Detailed Guide to African Violet Care and Precautions

African violet, also known as Saintpaulia, is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant in the genus Saintpaulia of the family Gesneriaceae.

African violet is native to the tropical regions of East Africa and prefers a warm, humid, semi-shaded environment. If light is insufficient, it will bloom less with pale colors, or even only grow leaves without flowering; if light is too strong, it will cause leaves to turn yellow and scorch. It can be placed in a bright spot without direct sunlight for care. The optimal growing temperature is 16°C to 24°C, and in winter it must not drop below 10°C. During cultivation, avoid sudden rises and drops in temperature, otherwise the plant can easily die. In summer, place it in a ventilated, cool spot for care, avoiding stuffy, humid environments and scorching sun. Usually, do not water too much; wait until the potting soil is slightly dry before watering. Waterlogged potting soil is often the main cause of plant rot. During the growing season, apply a decomposed dilute liquid fertilizer or compound chemical fertilizer once every 7 to 10 days. The nitrogen content in the fertilizer must not be too high, otherwise the leaves will grow very lush but there will be few flowers. If this happens, remove some leaves so the plant grows new leaves, thereby consuming excess nitrogen in the soil. Once the nitrogen in the soil is depleted, it will bloom abundantly. When flower buds appear, appropriately apply more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to make the flowers larger and more colorful. Stop fertilizing during low winter temperatures and high summer temperatures. When watering and fertilizing, avoid splashing water or fertilizer onto the leaves, and do not spray water on the leaf surface, because water droplets trapped among the leaf hairs will cause unsightly yellow spots on the leaves, or even rot. However, to increase air humidity, sprinkle some water around the plant. Repot once every spring. Since the plant is not large and its root system is relatively shallow, it is best to plant it in a shallow pot with a slightly larger rim. The potting soil should be loose, fertile, slightly acidic soil. It can be made by mixing 3 parts leaf mold soil and 2 parts sandy soil, or a growing medium made of 1 part leaf mold soil and 1 part peat soil. After two to three years of cultivation, the plant's vigor weakens, so new plants should be propagated to renew the old plant.