Violet, or saintpaulia, is a genus of herbaceous flowering indoor plants of the Gesneriaceae family. Her homeland is the East African mountains of Tanzania, where it is always warm and humid. For the modern world, the plant was discovered by Baron Walter von Saint-Paul at the end of the 19th century. Small, constantly blooming Saintpaulias quickly won the hearts of flower lovers. These small plants amaze with the beauty of their flowers and are able to decorate any room.
Growing violets in an apartment is quite simple, even a novice plant lover is unlikely to encounter difficulties when leaving. Many gardeners keep entire collections in their homes, since there are a huge variety of types and varieties of violets. The conditions for keeping any kind of violets are the same, which greatly facilitates the very process of growing and creating compositions from various types of these beautiful flowers.
Description of the plant
Violet, or saintpaulia, is a genus of herbaceous flowering indoor plants of the Gesneriaceae family. Her homeland is the East African mountains of Tanzania, where it is always warm and humid. For the modern world, the plant was discovered by Baron Walter von Saint-Paul at the end of the 19th century.
It is a compact plant with beautiful multi-colored flowers, with oval dark or light green leaves, collected in a rosette. Flowers are multi-colored, smooth, double and wavy with a diameter of 2 to 4 cm. There are also ampelous species, they have a branched stem and several rosettes.
Popular varieties of violets
Today, many hybrid varieties have been bred, which are divided into groups according to the shape and color of the flower:
- classic;
- star-shaped;
- fantasy;
- rimmed;
- Saintpaulia - "chimera".
The most common varieties of violets have a rosette diameter from 20 cm to 40 cm, but there are giant varieties up to 60 cm and miniature ones up to 6 cm in diameter.
Caring for violets at home
The rules of care for all varieties of tender and warm-loving violets are the same. This greatly simplifies the care of them, but they must be observed without exception.
Location and lighting
The most important condition for a long life and abundant flowering of violets is a lot of light. If your apartment is located on the lower floors of the house, and there are no such places in it, then it is better to abandon the idea of growing violets. Because the growth and flowering of Saintpaulias depends on the lighting.
The southern windows of the house are well lit, but if the plant is not shaded, then it will get burns from the rays of the sun. The most successful place is the east and west windows. Even better if you place them in the kitchen. Favorable conditions will appeal to these sissies, and you will be pleased to cook in their presence. In winter, it is better to remove violets from the cold windows on a nearby table, or place them on a small stand so that the roots do not overcool.
Lack of lighting will lead to the fact that the plant will stretch upward, towards the light, the leaves will become pale and lethargic, and harmonious development will be disrupted. For violets, it is important that the daylight hours are up to 14 hours.On cloudy and winter days, in order to provide the violets with the necessary light, it is necessary to additionally install lamps. The light should be soft and diffused. To prevent the plant from growing one-sided, it must be periodically turned around its axis. This simple maneuver will allow the bushes to grow compact and symmetrical.
Temperature
The optimum temperature for violets in the spring-summer period will be 18-24 degrees. In winter, the temperature can drop a little to 10-15 degrees, but not lower, otherwise the flower will grow too dark. For normal growth and development of the plant, fluctuations of 2-3 degrees between day and night temperatures are allowed. But sharp temperature jumps should not be allowed.
Also, the violet does not carry drafts, because of this feature, it is better not to take the flower out to the balcony or street in the summer.
Air humidity
For the successful cultivation of violets, one must take very seriously the humidity conditions in the apartment. At home, violets grow in high humidity conditions. If the air in the house is very dry, then you can use pallets with wet stones or expanded clay. The pot itself should not be immersed in water. Another great option to humidify the air is to place a household humidifier near the plants.
Traditional leaf spraying is not suitable. Drops accumulate on the leaves, the water does not evaporate and the plant can be affected by the fungus.
The most common cause of violet death is improper watering. She does not like either drying out or waterlogging. It is optimal to water the plant twice a week during the warm period, and once during the cold period.
Watering
Watering violets with water immediately from the tap is not worth it. It is better that she stand in the room for more than a day, then it will become the desired temperature, and all impurities will settle to the bottom. The traditional root watering method must be used very carefully. Water, hitting the buds of growth, will destroy the flower.
It is better to choose one of the alternative watering methods:
- through the pallet;
- drip irrigation;
- immersion method;
- using a wick.
Violets, like all plants, love to swim, but after water procedures they must be well dried: let the water drain and soak all the drops.
Pot selection
For any plant, the size of the pot is important. Violets are very capricious in this matter. If the pot is not the right size, the flower will not develop properly.
The plant has a small root, so too much soil is not needed. The violet should be three times larger than its pot.
It is impossible to plant a stalk with shoots "for growth" in a large pot. There will be no flowering until the root system braids the entire container. Violet will grow green mass, and flowers will have to wait for a very long time.
The soil
Today, you can easily buy a special substrate for growing violets in the store. But you can use the old proven method: ordinary garden soil is mixed with a small amount of sand, and then sieved and disinfected at a high temperature. Hot processing is needed to get rid of larvae and fungal spores. One third of the pot is occupied by drainage, the rest is covered with soil.
Top dressing and fertilizers
Feeding Saintpaulias is needed in the spring months, when they are actively growing and forming buds. The rest of the time, there is no need to feed them. Nitrogen fertilizers stimulate leaf growth, potassium-phosphorus fertilizers help lush flowering.
Transfer
Carry out the procedure transplants of violets best in spring. The rest of the time is not very suitable for resettlement. High temperatures in summer and low temperatures in winter will significantly affect plant survival. In the fall, the growing season ends, and it will be more difficult for the flower to take root than in spring.
Reasons why you need to update the soil and pot:
- Buying a new plant, he definitely needs quarantine and transplantation;
- White bloom on the ground, this is a sign of a fungal infection;
- Depletion of the soil, when no additional fertilizing helps, the plant is sluggish, the leaves begin to turn yellow and die off;
- Transplanting a young rooted cuttings.
In all cases, a new transplanting substrate and careful processing of the pot are required. The drainage can be replaced, or, just like a pot, treated with boiling water.
Reproduction of violets
Cutting is the easiest and fastest way propagate violet... The stalk can be immediately planted in the ground, without waiting for the roots to appear. In a small glass with damp earth or a mixture for Saintpaulias, a cutting with a fresh cut is buried at an angle of 45 degrees. Several leaves of the same type can be planted in one container. Then the seedlings are placed in a greenhouse.
To see how the rudiments of the root system are formed on the cutting, you can put it in water. The sheet should not float in water or touch the vessel wall. To avoid this, it can be fixed to the surface with paper.
Cuttings with roots are very carefully transplanted into the soil. It is important not to damage the young and delicate roots. It is also impossible to deepen a stalk with a leaf too much, then new leaves will have to wait for a very long time.
Diseases and pests
The main causes of illness and death of violets are:
- Improper care (too dry air, sunburn, cold, excess moisture);
- Infections and fungal diseases (gray rot, fusarium, powdery mildew);
- Insects (aphids, ticks, thrips, nemodes).
Care mistakes are easier to deal with than fungi and infections. They require the use of chemicals (fast, foundationol) and prophylactic treatment with phytosporin. Insect control is carried out with the help of Mospilan, Regent, Fitoverm. With each case, if you notice the depressed state of the plant, you need to deal with it separately.
