by Effie Moore Salem

Created on: June 27, 2007   Last Updated: January 26, 2012

Growing African Violets is rewarding and all time favorite hobby. Thought to be hard to grow, this is not so. What they are is demanding. They demand to be kept out of the sun, watered but not overly watered and they require a certain type of nutrients in their soil. They demand a small amount of your time and your attention but you will never become bored since the variety and the ways you can expand this hobby are numerous. It is one that can give years of pleasure as you learn how to pamper this 'hard to grow' plant. Actually it is not hard to grow if you keep it out in bright light, but not in sunlight, water it only when it needs it, but not too much and give it plenty of love and attention.

The formula for feeding is different than for regular plants so be sure. You must purchase African violet food and follow the directions carefully. Then all this is necessary is that you just love them and watch them grow and increase. The variety of African Violets is many, but my favorites are miniatures. Thy take up less space and you can add them to little terrariums, grow them in coffee cups and for effect tuck one into an arrangement of other flowers. (Temporarily, of course)

A North window is the perfect location for these exotic flowers. Although they are called African Violets, the real name is actually Saintpaulia. And color wise, there are white, pink, and violet, purple, blue variegated, and all colors in between since hybrids abound. So please rescue one of these dainty little flowers from Wal-Mart, or one of the other stores that bring them in by the carloads each autumn. They seem to know that summertime is not the right time to stock up on African violets; outside the world is in bloom and why bother with a contrary little pot that hides inside? Yet sassy as these little beauties are, they will compensate you for your love and attention.

Don't over water them; neither let them go dry. They will almost coo for you if you place them in a sink and gently spray their leaves with room temperature water occasionally. There's a certain sense of accomplishment when one can purchase a plant almost gone, and nurse it back to a healthy state. Sometimes, a short while before dumped, the stores selling them will place their neglected ones or ones showing distress on sale. This is an easy way to collect extra variety of plants; but be careful, these could be diseased and you could infect all your plants. A good way of preventing this is to keep the new ones isolated for a few months until you are sure they are healthy and are disease free.

Propagation is easy. When a leaf is accidentally broken, put in water to root, or in a small pot and keep moist. Or snip off leaves and split the stem and secure to moist soil with a toothpick. Keep well watered and in several weeks a new little plant will emerge.

African Violets need to be loved. You cannot ignore them and expect them to bloom and showoff for you. This happens only with a generous amount of love and care. Only then will they reward you, their benefactor, with hardy blooms. They outshine the hardy philodendrons and ivy, as any one who grows these will tell you. On a bleak dreary morning there will be a new flower to greet you. to say, thank you. This is for you.

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