CULTURE OF STREPTOCARPUS Streps like the same conditions as African violets, except: 1. A little more light. 2. More alkaline soil (soil that is closer to neutral, rather than slightly acid). 3. A looser soil mix (see below). 4. COOLER TEMPERATURES. Ideal is roughly 55(F) to roughly 72. In temps over about 80-85, streps will wilt even if the roots have plenty of water. This is deceptive, because it looks as though the plant needs water, but it doesn't - it's just heat stress. You can tell that this is happening because, even though you didn't water the plant, its leaves firm back up at night, when the temperature cools down. If you overwater streps during hot weather they will die. However, they can handle some heat; mine are seldom below 80 in summer and do fine. The key is to have a coarse, loose soil mix, so the roots get plenty of air. Half perlite is not too light, although it needs frequent watering. Clay pots also help. Or, of course, you can just put your streps in a cool room :-). 5. If you can keep them cool streps are easy to grow. Streps can be started from leaves. Cut the leaf in half and stick any part of it into rooting mix. It's weird.