The African Violet (Saintpaulia) continues to increase in popularity, having developed over the past 50 years from its few hundred varieties to the many thousands that exist today. This complete guide details the plant's history, development, and practical information on propagation and care.

Have you ever killed an African violet? Kent and Joyce Stork killed their first violet too! They soon mastered the skills for growing the plant and eventually wrote for the African Violet Magazine, the official publication of the African Violet Society of America, Inc. for over ten years. Their column For Beginners explained the basic elements of growing violets in an entertaining and straightforward way that anyone could understand. Now these columns have been adapted and edited to provide even the most novice grower with a step-by-step guide, whether the goal is simply to keep violets alive or to exhibit the plants in competitive shows.

Learn the secrets of growing African violets indoors from a grower with over thirty years of experience.

A complete and thorough update for a successful guide, originally reprinted nine times. An authoritative guide to success with these supposedly difficult plants, with clear, practical advice from Britain's leading African Violet specialist. Completely free of technical jargon, and illustrated with superb colour photographs, African Violets will fire would-be collectors with enthusiasm and give encouragement to those who have previously found them difficult to grow.

Grow in the Dark puts the spotlight on 50 of the best houseplants you can grow in your dim or dark apartment. Author Lisa Eldred-Steinkopf, known as the Houseplant Guru, shares the knowledge she’s gained tending to her own personal jungle of over 1,000 houseplants. Having a south-facing window doesn’t always guarantee you the best light to grow plants—especially if your window faces an alley or a tree-lined street. What’s the point of growing an urban jungle if tall buildings are blocking all your sunshine? This compact guide, designed to look as good on your shelf as it is useful, will help you learn how to make the most of your light so you can reap the physical and emotional benefits of living with plants. Detailed profiles include tips on watering your plants just right, properly potting them, and troubleshooting pests and diseases. You’ll also learn which plants are safe to keep around your pets. Whether you live in a shady top-floor apartment or a dungeon-y garden level, this book will help you grow your plant collection to its healthiest for its Instagram debut.

The Study of Plants in a Whole New Light “Matt Candeias succeeds in evoking the wonder of plants with wit and wisdom.” ―James T. Costa, PhD, executive director, Highlands Biological Station and author of Darwin's Backyard #1 New Release in Nature & Ecology, Plants, Botany, Horticulture, Trees, Biological Sciences, and Nature Writing & Essays In his debut book, internationally-recognized blogger and podcaster Matt Candeias celebrates the nature of plants and the extraordinary world of plant organisms. A botanist’s defense. Since his early days of plant restoration, this amateur plant scientist has been enchanted with flora and the greater environmental ecology of the planet. Now, he looks at the study of plants through the lens of his ever-growing houseplant collection. Using gardening, houseplants, and examples of plants around you, In Defense of Plants changes your relationship with the world from the comfort of your windowsill. The ruthless, horny, and wonderful nature of plants. Understand how plants evolve and live on Earth with a never-before-seen look into their daily drama. Inside, Candeias explores the incredible ways plants live, fight, have sex, and conquer new territory. Whether a blossoming botanist or a professional plant scientist, In Defense of Plants is for anyone who sees plants as more than just static backdrops to more charismatic life forms. In this easily accessible introduction to the incredible world of plants, you’ll find: • Fantastic botanical histories and plant symbolism • Passionate stories of flora diversity and scientific names of plant organisms • Personal tales of plantsman discovery through the study of plants If you enjoyed books like The Botany of Desire, What a Plant Knows, or The Soul of an Octopus, then you’ll love In Defense of Plants.

