Saintpaulia, commonly referred to as African violet, is native to Tanzania and Kenya.
African Violets are also native to most tropical places in the world. You do not typically grow these from seed.
Most people grow them by cutting part of the plant and using pieces to grow a new plant. Because you do not usually use a seed, some species are slowly becoming endangered because they are being cleared for agriculture.
They typically grow between two and five inches and are more expansive than one foot, so they do not take up much room. The flowers on African violets bloom in violet, purple, pale blue, or white. They grow better in warmer climates because too much cold weather can make the leaves lose color.
Violets have been used to represent mothers and motherhood. Women are given gifts in many cultures worldwide when they are expecting or after having a baby. Because of their bright colors, they are also linked with Easter and Valentine’s Day. They should occasionally be watered, not letting the roots get dry. It would be best if you did not replant them in a more significant pot because they grow best when their roots get crowded. They do need moderate light to grow correctly, but it does not need to be direct light. If grown inside, then they will need to be rotated every week. Each section requires the same sun to prevent one side from growing more significantly than the other. The only pests that bother these plants are the mealybug.
However, you can easily avoid these pests if they grow inside and are cleaned monthly. They need to be “fed” with fertilizer once a month to help them bloom. Violets can be grown any year because you can cut leaves and grow a new plant. They also need humidity to grow. One day to add moisture to the air when they are growing inside is to spray warm water in the air around the plant. It adds just enough humidity to promote growth. However, if they are growing outside in a tropical region, you will not worry about this. These plants do need a particular type of soil to grow correctly. However, it can be purchased or made yourself.
