How to Care for Streptocarpus Plants

Plant the streptocarpus plant in a well-draining soil mixture. A mixture such as a peat potting mix is ideal for these plants. When potting, make sure that the plant roots have room to breathe, but do not use an overly large pot or a terra cotta pot, which may retain too much moisture and damage the roots. If you plant the streptocarpus outdoors, amend the outdoor soil with peat to increase its draining ability.

Keep the plant in a room that receives daily temperatures no less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit and no more than 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Ideally, you should keep the plant in a sunny room but away from direct sunlight, which can scorch the leaves.

Wait until the soil begins to dry out before watering. When you water, do so with room temperature to warm water, and only until the soil is moist. Overwatering can quickly damage streptocarpus plants.

Fertilize the plants every other watering between March and October. Mix a well-balanced, water-soluble fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10, to one-fourth the recommended dose.

Whenever a leaf or flower dies, remove it from the plant. If you need to remove an entire branch or shoot, first soak your garden scissors in 20 percent chlorine bleach solution (1 parts chlorine bleach and 5 parts water) before cutting, which is the best way for you to disinfect the shears, and avoid transferring any rot or disease to other parts of the plant.