Under the right conditions, many varieties of African violets will bloom year round. If your violet hasn't bloomed in a while, it may not be getting enough light. Try moving it to a brighter window or growing it under florescent lights. Your violet may also need some fertilizer to bloom. Fertilize each time you water, using one-quarter of the strength recommended on the package. If you violet has been in the same pot or soil for a while, repotting may give it the boost it needs to flower. If it looks like there is more than one African violet in the pot, it probably has suckers (baby plants growing off the mother). Removing the suckers will help the mother plant bloom. African violets bloom best when they are rootbound. The pot should be one third the diameter of the plant. For example, if your plant measures 12 inches across, it should be in a 4-inch pot. Join us on the African Violets forum.

av's do not like wet feet. difficult, but not impossible with gritty mix. at some point, you might want to pinch the flowers, and allow the plant to rest. you might also consider taking a leaf to start a new plant. check with the folks on the AV forum. Listen to irena ….

That is rather hot for AV's but they can take it. Watch closely for mites however as that is an ideal range for them to proliferate while the plant stresses in the heat. If you can keep your temps below 80, your AV's will be happier for it. On the other hand, with temps over 85 degrees and up, if you can keep the plant alive, it does raise the odds that it may sport on you. Possibly to become a chimera, but it's also riskier that it could take root or crown rot and collapse suddenly. So putting down backup leaves to start new babies would be a good idea. Sounds good otherwise. You certainly do not have to pinch the flowers. If the plant is otherwise happy and healthy, you may continue to enjoy them until it exhausts itself but be warned that the crown may die if there is no active growth. To me that's not a big deal because I restart my plants from time to time by leaves or suckers, anyway. If you do not want that to happen, then yes I would suggest removing the flowers and all buds until you have good strong growth with new leaves. A plant /can/ exhaust itself by blooming to death, though that is more common with Streptocarpus than African violets in my personal experience. So you have options! ;)

Since I am so new to AVs and just went crazy since I met Rosie at the spring sale, I have not learned many lessons yet. One lesson I have learned only this morning is I need to stop buying leaves from this person on ebay. Because none of the leaves I bought from him last. I ordered 3 times, now all of them are dead no matter what method I use, soil or water. Other leaves I got from other people are not like that, at least some are still alive not like 100% fatality. I think his plants are prone to rot. As for checking photos before ordering, I am sorry to say I didn't do on many of the Russian/Ukraine varieties. They are not available other than the seller's photo. So I just have to wait and see. If they all bloom true, I will have a heck of a collection.