africa. The local environment is shady and humid, rich in humus, and spring-like all year round. The plant fears both cold and heat; the suitable temperature is 18-24°C, below 16°C growth is slow, the leaves harden and droop, and it is prone to mold diseases; below 10°C it is susceptible to cold damage, with the leaf margins and young leaves scorched, and below 5°C continuously the plant dies; above 27°C the plant grows leggy and blooms very little, and the flowers are prone to withering and fading, and with continuous high temperatures above 35°C the plant easily rots and dies.

Because the African violet is a small indoor flower, it is best to cultivate it in carefully selected small pots, gradually moving it from a small pot to a slightly larger pot according to its growth needs. The soil should be well-drained, loose and fertile; a potting mix made of 2 parts leaf mold, 2 parts peat, and 1 part perlite (or sand) can be used. Since it likes shade, in summer when the sun is intense and the temperature is high, pay attention to shading from above and on all sides, but ensure sufficient bright scattered light and ventilation; it is best to place it in an air-conditioned room. In winter, apart from shading at noon, it should get more sunlight in the morning and evening. Below 15°C, keep it warm. The number of flowers is proportional to whether the light is sufficient. If indoor light is insufficient, supplemental lighting can be used (especially fluorescent lamps). The African violet is very well suited to growing and blooming indoors under fluorescent lamps with air conditioning. When watering, water only when the potting soil is slightly dry (looks slightly white to the eye), so as to avoid excessive moisture causing root rot and death; the amount of water can be slightly more in summer, and it is better to keep it slightly drier in winter. Fertilize once every 1-2 weeks; a compound fertilizer high in phosphorus and potassium and low in nitrogen with N (nitrogen) 1 : P (phosphorus) 3 : K (potassium) 2 can be used, and avoid applying too much nitrogen fertilizer, which causes vigorous leaf growth and very few flowers. Because the leaves have hairs at the base and the leaf stalks are soft and fleshy, when watering and fertilizing, gently lift the leaves, and never let fertilizer water stain the leaves, to prevent spots on the leaves and scorching and death.

Diseases include root rot, crown rot, and powdery mildew; pests include aphids, mites, thrips, nematodes, and so on, all of which are common diseases and pests. Generally, prevention is the main approach, such as strictly sterilizing the soil, strengthening environmental ventilation, and reducing indoor humidity; diseases and pests can basically be controlled. If they do occur, they are not difficult to treat with conventional pesticides.