Caring For and Maintaining Your Streptocarpus

Streptocarpus (formerly Saintpaulia), or African Violet is a wonderfully compact, low-growing, and colorful houseplant—and among the most popular of all houseplants in the United States. Streptocarpus is a native of Tanzania and Kenya and loves bright light, warmth, and humidity. Under the right conditions, Streptocarpus will bloom almost the entire year. Be sure to remove any shed dead leaves from around the base of the plant, as they can lead to rot on the plant itself.

Sunlight: Streptocarpus craves bright light, but not direct sunlight. Streptocarpus will do especially well in windows facing either to the east or to the north. It will also do well under fluorescent lighting, so it is a good candidate for cheering up office space.

Water: Streptocarpus likes slightly most, but not soggy soil. When watering, use room temperature or slightly warmer water. Be sure water the soil around the plant and not the plant itself because its leaves do not like to be wet. Thus, when misting your Streptocarpus, make sure you apply only a very light mist.

Humidity: Colorado is a dry state with humidity levels much lower than the native environments in which Streptocarpus inhabit. To help create a more humid environment for your Streptocarpus, consider adding a fine mist humidifier to the room(s) in which you have your Streptocarpus. You can also place trays filled with stones and water nearby your Streptocarpus to increase local humidity. Misting your Streptocarpus very lightly with a hand sprayer will also help raise the local humidity level. Although the more humidity the better, a constant relative humidity of 50-55% will promote your Streptocarpus’s growth and health.

Temperature: Like most houseplants, Streptocarpus prefers temperatures in the range of 65-85 degrees F (18-30 degrees C). Avoid having your Streptocarpus experience temperatures below 60 degrees F (15 degrees C).

Soil: Use a well-draining potting mix. We recommend either Fertilome or Fox Farm Potting mix. Be sure not to leave any dead leaves on the soil around your plant. Remove any dead leaves from around the base of the plant to avoid rotting.