African violets stay in near-continuous bloom on the same tidy, fuzzy-leaved rosette, making them one of the most popular flowering houseplants for a sunny windowsill.
Native to the cloud forests of Tanzania and Kenya, African violets are prized for their velvety leaves and clusters of purple, pink, or white flowers that can rebloom for months at a time under the right conditions.
African violets want bright, indirect light — direct sun will scorch their fuzzy leaves — and a light, well-draining potting mix formulated for African violets. Water from the bottom or at the soil line, since droplets left on the leaves can cause unsightly spots. Feeding with a diluted African violet fertilizer every few weeks keeps blooms coming.
A pot only slightly larger than the root ball encourages African violets to bloom more reliably — an oversized pot tends to push the plant toward leaf growth instead of flowers.
