colors and forms have been produced. Grotei, the climbing African violet, and other new 
species have been discovered. They have also adapted themselves to somewhat different 
conditions. They are strictly house plants only. 
The advised range of temperatures for winter is 60° at night and 70° daytime. They 
might do a little better at 10° higher but that is uncomfortable for people in winter 
clothing and summer brings about 10° increase, in our living rooms. 
The plants do not like sudden changes nor great changes. A nearly even temperature, 
within a limit of 12° between high and low is better. They are bound to have a greater 
range sometimes and if not more than about 15°, they are unlikely to lose their flowers. 
Loss of flowers is the first evidence of something wrong. This may result from sudden 
changes, drafts, too high a temperature in summer and in winter it may result if 
temperature goes much under 60° for more than an hour or two. 
African Violets grown at a congenial temperature are usually killed if subjected to 
lower than 40°. It may be that if kept at 50° for some time they might then survive a 
lower temperature. But they neither grow nor flower at 50°. Therefore it is impossible 
for us to send you plants by mail in winter, to a cold climate. In favorable weather we 
can usually send to warmer sections of the south. Express is safer. Nor do we ship on 
very hot days in summer. We plan to ship so that they do not arrive to you on a week end 
and thus remain in a carton a day or two longer. We have sometimes shipped large 
orders, heavily insulated, to northern customers, living near an air port and who were 
able to meet the plane and transport in a warm car, in the winter. 
Watering. Do not use cold water. The water should be near the room temperature 
and never over 10° lower or higher. Most of our watering is done by spraying with a 
hose. The plants need to have the foliage sprayed and it does not spot the foliage if no 
sun falls on the foliage before they dry off. If late in morning, cover plants with news- 
paper after watering, until dry. The interval between waterings should be long enough 
to permit the top soil to become slightly dry. 
Good ventilation is needed by all plants but Saintpaulias do not like drafts. Slow 
movement of air currents are more conducive to their comfort. 
Soil formulae. Some growers sell prepared soils. Probably they are nearly all good. 
But the plants have a considerable tolerance and do well in a wide variety of soils. They 
should be at least mildly acid in reaction and a type that will drain easily and quickly. 
Heavy clay soils, therefore, are not good. 
We use about one half oak or redwood leaf mould and one half sandy loam or good 
loose garden loam. To this is added enough sponge rock or coarse sand to make the soil 
gritty and aid drainage. Fine screened peat is as good or better than leaf mold. It is not 
at all necessary to buy prepared soils. We list peat. Local nurseries sell leaf mould. Nature 
supplies sand, make your own mixture and save. 
Fertilizers. We use only Spoonit and recommend it to be applied once a month, on 
a day following watering. See our listing under Garden Supplies. 
Sun exposure. Most of the advice ‘one receives over-emphasizes shade. Lack of 
sufficient light intensity seems to us to be one of the most frequent causes of non- 
blooming. All shade plants need a certain amount of modified sunlight to make them 
flower. In the winter, the sun is at a low declination. Its rays must pass thru several times 
the thickness of atmosphere penetrated at noon in the summer when the sun is directly 
above or at “high declination.” Very little shading is needed on the greenhouse in winter. 
Treated thus, our plants bloom profusely all winter. Very likely, plants in a south window, 
anywhere in the north temperate zone, in winters, will be sufficiently shaded on the 
brightest days by a thin muslin curtain. It may not even be needed at all and on days 
of less than maximum intensity remove the shade. 
But summer sun is much stronger. One must give more shade. It should not, however, 
be too heavy. The plamts need much light. The color of the foliage will tell you what 
they can endure. When healthy plants have light, yellowish foliage they probably 
receive too much sun. Medium green is about right. Very dark green foliage indicates 
insufficient light and lack of flowers corroborates it. 
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