| Description: |
A compact form of the species. |
| 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 |
| Soil Type: |
Use a GOOD rich potting soil (a soil that retains water yet drains well), such as an African violet mix. If you want to mix your own take:
1 part garden soil, 1 part coarse sand or perlite and 2 parts peat or humus (leaf mold).
Always use a pot with a hole.
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| Watering: |
Keep the soil evenly moist at all times. Use warm water. |
| Fertilizer: |
Feed weekly during the spring and summer using a water soluble fertilizer. |
| Plant Pests: |
Prone to whitefly, mealy bugs, aphids and scale, spider mites. Always inspect any new plant for pests before introducing it to your home or greenhouse. |
| Propagation: |
Stem cuttings and air-layering
in the spring.
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: |
Cut back and start new plants from cuttings. Remember to keep warm in the winter. Place pebbles or gravel in the drainage dish to hold water and increase the humidity, make sure the pot is sitting on the gravel and not in the water. Mist frequently with warm water (lime free to avoid leaf staining) and remove the flower spikes after they die. If possible put outside for the summer in the shade. Repot in the early spring.
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