Toronto
Master Gardener Factsheet 
Toronto Master Gardeners are trained volunteers dedicated to providing horticultural information to the public.
For answers to horticultural questions contact the Toronto Master Gardeners' Info Line at the Toronto Botanical Garden (416) 397-1345 (Mon. to Fri. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m and Sat., Sun. and Holidays noon to 3 p.m.) or our web site.
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Toronto Botanical Garden is a volunteer-based, charitable organization whose purpose is to inspire passion, respect and understanding of gardening, horticulture, the natural landscape and a healthy environment.
777 Lawrence Avenue East
Toronto, ON M3C 1P2
Tel. 416-397-1340
Fax. 416-397-1354
www.torontobotanicalgarden.ca
Growing African Violets (Saintpaulia)
When is a violet not a viola? When it's an African violet. African violets are members of the Gesneriad family which is quite different from the violets that belong to the Violaceae family. The many thousands of cultivars available today have been developed from plants orginally gathered by Baron Walter von St. Paul-Illaire in 1892 in east Africa. The wild Saintpaulia grows in shady humid conditions in the Usambara Mountains but its habitat is threatened by logging and clearance for agriculture.
The right light: African violets are particularly sensitive to quality and quantity of light. Windows with morning sun but protected from hot afternoon sun are good. A north window is good, particularly in summer. They do well under fluorescent light 6 - 12 inches from the tubes which are on 12 -14 hours per day. Too little light causes long leggy stems and no bloom.
Ideal temperature: 18 to 26 degrees C. is an ideal range. They don't do well below 15 degrees at night and don't like extreme changes in temperature or drafts. They will tolerate lower temperatures better by having a drier soil.
Keep them moist: They prefer a humid environment. They benefit from pebble trays and need moist not soggy soil as plants that are kept too wet can rot. Use tepid water and don't water the leaves because spotting can occur.
A recipe for good soil: Potting soils should be well drained. Use a soil mix containing one part soil, two parts peat moss and one part perlite or vermiculite or coarse sand. Plant roots are tender and juicy and have difficulty pushing through heavy soil. Pots should be small as roots should be pot bound for the plants to produce bloom
Feed them with fertilizer: Use a soluble fertilizer with a ratio of 1-1-1 or 1-2-1. Feed with 1ž4 strength at every watering or use full strength once a month. Do not over fertilize.
Insects are not usually a problem. Dab mealy bugs with alcohol. With thrips or cyclamen mites it is best to get rid of the plant. Forcefully spray white flies with tepid tap water and dry the leaves … or get rid of the plant. With Botrytis or powdery mildew pick off and destroy the diseased parts.
Propagation is either by suckers removed from the mother plant or by leaf cuttings. Insert both suckers and leaves into moistened vermiculite. Check to see when roots have developed from rootless suckers or watch for new leaves emerging from leaf cuttings. Pot into 2 inch pots. Propagation is more successful when carried out in spring or summer with the increase of hours of light and warmth.
Factsheets are produced by the Toronto Master Gardeners in association with the Toronto Botanical Garden. They provide introductory information about a broad range of horticultural topics and are intended for personal use and study purposes. Should your gardening group or organization wish to use multiple copies we ask that you inform the Toronto Botanical Garden at info@torontobotanicalgarden.ca.
Date revised: This factsheet was created prior to May 2005.