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Create a colorful home with African violets

I am interested in growing African violets to add some color in my home and would like some tips on how to grow them.

— Angelina Talbert, Morton Grove

You can easily add color and interest to your home with African violets given the different varieties that come in single, double, semidouble, star-shaped, fringed or ruffled flowering forms in shades of white, pink, blue, purple, red and bicolor. African violet, Saintpaulia ionantha, was introduced to the United States in the 1890s and became a very popular houseplant because it is easy to grow. Plants should be grown in good quality potting soil in a pot with drainage holes. African violets need bright light, but hardly any direct sunlight. They prefer temperatures of 65 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit in winter, which works for most in-home environments. Keep the plants out of drafts.

Apply a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 every four to six weeks during the growing season of March to November. Check the soil: it can’t be too dry, or there will be wilting and root damage. It should be slightly dry between waterings, which you can tell by testing the top inch of the growing medium. Add water from the bottom of the container to avoid water spots on the leaves. If you water from the top of the container, add enough so that it comes out of the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot and avoid getting water on the leaves. Use room-temperature water so you don’t shock the root system.

African violets grow well and produce lots of flowers when they get enough light. African violets that are exposed to too much sunlight develop pale yellow-green leaves and can take on a scorched appearance. You may also see bleached-out, burned, or dead areas on the leaves. South- or west-facing windows offer the best light in winter. A sheer curtain can help diffuse the light, especially as the sun strengthens going into spring. Windows with north or east exposures can be good during the spring, summer and fall growing season. Violets grown without enough light don’t flower well and can have leaves that become darker green and thin with long, weak stems.

You can also grow African violets under artificial lights. A shelf with two or more 20-to 40-watt tubes supports numerous plants. The tubes should be 12 to 15 inches above the tops of the plants and run for 14 to 16 hours per day. Look for fluorescent tubes that are designed to grow plants, or even less expensive “cool white” fluorescent tubes.

For more plant advice, contact the Plant Information Service at the Chicago Botanic Garden at plantinfo@chicagobotanic.org. Tim Johnson is senior director of horticulture at the Chicago Botanic Garden.