African Violets Assorted

$7.99
Title

African Violet is a compact, attractive flowering houseplant with soft, slightly fuzzy, rounded leaves arranged in a rosette. It produces clusters of delicate flowers above the foliage, often blooming repeatedly throughout the year when provided with suitable indoor conditions.

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Details & Plant Care

Difficulty:

Easy to Moderate

Water:

NA

Humidity:

They appreciate moderate humidity but should have good air circulation to reduce the risk of fungal problems.

Pet Friendly:

Non-toxic to cats and dogs, making African Violet a suitable choice for pet-friendly homes.

Light:

Bright Indirect Light

Plant Information

Common Names:

African Violet, Usambara Violet

Scientific Name:

Streptocarpus ionanthus (formerly Saintpaulia ionantha)

Country Of Origin

Native to the Eastern Arc Mountains and surrounding regions of Tanzania and southeastern Kenya in East Africa, where they naturally grow in warm, humid forest environments.

Growth Rate:

Moderate

Soil Type:

A light, loose, well-draining African violet potting mix with good aeration. A mixture containing peat or coco coir, perlite, and vermiculite works well. Use a shallow container with drainage holes.

Fertilize:

NA

Remember to only fertilize during their active growing season.

Common Pests

Thrips

Thrips

What To Look For: Tiny, slender insects are often difficult to see; damage appears as silvery or grey stippling on leaves, distorted growth, or black specks (their feces). May also see uneven colouring, leaf silvering, and leaf edges curling.

How To Treat: Use insecticidal soap, making sure to cover all surfaces, including undersides, and new growth. Trim off and discard severely infested growth. Monitor with sticky traps (blue or white) and isolate the plant.

Aphids

Aphids

What To Look For: Small soft-bodied insects (green, yellow, black or orange) usually congregating on new growth, stems or leaf undersides. Sticky residue (“honeydew”) on leaves or nearby surfaces, sometimes with sooty mold developing on it. Distorted or curling leaves, wilting, slow growth.

How To Treat: Isolate the infested plant to prevent spread. Blast with water to dislodge many adults, especially on newer growth. Use insecticidal soap, making sure to cover the leaf underside and new growth. Repeat treatments every 7 days or so until no new signs appear. (Since they reproduce quickly)

Mealybugs

Mealybugs

What To Look For: White, cottony or waxy masses on stems, leaf axils, underside of leaves. Sticky honeydew, sooty mold growth, yellowing or dropping leaves.

How To Treat: Use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to dab and remove visible bugs. Wash leaves and stems with gentle soapy water. In heavy infestations, consider removing very affected stems/leaves or, in the worst case, replacing the plant.

Broad Mites / Cyclamen Mites

Broad Mites / Cyclamen Mites

What To Look For: Very tiny mites that are hard to see; symptoms include stunted new growth, leaf curling, silvering, or abnormal distortion of growing tips. They prefer warm, humid conditions; they often show up where other pests are not obvious.

How To Treat: Because these mites are so small and hidden, treatment is more challenging: use a miticide labelled safe for indoor plants, or horticultural oil thoroughly. Remove and discard the most affected parts; isolate the plant.

Spider Mites

Spider Mites

What To Look For: Very fine webbing under leaves or between stems and leaves (especially in dry indoor air). Leaves may appear stippled (tiny yellow or white dots) or dusty; they may turn yellow, brown or drop. When you tap a leaf onto white paper, you might see tiny moving specks. (Often too small to see easily)

How To Treat: Increase humidity around the plant (since mites thrive in dry air). Spray plant thoroughly (both sides of leaves) with insecticidal soap or a miticide/plant-safe oil; repeat every few days. In heavy infestations, consider removing severely affected sections; isolate the plant.

Fungus Gnats

Fungus Gnats

What To Look For: Small flies hover around the soil surface when you water or disturb the plant. Larvae in soil feeding on root hairs and organic matter may lead to poor growth or young plants dying. Usually in overly moist potting soil or with poor drainage.

How To Treat: Allow the soil surface to dry a bit between watering; reduce over-watering. Use yellow sticky traps to catch adult gnats. Consider repotting into a fresh, well-draining mix and removing excess topsoil debris; you can also use a layer of sand or diatomaceous earth on the soil surface.