African violets (saintpaulia)
African violets are cheerful, colourful house companions that require little care and yield bountiful flowers for years to come. Thriving in comfortable temperatures, faint sunlight and minimal water, African violets are as low maintenance as they are gorgeous, making these blooms ideal for indoor display. By simply learning the caretaking basics, you can incorporate these exotic blossoms into your own home.

• Colours: African violets bloom in vibrant hues of white, pink, lavender and deep purple, often in unique combinations on a single petal. Most African violets also feature bright green and white foliage. Given what they need, African violets are among those rare and special houseplants that are easy to care for and bloom continuously throughout the dark winter months.

• Temperature: Ideally, African violets should live in a 21°C (70°F) space, but they can easily withstand nighttime temperatures as low as 18°C (65°F). But in general, simply stick to room temperature—if you feel comfortable, chances are your African violets are comfortable, too.

• Light: Like us, African violets need good light, but hot, direct sunlight can scorch their foliage. For a constant but indirect stream of light, position your flowers near an east-facing window, provided it is not drafty. During the colder months, move your flowers to a warmer location at night.

• Water: Believe it or not, more plants die from over-watering than under-watering. This is especially true of African violets. When watering your blooms, adhere to these simple rules to strike that perfect balance between thirsty and drowning:

  • Water from the bottom: When the soil around your plant is dry, fill a saucer with lukewarm water, position the saucer underneath the pot and allow the plant to slowly absorb the water. If your plant is especially thirsty (absorbing the water in only a few seconds) refill the saucer, but don’t allow the plants to sit in water for long periods of time as this can result in root decay.

  • Stay dry: When watering your plants, avoid getting the foliage wet as this can create leaf spots and blemishes.

• Fertilizer: African violets need to be fertilized regularly to maintain healthy foliage and continuous blooming. Use a fertilizer customized for African violets, following the label’s directions carefully, or use a general liquid houseplant fertilizer at half-strength (mix one part fertilizer with one part drinking water).

  Tip: Before feeding your African violets a general liquid fertilizer, allow the solution to sit overnight, as the plants do not respond well to chlorinated drinking water.

• Repotting: Every six months or so, you need to repot your African violets. Repotting provides them with fresh nutrients and helps get rid of built-up fertilizer salts. Follow these simple steps to replace your pot:

1. Choose a pot that is approximately 10 cm (4”) deep and 2.5 cm (1”) larger in diameter than the plant. Be careful to not choose a pot that is too large, as African violets need to be firmly situated in the pot to bloom.

2. Fill the pot with fresh soil, using a prepackaged African violet potting mix or your own mixture. The African Violet Society of America recommends a combination of equal parts peat moss, vermiculite and perlite. Gently tease the old soil from the roots of the plant and place at the same depth in the new pot, filling and gently firming the soil. Water thoroughly.

3. Using a makeup brush or soft artist’s brush, gently remove the soil from the foliage. Built up dirt on foliage will interfere with the plant’s ability to photosynthesize, so you should do this fairly often.

Orchids (phalaenopsis orchids)
The phalaenopsis orchid is another beautiful and easy-to-grow houseplant that enjoys much the same conditions we do, requiring little maintenance and blooming for long periods of time. From bright white to lush fuchsia, this flower features an elegant, askew silhouette that can stand on its own as a striking but minimalist décor piece.

• Colours: Orchids bloom in shades of white, pink, lavender and yellow in both solid colours and mixes of coloured stripes and spots. Each individual bloom lasts for three or four months.

• Temperature: The orchid is fairly flexible with regard to temperature. A room between 12°C (55°F) and 29°C (85°F) is comfortable, with daytime temperatures in the low- to mid-20s (70s) and nighttime temperatures of 15°C (60°F) encouraging optimal flower spikes.

• Light: Orchids thrive best when placed near or within a bright window. Like African violets, an east-facing window is ideal for avoiding direct mid-day sun that can scorch an orchid’s leaves.

• Water: Orchids should be watered infrequently but thoroughly. Water the orchid generously, then wait until the potting mix is nearly, but not completely, dry before watering again. In the winter months, soil will dry out in about a week. During spring and summer, check the soil every four to six days.

  Tip: In the winter season, lower humidity in your home will require you to water more frequently.

• Fertilizer: A slow-release granular fertilizer with equal proportions of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium will keep your orchids happy—“NPK (14-14-14)” fertilizer is recommended and can be found at home improvement stores and garden centers everywhere. If you prefer liquid fertilizer, be sure it contains the same proportions of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium and apply it based on the label’s recommended rate. Fertilizer should be incorporated every other time you water your orchid.

• Repotting: Potting is best done in late spring or early summer after the orchid’s blooming is finished. Use this step-by-step approach to guide you through the repotting process:

1. Your orchid should be potted in a quick-draining mix like fir bark, tree fern fiber, chunky sphagnum peat, charcoal, perlite, or a balanced combination of several.

2. When choosing your mix, consider that young plants—under a year old—should be repotted yearly in a finer grade mix to allow solid root contact and development. Mature plants can thrive in a coarser medium and may stay in the same pot for several years, provided the mix has not begun to break down.

3. To repot your orchid, gently remove all potting mix from the roots, trimming off any rotted, black roots as you go. Spread the remaining, healthy roots over the new mix in the pot. Then fill the rest of the pot with fresh potting mix, taking care to fill it evenly, eliminating all air pockets. Keep in mind that the place where the upper roots and stem of the orchid connect should be slightly beneath the surface of the mix.

4. After you’ve repotted, keep your plant in the shade for one to three days, then resume watering it normally.

With African violets and phalaenopsis orchids, you get the unusual beauty of an exotic flower and the low maintenance of an everyday houseplant. Choose them as a special expression of your love, or as a simple way to help your home blossom.