Just two years after they were discovered, a New York florist brought African
violets to the United States. But in drafty homes of the late-nineteenth
century, the plants often became chilled and died. They became known as finicky
and hard to grow, a reputation that proved untrue after the fluorescent
lightbulb was introduced in 1938. It was then that people discovered that with
just a small amount of care and under lights, healthy plants would bloom for
six months and rest for three before starting their cycle again.
Today, African violet hybridizers have created countless foliage types and a
rainbow of flower colors by combining the parent plants Saintpaulia ionantha and Saintpaulia confusa. Some beauties to look for include plants with
variegated, blotched, wavy, oak leaf, quilted, and fringed leaves, with flowers
that range from single, double, star, ruffled, bicolored, and even striped. The
combinations are endless!
Temperature, Soil, and Light. One thing to remember when raising African violets is that they like the same
temperature as people do. If you keep your home at seventy degrees during the
day and lower the thermostat to sixty at night, your plants will be happy. Any
hotter or cooler, and it tends to stunt their growth.
They love soil that is loose, porous, and drains well. Look for a specific
African violet potting mix, which has better drainage and more acidity than
regular houseplant potting soil. If your house lacks humidity, choose a soil
that is higher in organic matter, which will hold more water and not dry out as
quickly. Also, consider your pot: choose plastic pots instead of clay, which
lose more water through evaporation. And for the best bloom, keep your plants a
bit root-bound.
A huge consideration for continuous bloom success has to do with the quality of
light you provide your plants. Giving your African violets enough—but not too much—light will be your challenge. Generally speaking, a location with bright,
indirect light from a south- or east-facing window is best. Turn your pots a
quarter rotation weekly and they will grown evenly and retain their symmetrical
rosette form. A good way to test the intensity of the light your plants are
receiving is by putting your hand between the plant and the window with the
back of your hand toward the light. If the light casts a shadow but your hand
doesn’t feel hot, you’re headed in the right direction.
Water. One of the most important things you can do to ensure your African violets stay
healthy and continue to bloom with profusion is to learn how and when to water
them. Develop a timeline in which the plants are watered thoroughly and allowed
to dry out a bit in between. African violets are particularly susceptible to
leaf spotting caused by cold water splashed on the delicate, furry leaves, so
be very careful to lift the leaves and water only the soil if you water from
the top.
Watering from the bottom in a tray that allows the roots to wick the moisture
is the safest method; just be sure to empty the tray so the roots will not
become waterlogged. Use only tepid water and mix in a diluted solution of
chemically balanced fertilizer such as 20-20-20. Once every six weeks, give
your African violets a “flushing” by watering well from the top to flush the fertilizer salts from the soil. 
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