Quick care guide
Bright filtered light; an east window or suitable grow light often works well.
Keep lightly moist but not saturated, and avoid leaving water in the crown.
Moderate humidity without wet leaves remaining cold.
Light, porous African-violet mix.
Light and placement
Bright filtered light; an east window or suitable grow light often works well. Place the plant where it can remain stable rather than moving it repeatedly. Watch the newest growth: smaller leaves, stretching or leaning usually mean the plant needs more usable light, while pale scorched patches can follow sudden exposure to strong sun.
Window direction is only a starting clue. Distance from glass, curtains, nearby buildings, trees and seasonal sun angle can change light dramatically. Move the plant gradually when increasing exposure.
Watering and roots
Keep lightly moist but not saturated, and avoid leaving water in the crown. Water thoroughly when the plant’s root zone is ready, then let excess leave the drainage hole. Empty cachepots and saucers. A plant in lower light, a larger pot or a moisture-retentive mix will usually dry more slowly than the same species in warm bright conditions.
Light, porous African-violet mix. Repot only when roots are crowded, the mix has decomposed, or drainage behaviour has changed. A modest increase in pot size is safer than surrounding a small root system with a large volume of wet mix.
Growth, pruning and propagation
Compact flowering rosette. Prune with clean tools and remove only damaged or unwanted growth. Cleaning leaves helps you notice pests and allows light to reach the surface.
Propagation: Leaf cuttings or division of crowns.
Common problems
No flowers in weak light, crown rot from wetness, and leaf spots from cold water or sun. Diagnose by checking soil moisture, root condition, light and recent changes before adding fertilizer or pesticide. Damaged leaves may not recover, so judge improvement by healthy new growth.