Individual stages may require more or less time depending on the cultivar, time of the year, and geographic location. Figure 1 . Production stages and timing for scheduling African Violets in 4-inch pots. The most important consideration for a disease-free crop lies with sanitation of all pots, flats, benches, medium, and any other articles coming in contact with the plants. Fungicide treatments come and go, but it is easier and less expensive to prevent disease problems rather than cure them.
Powdery mildew can be a problem during changeable weather.
This can be controlled by burning sulfur and modifying the environment to keep the foliage dry. Botrytis is best controlled by reducing the humidity. Insects Greenhouse cleanliness and isolation of new incoming material can go a long way toward preventing insect problems. The major insect pests of African Violets are foliar nematodes, thrips, mealy bugs, and cyclamen mites.