African Violets for the More Modern-Minded

If you hear “ African reddish blue ” and think “ grandma , ” we need to talk . There ’s no rationality why you should flash immediately to frumpy when that menage of plants is mentioned . The fact is , the connexion between penis of the Gesneriad family and doyley need to be updated . Ditto for the presumption that African violets are difficult . certainly , you could fuss and cocker these plants if it makes you happy . But all that extra alimony is not necessary .

The Gesneriad family is Brobdingnagian . harmonize to the Gesneriad Society , it ’s about 3,400 species strong , with a whole mint of multifariousness . Only one chemical group — Saintpaulia , aka African violet — has reached wiz status . But then , in my opinion , all that hubbub is warranted . From primrose - similar rosette of velveteen leaves , violet - lookalike flowers protrude up . They ’re endearing , to be indisputable . But the fact that they perform primarily in autumn and wintertime when we ’re starving for colorful houseplant is what really ship their get up whiz into orbit . As presently as dwelling house became dependably fond Nox and sidereal day ( in other Book , when central heating systems gained popularity ) , African violet became fixtures on the windowsill . Their cheerful color range , which includes electric blue air and shade of pink , certainly did n’t suffer . Based on their performance , African violets have waltzed in and out of the limelight ever since , let in a major spike in the 1950s with the tea and crumpet crew . And they show signs of surging again .

Maybe your grannie coddled her African violets because she had too much fourth dimension on her hands , because they really do n’t need it . Watering them from below sure does n’t suffer , but it is n’t necessary if you use tepid water and propose the spout forth from the foliage . Water when the dirt is lightly wry but not sear , and do not drown the pitiful things . A container with good drainage is key . An east or west window work fine ; you do n’t want to bake the plants in the direct lighter of a south window or give them the dark treatment of a northerly exposure . Both extremes lead to deficiency of flower .

Although the sailor blue and pink of yesteryear were certainly sufficiently riveting , the colour range has increase to let in purpleness , reds , and maroon . Green accents are an option . Plus , smirch , streaks , banding , fringing , and flouncy double - blossom version are now readily usable . ( Your nanna would palpitate . ) To advance reblooming , keep them deadheaded . whisk pass flowers away immediately prods them into pump out blossoms . African violets can tolerate temperature that slide down to 55 ° F at night , but they prefer slightly warmer temperature . And like most plant ( except succulents ) , they do not like a Sahara - dry atmosphere . If your lip are getting chapped , run a humidifier . Or place your pots on a 1 - inch layer of crushed rock that ’s half - filled with water .

Meet the cousins

There are more arcane members of the African violet kinship group that qualify as large cohabitating candidates . Several have a train habit , but if grow in a hanging basketball hoop does n’t exercise for you ( and quite aboveboard , the care and watering of something dangling around your home perplexes many of us on a practical level ) , just set the container on a plinth and let the lax stems robe down .

▸ Codonanthe

Tidy thumbnail - size , forest - green leaves with a matt surface are dappled with cream , white , or ballet - slipperpink blossoms . And codonanthe is fairly ironclad .

▸ Nematanthus

leave-taking gleam against prime that are guppy - shaped and hopeful orange in profusion .

▸ Columnea

A little more finical , with long wilted chains of leave go with by a string of brilliantly colored gaping flowers , these plants opt warm temperatures and heedful lachrymation that does n’t splosh the folio . I say leave them to the expert .

▸ Aeschynanthus

Dragonlike , plush , gap tubular flowers in shades of orangeness and ruddy stand out against smooth , mysterious green leaves .

Aeschynanthus . Photo : Friedrich Strauss / gapphotos.com

African violet emphatically have mainstream appeal , but other members of the Gesneriad clan have also butterfly with renown for good ground . Right now , Cape primrose ( Streptocarpusspp . and cvs . ) is 2nd in popularity , despite a Latin name that sounds like it might require antibiotics . With long , velvety leaves and comparatively big cannular blossom , strep have the wow factor . And they ’re sufficiently compact to host on your average windowsill without bogarting precious space . The only issuing is moth-eaten permissiveness . If you become the thermostat down below 60 ° F at nighttime , streps are not going to be well-chosen . An distressed streptococcus does n’t hang up around long to protest . It just perishes .

Instead , go with aPrimulina(formerlyChirita ) if your home is n’t consistently toasty . It ’s got the same kind of form as Cape primrose , but with a growth wont that can get a little stretchy rather than hold that squiffy rose window . But that ’s the swap - off for a plant that farm blossoms even when you thrust on sweaters . essentially , if you ’re well-situated in your home without an overcoat , yourPrimulinawill be ducky .

Fads in gesneriads add up and go . For a while , flaming violets ( Episciaspp . and cvs . ) were all the fury due to their patterned leaves with combinations of ash grey , brown , green , pink , raspberry , and immature markings . In summation , they also produce prolific bloom , which tote up to the display . However , they tend to mow without terrarium - like humidity . Gloxinias ( Gloxiniaspp . and cvs . ) used to be pop for their immense tubelike blossoms , but many indoor gardeners found the fact that they go completely dormant in summer disconcerting . Ditto for Achimenes , which blossom prolifically in a encompassing range of mountains of colour on chase after stems but performs only in summer and move hibernating in winter . And do you commend the micro - miniSinningiafad when folks were excruciate the tiny plants in thimbles ? Their tendency to go dormant also write dying for that delirium .

Although you might see a smattering of flowers at other times of year , many appendage of the African violet clan really go gangbusters in fall . To pitch up for that extravaganza , regale them like royalty during the summer with even moisture ( but not overwatering ) and fertilizer ( I apply Pisces photographic emulsion ) once every three weeks until Thanksgiving , and then pause with feedings until give , when light increases again and the plants want food . Do not go crazy with generous plenty promotions ; African violet choose cramped root system . They also prefer shallow containers rather than deep Mary Jane , because their roots grow horizontally rather than directly downward . When repotting , apply a light , peaty potting soil rather than medium that have the consistency of concrete . And avoid parky H2O when serve drinks .

It ’s time to bring African violets up to speed . With a little finesse , they could and should be major player in the current trend toward develop flora indoors . If you need colour on your windowsill when the growing season fizzles alfresco , these are great prospect . Update the spirit , and they could bring autumn and winter from “ blah ” to “ ahhhh ” in a nictitation . You need these industrial plant close by .

– Tovah Martin is the source of several books on houseplants , includingThe Unexpected Houseplant : 220 Choices for Every Spot in Your Home .

This clause originally appeared atGetting substantial with African Violetsin Issue 190 ofFine Gardening Magazine .

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(left): Codonanthe, Photo: Friedrich Strauss/gapphotos.com; (right): Nematanthus, Photo: Nova Photo Graphik/gapphotos.com

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