African Violets are one of the all-time top favorites when it comes to flowering houseplants. These plants, of the genus Saintpaulia, are popular because of their pretty flowers and ease of care. Some would disagree that they are simple to care for, but when a few key conditions are met, African Violets will flower almost all year.

The leaves are fleshy and fuzzy, and usually a nice deep green. There are varieties that have variegated leaves, as well. The flowers come in lots of different colors, including the obvious purple, in its many variations. Other colors you may find are red, yellow, mauve, coral, and many shades of pink. There are also multicolor African Violets, called “fantasy colors”. The flowers can be singles (having just the standard five petals), or doubles (having more than five petals).

First, the type of flower pot you use is important. African Violet pots are shorter than standard pots and should have deep saucers. You can always purchase an inexpensive plastic saucer to place the flower pot in. There are also self-watering pots that can be very helpful. They take the guess-work out of watering your Saintpaulias, which are a bit finicky. Plus, self-watering pots will prevent splashing of water onto those delicate leaves.

Second, the potting mix you plant your African Violet in is very important. There are excellent African Violet potting mixes on the market, which can save you some time. If you are using a self-watering pot, the mix you choose will be less important. Self-watering pots will provide just the right amount of moisture. If you plan on hand-watering, you may want to add some perlite to the mix. Perlite is also easy to find. You can get it at your local greenhouse or garden center. Perlite should be added to the mix at a ratio of one third perlite to two thirds potting mix.

Third, light is extremely important to African Violets. That is, they are sensitive to light levels. In their native environment, they are protected from direct sunlight. It is important to replicate that low light if you want your African Violet to flourish. Sometimes it’s hard to hold back the sunshine that makes all of your other flowers so happy, but in this case, you must. North or East facing window are best. If you see brown leaves, then you are providing too much light. Of course, you can be too cautious. If you don’t see any flowers, you aren’t providing enough light.

The fourth and final element of successfully growing African Violets is the way you water them. If you do not use a self-watering pot, it is best to water from the bottom of the pot. This is why a deep saucer is recommended. You should slowly add water to the saucer, allowing the potting mix to wick it up. It is good to let it sit for about one hour until all that can be taken up has been. Be careful not to let it sit for too much longer than that, or you may drown your plant! Watering this way will keep water droplets from getting on the leaves, which they dislike very much. Also, use tepid water every time you irrigate. African Violets can be physically damaged if cold water touches them.

African Violets are a little picky, as you see, but they are also easy to care for it you know what they like. Armed with a little information, these pretty flowers can become a nice addition to anyone’s windowsill.