Few flowers, elongated leaf stalks, pale growth, or brown and yellow blotches are reasons to inspect light alongside water and temperature. Long stalks fit too little light. Blotches or scorching fit excessive light, but no single sign settles the cause.
African violet light
Give Saintpaulia ionantha bright, indirect or filtered light. Too little light can reduce flowers, while hot direct sun can brown or yellow leaves and scorch them.
Plant coveredSaintpaulia ionanthaAfrican violet · indoor container
Check the light reaching the leaves
Best position and light
Give African violet foliage bright, indirect or filtered light. Insufficient light can prevent flowers. Strong direct sun can cause brown or yellow blotches and scorching.
Use a bright indoor position with filtered exposure rather than a hot unshaded pane. Add a suitable grow light when winter flowering is the goal, but lamp type, distance and schedule are not set for every home.
Recheck the same position through the year
Seasonal light changes
Winter’s shorter days can reduce flowering, so reassess the light then. RHS describes at least 12 hours for good flowering, not a target for every foliage-only Saintpaulia container.
Inspect the plant before moving it
Signs the light may be wrong
Some light thresholds remain unknown
Limits of this light guide
Sources
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Plants of the World OnlineTaxon identity; synonymy
- Royal Horticultural SocietyBotanical details; name status; cultivation
- Royal Horticultural SocietyPositioning; Problems; Leaf symptoms; No flowers
- North Carolina State University Extension Gardener Plant ToolboxDescription; Cultural Conditions; light and houseplant use