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African Violet

Also known as

Bristol's Playful Spectrum, African Violet ( Buckeye Sursparilla ), African Violet- Buckeye Sursparilla, Rob's Sticky Wicket Trailing African Violet and Trailing African Violet

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Saintpaulia Ionantha

Genus

Saintpaulia

Family

Gesneriaceae

Order

Lamiales

How to care for African Violet

💦 Water

How often to water your African Violet

African Violet needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for African Violet in your home

African Violet may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of African Violet in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize African Violet

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for African Violet: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your African Violet after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

I love her! #AfricanViolet #bexplants #PlantAddict #HappyPlants

Browse #Saintpaulia

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

African Violet prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

African Violet Water Frequency →

African Violet Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

African Violet may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

African Violet Light Requirements →

African Violet Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

African Violet is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

Is African Violet Edible? →

African Violet Toxicity to Cats →

African Violet Toxicity to Dogs →

African Violet Toxicity to Humans →

🪴 Soil

African Violet does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for African Violet →

Best Pots for African Violet →

When and How to Successfully Repot African Violet →

What Are Healthy African Violet Roots →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
African Violet can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 11a-12b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

African Violet Temperature Tolerance →

African Violet Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with African Violet →

When to Plant African Violet →

How to Plant African Violet →

Where to Plant African Violet →

Winter Care for African Violet →

Best Companion Plants for African Violet →

Is African Violet a Weed? →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in African Violet, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.