African Violets Can Present A Challenge

One of the most recognizable houseplants around is that of the African violet. Not necessarily because it is the easiest plant to grow, but because it is one of the few houseplants that will bloom throughout the entire year with the proper care. That is the key to their success, proper and consistent care.

I have tried the African violet many times, but they are not too keen on my lack of attention and forgetting about them in a spare room with a bright light. In fact, what usually happens, as I visit them monthly during that rare trip to the spare room, is watch them suffer a very slow and frightful death throughout a two-year period. I have learned through trial and error that they need a little more care than I was used to giving them.

African violets are native to Tanzania, where they were discovered in the late 1800s. By the early 1900s, they were introduced to the rest of the world for cultivation. Their habitat resides in the understory of the tropical forests, where they are now being threatened due to the clear cutting of the land for agricultural uses. There are as few as six native species in that region, which bloom in colors of violet, purple, pale blue and white

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