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African Violets: How to Care for African Violets | The Old Farmer's Almanac

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African Violets

Blooming blue violet (saintpaulia) in a plastic pot on a home windowsill.

African Violets are delightful houseplants and will brighten up any room with their purple, pink, or white colors.

Photo Credit
Ludmila Kapustkina/Shutterstock
Botanical Name
Streptocarpus (formerly Saintpaulia) ionanthus
Plant Type
Houseplant
Sun Exposure
Part Sun
Soil pH
Slightly Acidic to Neutral
Bloom Time
Varies
Flower Color
Blue
Pink
Purple
Red
White
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How to Care for African Violet Plants

Catherine Boeckmann
November 9, 2023
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African violets are small houseplants that grow well in average house temperatures, flowering almost continuously in clusters of white, blue, or purple blossoms over fuzzy leaves. Here’s how to care for African violets in your home while they fill your home with joy.

About African Violets

Despite their common name, African violets are not a type of violet but produce vivid, violet-colored flowers. They are now categorized in the genus Streptocarpus. However, as their name suggests, African violets are native to East Africa, stemming from the tropical rainforests of Tanzania and Kenya. In 1892, German colonial officer Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire identified these plants and sent seeds back to Germany. Read more about these dainty plants here.

African violets do best and produce the most blooms in bright, indirect light with regular house temperatures (no lower than 55F at night nor above 75F during the day). Though they are generally easy to care for, they can go through fussy spells. Don’t be discouraged!

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Planting

How to Plant African Violets

  • You can use an actual African violet potting mix or an all-purpose potting soil, as long as it is well-draining. Here’s how to create your own mix.
  • Keep African violets planted in small pots and repot every few years to mix in fresh soil. Being a bit pot-bound encourages African violets to bloom more, so don’t be too quick to give them more space.
  • The soil should be loose and well-drained; high organic matter content is a plus. Learn about organic soil amendments. 
  • When repotting African violets, don’t plant them any deeper than they were already planted, and be careful not to bury the crown. African violets’ stems can be susceptible to rot if kept too moist.

African violet flower

Growing

How to Care for African Violets

Watering

  • Keep the soil lightly moist, but be careful not to overwater, as African violets’ soft stems are very susceptible to rot. Learn more about proper watering and care.
  • Use room-temperature water, as chilled water can leave marks on the leaves.
  • Leaves are susceptible to rot and fungal spots if kept in high humidity, so water African violets from the bottom to avoid getting excess water on the foliage.

Lighting

  • African violets prefer bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sunlight and keep them at least a few feet away from bright south- or west-facing windows. An east- or north-facing window gives them the best lighting without the risk of burning their sensitive foliage. 
  • Artificial lighting works well, too. Use fluorescent or LED bulbs to supplement natural lighting.
  • Thin, dark green leaves and leggy stems tell you the plant is getting too little light; light green or bleached leaves indicate too much light.

Fertilizing

  • During the active growing season (spring and summer), fertilize every 2 weeks with a high phosphorous plant food. Only start to fertilize when the plant appears to need an extra boost (slow, thin growth; pale or yellowing leaves).
  • Over-fertilizing is a more common problem than under-fertilizing, since most soil mixes come infused with plenty of nutrients.

General Care

  • Many varieties prefer warm conditions (65°F/18°C or warmer) though some are more tolerant of cooler conditions. In any case, keep them away from drafty windows in winter.
  • Plants should be shifted to larger pots as they grow, but keeping African violets slightly root-bound can encourage them to bloom. One sign that your violet needs repotting is wilted leaves.
  • The fuzzy leaves have a tendency to collect dust and dirt. Brush them off gently with a small, soft-bristled paintbrush.
  • Blooming issues? Check out our tips on how to make sure your African violets flower.

For more information on African violets, visit the website of the African Violet Society of America.

African violet flowers in white

Recommended Varieties

Hundreds of varieties and hybrids exist, from miniature violets to trailing varieties! They differ mainly in the colors of their flowers, which range from white to purple, though some varieties also have variegation in their foliage and flowers. 

African violets are typically classified by size, based on how wide they grow: 

  • Miniature: less than 8 inches across
  • Standard: 8–16 inches across
  • Large: more than 16 inches across

Gardening Products

Wit and Wisdom
  • Violets (Viola)—though unrelated to African violets—are one of the February birth flowers, so a potted African violet can make a bright gift for a February birthday.
  • The violet symbolizes loyalty, devotion, and faithfulness. Find out more flower symbolism here.
Pests/Diseases
  • Cyclamen mites can affect African violets. They are nearly impossible to remove completely, so disposal of the infected plant and isolation of nearby plants is recommended.
  • Spider mites can also be an issue.
  • Powdery Mildew appears as fuzzy white blotches on stems and leaves.
  • Various forms of rot and blight are also common.
Houseplant Guides

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Comments

Dianne (not verified)

2 weeks 3 days ago

Are African Violets harmful to cats if they try to eat them?

Sue E (not verified)

2 weeks 3 days ago

I've grown African violets for years and have found that mine have done best when located in a sunny kitchen window over the sink. If the window is too sunny you can put a sheer curtain behind them in summer or a heavier one to keep out drafts in winter. Since they are tropical plants, they LOVE the moisture from the sink.

Rhonda (not verified)

3 months ago

I had recently re potted my african violets due to the neck. I'm not sure what happened, but they started getting droopy and limp and just pittiful looking.
I re potted them again, but the same thing is happening again. I feel I overwatered the first time. Now, I'm watering less, but there is barely any life.
Is it possible to remove all leaves and just plant the stem in new soil and hope for good results?

Hi Rhonda,

Sorry to hear about your African violets. They are such beautiful plants.

Repotting your African violets is very specific and the African Violet Society of America has a great resource for how to repot your plants when dealing with necks, which is natural in their growing process.

Check out this link https://africanvioletsocietyofamerica.org/learn/violets-101/repotting-a-violet-with-a-neck/ for step-by-step instructions.

Andrea (not verified)

6 months 2 weeks ago

Is there anything I can use the beautiful flowers for? A craft or soap coloring perhaps? I've read that they are not edible but they are so cute!

Interesting question, Andrea.

We are not aware of ways to use the flowers of African violets. It would be interesting in soap; we don’t know it is too delicate, but try it!

doris a tyler (not verified)

7 months 1 week ago

I have 5 African violets in a long pot. They were growing great for 10 years and now they are growing these big long roots. I am going to put them in their own pots and water them from the bottom. But what do I do with this long root which looks like a vegetable? Can I cut it off? Will that harm it? Thank you.

donna (not verified)

10 months 1 week ago

My cat knocked the top of my African violet off. Can I save the plant?