How to Make an African Violet Lay Flat

Place your African violets in a north-facing window in summer but move them into a bright eastern exposure in winter. Vase-shaped plants with leaves that grow at an upward angle aren't getting enough light. Alternatively, use grow lights placed 10 to 12 inches above the plants and keep the lights on for 12 to 16 hours each day.

Keep your African violets out of direct sunlight, which scorches the leaves. Plants receiving too much light also develop stunted and distorted leaves.

Rotate plants grown near windows every two or three days for even growth. If you don't rotate the pots, the plants will grow toward the window, distorting the crown and the leaves on the far side.

Keep the air temperature around your violets between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If necessary, use insulated curtains over your windows at night to shield the plants from drafts. African violet leaves exposed to cold drafts cup under. Temperatures that are too high or too low also interfere with blooming.

Use a fast-draining medium such as a prepackaged specialty mix for African violets. Water your plants when the top inch of the soil feels dry. Discard any water remaining in the saucer after 10 minutes. Overwatered plants have soft, weak stems and leaves that flop downward.

Check the underside of distorted plant leaves for insects such as mealybugs and mites, both of which can cause the leaves to curl under. Remove mealybugs with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol, but discard mite-infested plants and sterilize the pots they grew in before reusing.