Saintpaulia ionantha, whose common name is the African violet, belongs to the family Gesneriaceae and is one of the most popular plants found in households today. It is a low, compact plant with thick, hairy, dark green leaves. It blooms all year round and can be a variety of colors ranging anywhere from a blue-violet to pink to white. This paper will take you through a few basic steps on how to properly care for your African violet.

Potting
One of the things to keep in mind when potting your plant is that the soil needed for an African violet must be porous. This allows for any of the excess water to drain off preventing root or crown rot. A good recommended soil mixture is that of 1 part sand or perlite, 1 part peat, and 2 parts fertile loam. With the proper soil attained you can now plant your African violet. In the web article “Caring for African Violets” it is suggested to set the plant so that the crown is just above the surface of the soil and then to firmly press the soil around it. With the violet now planted it must have the proper growing conditions to thrive.

Temperature and Light
The optimum temperature for an African violet is 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The general rule is that if you are comfortable so is the plant. It is also important for your plant to receive the amount of light it needs to keep it healthy and beautiful. Medium to high light is required.

Watering and Grooming
Like other house plants an African violet needs proper watering to survive. The water should be at room temperature to prevent any kind of shock that may result from it being to hot or to cold. For example, if the water is to cold it will cause a chilling of the plants roots which then causes the plants leaves to curl down giving it a general unhealthy look. Another important thing to avoid is getting any water drops on the leaves for it will leave large brown spots in its place The key to making sure an African violet is watered properly is to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Excessive watering can lead to root or crown root. Pythium ultimum is the fungus associated with the root/crown rot. It causes the plant’s roots to turn dark and soft and eventually the leaves will wilt.
While you are watering your plant this is also an opportune time to do any necessary grooming that may need to be done. Two basic grooming tips would include the cleaning out of any debris that may be collecting in the pot and dusting off the leaves with a soft-bristled brush. It is also important to remove any damaged flowers or leaves. Not only will your plant look healthier, but it will also prevent the plant from being to susceptible to any kind of disease or microorganism.
These are only a few basic tips on how to care for an African violet. I hope that you can find them useful in keeping your plant healthy and beautiful.

For more information go to the following web sites:
http://www.avsa.org/Magazine.html
http://www.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/horticulture/g182.htm