| Description: |
Fibrous rooted, forming upright plants with single or double flowers in a wide range of colors. |
| Environment: |
Suitable for the home or a greenhouse |
| Growing Ease: |
Requires a little extra care |
| Lighting Needs: |
Does best in bright indirect sunlight coming from the South/East/West |
| Soil Type: |
A commercial African violet mix will suffice. If you want to mix your own take:
2 parts garden soil, 2 parts humus (leaf mold), 1 part coarse sand or perlite, 1 part peat, 1 part rinsed aquarium charcoal chips and, a little fine grade fir bark
Always use a pot with a hole.
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| Watering: |
Keep the soil evenly moist and do not let plant stand in water. |
| Fertilizer: |
Feed every two weeks except during summer when you can fertilize weekly. It is recommended that you use a water soluble lime free fertilizer. |
| Plant Pests: |
Prone to spider mites, mealy bugs, aphids, mildew and crown rot if the soil is kept too wet. Always inspect any new plant for pests before introducing it to your home or greenhouse. |
| Propagation: |
Stem cuttings
at anytime.
It is best to propagate any type of cuttings in a mixture of moist peat and perlite. Cover the pot and plant with a plastic bag secured by a rubber band to prevent moisture from escaping. Place in indirect sunlight or under a fluorescent light. Repot in its regular mix after it has been growing for a while.
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| Gardening Tips & Care: |
Pinch back and always use a pot with a drainage hole. Avoid drafts and getting the leaves wet. This plant is difficult to maintain in the summer, so discard it if it doesn't do well. If possible put outside for the summer in a shady location. After flowering, cut back and repot.
An ideal plant for a hanging basket.
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