African Violets: Gifts from Nature-The Series Book One In 1892 while on an evening stroll with his fiance in East Africa, Baron Walter von Saint Paul discovered an unusual plant with delicate purple flowers growing along a stream on his plantation. Legend has it that he picked a bouquet and presented it to his fiance, staring the worlds love affair with the African violet. Today, this plant is indeed the most popular indoor flowering plant grown by gardeners and plant enthusiasts around the world. Whether your goal is to enjoy beautifully flowering African violets in your home, to become an expert grower of these lovely plants, or to develop a deeper understanding of how the plants function, a series of three books are being written to meet your needs. The Series provides you with an authoritative guide, taking you through all the steps necessary for growing elegant African violets and at the same time explaining to you the secrets of why the plants respond to the various growing practices used daily in their care. When writing about African violets, Melvin J. Robeys expertise, pragmatism, humor and love of the subject are clearly evident. The reader will find down-to-earth, up-to-date information in this first of three books in The Series of African Violets: Gifts from Nature. Your African violets wont flower? In this book eight common problems are explored, exposing the secrets to having plants whose crowning glory of blossoms tells everyone you are the superhero of the African violet world. You will also enjoy 44 dazzling color photographs and illustrations, along with several black and white illustrations. A unique chapter on the history of the African violet plant allows the reader to explore the fascinating story of how this spectacular houseplant has captured the imagination of plant-olgists worldwide. For more information on African Violets: Gifts from Nature--The Series visit www.africanvioletbooks.com.

The complete book of African-violets.

Do you wish there was a way to save your African violet from inevitable death? Or wonder if there are any tips to encourage them into flowering? Do you know for sure what is happening to them? I know the feeling when you've just acquired your first African violet plant from a well-known garden center with a lovely purple bloom. Or maybe they were sent to you as gifts or you inherited them from a loved one. You really enjoy watching them grow and flower. It's a great sentimental feeling. Until one day, you notice that your African violet looks miserable! The new leaves under the flower's crown seems to dry or they've started losing their color and turning brown. The once lovely classic purple blooms are looking droopy and withering fast - and it looks really bad. Is there any way to save the plants at this point? You wonder: You know you have to do something about it. So, you result to visiting gardening forums for the much-needed advice and encouragement. Sure, you get some suggestions. Some help you save some plants but for the rest, death is inevitable. And it becomes a dreaded vicious cycle before you decide these darn little plants are so temperamental and quit altogether. It's not your fault. How could you know what is happening? You've done everything right; you've followed all the advice you could get but still no hope for your Saintpaulias. Besides, how could you succeed if the advice you've been receiving has been extremely vague. For instance, you're told to avoid too little or too much light. If you're a flower gardening beginner, what does this really mean? It doesn't have to be this way. Don't get held back again with your gardening passion. And more so, your love for the most popular indoor plant in the world - the African violet. All you have to do right now is get: The African violet Bible: How to Grow Saintpaulias that Bloom 365 Days a Year (Indoor Flower Gardening Book) Finally! An African violet book that is in-depth enough to help you keep your indoor plants in top shape. Are you a beginner looking for the basics of growing amazing indoor saintpaulias? Or you're an advanced African violet enthusiast and want to take your game to the next level? Have you been growing these houseplants since you were a child, but they always inevitably died as you didn't keep up the proper care regime? Then you need to get a copy of The African violet Bible. This book is not only packed with practical information, but plenty of photos and illustrations to help you understand important concepts. While getting this book is one of the smartest moves you'll make today, it won't solve all your gardening problems neither will it transform you into an overnight green thumb. How much you succeed will depend on how much you're willing to do. Still with me? Here's a brief overview of what's covered in the book: All the growing basics (this alone is enough to transform your craft) How to force blooming by using a framework I developed called the Ball Rolling Technique (No more 'too little or too much light stuff' - you'll know exactly how much light is required to trigger Florigen (a hormone responsible for flowering). Watering African violets is a controversial subject - the facts and watering techniques have been covered. How to save your indoor plants from inevitable death by mastering the 'Pest and Disease Triangle, ' and much more. By purchasing this book, you're on your way to achieving phenomenal results in houseplants gardening. Scroll up to the top of the page and hit the BUY NOW