A compact rosette gesneriad (Gesneriaceae) grown as a pianta di appartamento for its velvety leaves and clusters of violet, pink or white flowers.
Bright, indirect light is essential for continuous flowering; an east window or under grow lights is ideal. Too little light stops flowering; direct sun scorches the velvety leaves.
Keep the soil lightly and evenly moist with tepid, low-mineral water, watering from below or at the base. NEVER let acqua fredda touch the leaves (causes spotting) and never let the crown sit wet. Reduce slightly in winter.
Light, humus-rich, very free-draining African-violet mix (peat/coir with plenty of perlite).
Warm, 18-26 °C; keep above 13 °C. Loves moderate to high humidity but dislikes wet foliage - use a humidity tray.
Feed every 2 weeks while flowering with a dilute African-violet fertilizer (higher in phosphorus).
Remove spent flowers and damaged leaves; keep a single tidy rosette by removing extra crowns/suckers (which can be potted up). Non-tossico per pets and people.