I love violets. My grandmother grew African violets and had them placed on tables in her living room. Some were so old they cascaded over the container and rested on the table. They always seemed to be blooming. My mother grew them, too. She was great at clipping a leaf from her plant, placing it in a small glass covered with foil and propagating a new plant. Her kitchen windowsill was always lined with violet leaves. Growing up, I was not allowed to water her delicate plants as they took “special care”. I did not appreciate that until I attempted to grow my own and learned they can get root rot and die overnight from too much or incorrect watering practices.

African violets are free-blooming plants with thick, fuzzy leaves. The leaves can be spoon or holly shaped, ruffled or smooth. They can be varying shades of green or even marbled with creamy yellow or white blotches. They have clusters of delicate flowers (usually 5 petals) that range in colors from deep purple, ruby red, pink , baby blue and white. The flowers can be singles, doubles, curly, wavy or fringed. All flowers have bright yellow centers. There are standard sized plants (10-12 inches) to miniatures (4-6 inches), and even some with a naturally spreading growth habit.

African violets originated in East Africa. Their botanical name is Saintpaulia and they belong to the Gesneriaceae genus. They prefer to be grown in crowded conditions, in high humidity with indirect light. I grow violet plants in glass terrariums with the container resting on rocks. Use room temperature water when watering. These delicate plants do NOT like to be sitting in water and if kept too wet, will develop root rot and expire. Wick-irrigation works well with violets and is easy to do. Fertilize well-established plants once a month with a diluted acid fertilizer (soil has to be watered first). Propagate from seeds, leaf cuttings, or division.

As a newlywed, I ordered four miniature African violets from a Violet Society magazine. To my surprise, they were delivered in a 4”x4” box. I think two died within the first month, but somehow I kept the other two alive for many years. They lived on a bathroom windowsill where they received indirect light and plenty of moisture. I must have paid some attention growing up at my mom and grandmothers' house.