Violets for beginners
As a child, I would stare in awe at my grandmother鈥檚 jewel-colored African violets with their collars of fuzzy leaves, convinced that only gardeners of my grandmother鈥檚 high reputation could get plants to bloom so gloriously indoors.
They were stunners, but they were all similar in blossom and color, a trait that didn鈥檛 excite the fledgling gardener in me. Today, they come in widely diverse sizes (from three inches in diameter to 16), colors (blue, purple, red, green, pink, yellow, multicolored), bloom shapes, and foliage (including variegated). The best type for beginners, says Ralph 鈥淩ob鈥� Robinson of the Violet Barn in Naples, N.Y., are trailing types, with their multiple runners and crowns. His 鈥淏ob Serbin鈥� 鈥� a semidouble wine-red with white edges and quilted leaves 鈥� is one such example of an easy-to-grow beauty. Get the hang of their simple needs, and growing African violets becomes an easy routine.
African violets聽(Saintpaulia ionantha) 鈥� named after Baron Walter von Saint Paul, who brought them from East Africa 鈥� are one of the world鈥檚 most popular houseplants of all time. They are easy to grow, if you follow these general rules.聽
Light may be the most important element to get right. They like bright, indirect light 鈥� preferably from an east-facing window or fluorescent lights 鈥� where the temperature stays between 65 and 80 degrees F. with 50 to 60 percent humidity.聽
Watering is the trickiest part. Their soil needs to be kept lightly moist at all times. Whether you water from the top or fill a saucer from below, do not let the pot sit in water.聽
As a rule, violets do best in soils that are loose in texture, porous, and well drained, with a high percentage of organic matter and a pot that is smaller than the overall diameter of the plant.聽
Lastly, African violets鈥� bloom, blossom color, and leaf variegation are highly sensitive to environment. Your houseplant may not be identical to the one in a professional grower鈥檚 picture.聽
