Hi Mike ...

Believe it or not, a plastic pot with the dimensions of 3.5in diameter/4.5in deep is TOO BIG for a miniature African Violet. A pot that size should hold a plant that will grow to approx. 3 times the pot diameter (i.e. a standard - 12 inches in diameter).

African Violets come in, essentially, (3) size ranges ...

Standard - 8+ inch diameter when mature

Semi-Miniature - 6-8" diameter when mature

Miniature - not exceeding 6" diameter when mature

A mature miniature or semi-miniature AV will be most comfortable in a pot no larger than 2 1/2" in diameter.

The most typical sized pot for an African Violet standard is the pot that you have - 4" diameter.

Difference in AV mature size (and appropriate potting sizes) can be seen in the following photo ...

Since this is your first African Violet, you should be able to find a nice blooming Optimara at a local florist. The Optimaras have been bred to tolerate many of the mis-steps that a first time grower might take. One of these plant would be perfect to begin to learn about how to care for AV's. (i'm recommending a florist to try and help you avoid some of the pest problems which often come with grocery store purchases plants).

There are a few things you will want to do BEFORE you bring your African Violet home ...

1. Make sure that you have selected a suitable location in which to place it. This location should receive either window sunlight (from no more than 2 feet away), ... or you will have to provide additional fluorescent lighting. CFL's in desk-lamps work just fine for this.

Also, this location should be relatively free of drafts (either warm or chilly). Your AV will need a fairly steady temperature to grow best.

2) Check your water provider to see if they use Chloramine in their water processing. If they do, your tap water will eventually kill your plant. You will have to find a suitable water source. Spring water purchased from your grocery will work well.

When you have selected your AV and brought it home, please note the following care issues ...

1) ONLY water the plant ... when the surface of the soil is fairly dry. More AV's die of over-watering, than from any other cause.

2) Make sure that the plant gets adequate window light, ... or fluorescent light for 10-12 hours/day.

3) Make sure that the pot the plant is growing in has DRAINAGE HOLES. If there is any allowance of your plant to sit in water which has collected at the base of the pot, ... your plants roots will rot ... and the plant will follow shortly.

4) Place the pot in a plant saucer, ... to catch excess water during the watering process. Make sure that any water sitting in the saucer is discarded shortly after watering.

5) Eventually, you will want to find a fertilizer for the plant, though I would hold off on fertilizing until you are sure that the plant has adjusted to your environment (approx. 1-2 months). You will want to find a fertilizer specifically formulated for African Violets (some growers report good results with Orchid fertilizers, as well). Be careful not to over-fertilize. To some extent, ... LESS is always better than MORE.

And be sure to continue to frequent the Gardenweb African Violet forum, as we discuss these issues all the time. You will be sure to pick up valuable guidance here.

Thank you so much aegis! Wow, would u say that any plant (not just AV) would fit into a pot size 1/2 to 1/3 of the plant's mature width? Because I read that same advice somewhere on the internet and wasn't sure to what extent that applied to other plants.

Are Optimaras a type of cultivar or species?

How do you deal with raising the humidity? I'm thinking of using a air humidifier but I am scared that might be going overboard.

Having potting diameters no more than 1/3 of the plant's CURRENT leaf-span is specific to African Violets. The rule might also apply to African Violet Gesneriad cousins, but others plants have different requirements.

Optimaras are a set of African Violets bred by the Holtkamp Nurseries. These plants are many times sold in grocery and hardware stores, ... and so have been bred to be tolerate of common mis-steps in AV care. Optimaras comprise a wide variety of flower colors, forms, and foliage types. If you google "Optimara African Violets", you can get a sense of what they have to offer. If you are not averse to ordering plants online, you order from a small selection of full-sized plants from the following link ...

http://www.selectivegardener.com/African-Violets-plant-c4/

But, as I mentioned previously, Optimara Violets are typically also found in groceries, big box hardware stores, and florist shops.

I would steer you to a florist's shop because the plants sold in groceries and big box hardware stores, typically, carry Thrips, a common African Violet insect pest, which will spoil your blossoms and full enjoyment of your plants.

So, look around, and see what catches your fancy ...