Domestic violet is the most common indoor plant. Its popularity among gardeners is due to many reasons. This beautiful plant pleases with a variety of flowers and shapes. In addition, the violet is unpretentious and, with proper care, grows and multiplies well. But, nevertheless, you need to know some subtleties, thanks to which you can grow this magnificent flower like a violet indoor. Care and reproduction, the subtleties of growing - even a beginner grower will be able to understand these issues, and the violet will delight him with his flowers almost all year round.
A bit of history
Africa is considered the birthplace of violets. But she got her name in honor of her discoverer, Baron Saint-Paul. He brought this marvelous flower to Europe and contributed to its distribution. Initially, the violet was considered a very moody plant. But when it was studied and understood the rules of care and reproduction, the popularity of the flower increased significantly. Today, home violet is found in many parts of the world. Bred a lot of varieties of this plant, which simply is not possible to list.
Types of Violets
There are several types of this plant. Ordinary violet is the most common variety. This indoor violet (care and reproduction will be described later) has the usual petals arranged in one row. There are a lot of colors of this species. Many varieties were bred by gardeners and not registered, although they are especially popular.
Terry violet has petals arranged in several rows. The inflorescences of this flower are quite large and very beautiful. Semi-double representatives of this family are distinguished by the presence of several underdeveloped petals in the middle of the flower. They add volume and make the plant even more charming.
Categories of violets
Depending on the color, several categories of this flower are distinguished. Violet, the description of which is always done with emphasis on color, can be monophonic. Moreover, its petals have a uniform, the same color. The next category is dominated by fantasy coloring. On the entire surface of the petals, spots or dots of a different color are observed. If the violet has a bright border along the edge of the inflorescence, then it is called fringed. And finally, chimeras. A distinctive feature of violets is a bright line that runs strictly in the middle of the petal. All these categories are widespread among flower growers, many of whom are engaged in the cultivation and collection of violets.
Popular varieties of violets
Indoor violet (care and reproduction are the same for any variety) differs not only in the color of the flowers, but also in size. Mini senpolia are very small plants. Their outlet can be no more than 6 centimeters in diameter. These are microminiature varieties. If the size of the violet reaches 15 centimeters in diameter, then it can be attributed to miniature. These varieties bloom very profusely and beautifully. Saintpaulia "Duchess" was bred by a domestic florist. The development of violets of these varieties is always very plentiful.
They have large terry, white inflorescences. On the surface of the petals there are purple or black spots. The color of the leaves is light green and not uniform. Saintpaulia "carnival" - is distinguished by lavender inflorescences, which are very numerous. Each petal has a white border and a light mesh pattern. These varieties have dark green leaves with wavy edges. Ampel violets have very long shoots. They are best grown in hanging planters, which will be located at some distance from the surface.
Saintpaulia purchase
How to choose a good flower in the store? The violet, a description of which sellers must provide, should have a healthy appearance. First of all, pay attention to the leaves of the plant. They have a light or dark green color, depending on the variety. They should not be yellow. If there are spots or other signs of the disease on the leaves, then it is better to refuse to buy. The socket must not show signs of decay. The purchased violet should be carefully inspected and all flowers and leaves that have signs of wilting or spoilage removed. The leaves of the plant can be washed with running water. This must be done carefully so that moisture does not get inside the outlet. Then you need to dry the soil and transplant the plant into a more nutritious substrate. The pot with violet is placed in a plastic bag, after sprinkling with warm water. After two days, moderate watering should be carried out. On the fifth day, you can remove the package, making sure that the violet has successfully passed the adaptation period.
Soil for violets
Violet is very demanding on the composition of the soil. She loves acidic soils. Therefore, the basis of the substrate must necessarily be peat. Heavy clay soil can cause the death of the plant. The soil for planting should be light, airy, with good drainage qualities. This is important for a flower like violet pot. Care and reproduction will be more effective if all the subtleties are observed. The plant does not like wetlands. But peat itself has the feature of quickly drying out and souring.
Therefore, baking powder is added to it, for example vermiculite or perlite. Their ability to absorb, retain and give off moisture, saturating the root of the violet with oxygen, is very important. Sphagnum moss is also an excellent component for soil. It has bactericidal properties and absorbs water well. Additives should be no more than 50 percent of the total mass. The substrate should not be very saturated. This will lead to rapid development of leaves and sparse flowering. It is better to purchase ready-made soil, which will be optimally suited for planting violets. For self-preparation of the soil should take three parts of the leaf, two parts of sod and one part of coniferous and peat soil. Also add baking powder.
Pots for violets
How to grow a violet so that it looks very aesthetically pleasing? Everything is important here: the right care, lighting, watering and, of course, the right choice of pot. Its diameter should be three times smaller than the outlet itself. You can use pots with a stand, which will make the plant more stable. Due to their small size and light soil, flower pots are easy to turn over. Too large a pot can lead to the death of the plant. The root system will not be able to fill the entire space and will begin to rot. The leaves of the violet will turn yellow, there will be no flowering, and the plant will die.
A large adult plant easily fits in a pot, the volume of which is 200 grams of glass. It should also be borne in mind that a quarter of the total space must be given to drainage. If the variety is large, then you can take a more voluminous pot. The pot should have enough openings in the bottom for moisture to escape. Therefore, planting violets is usually carried out in plastic pots. Clay containers hold water, and there is a risk of mold. For drainage, you need to choose a highly porous material that will provide enough air.
Violet roots
The root system is very important for any plant. Healthy roots are the key to good growth and development. Since the violet is very demanding on soil and watering, problems with this flower begin in this area. Planting violets should be carried out with a mandatory inspection of the roots. They should be white, with no signs of spoilage and decay. In an adult plant, they completely fill the space of the pot, if it is selected correctly. Before growing a violet, it is necessary to inspect the plant, eliminating the signs of diseases and pests. If the roots have an unhealthy appearance, then a number of measures must be taken to restore them. The plant is pulled out of the pot and soil is removed from them. Then the roots are washed with running water.
Now you need to carry out preventive pruning. All black, rotten and old processes are removed with sharp scissors or a scalpel. The root base must be cleaned before the appearance of healthy tissues. We cut out all infected areas. Leave the violet outdoors for 40 minutes to dry. We wash the clean dishes well, pour water into it and place the flower there. We put it on a bright window, avoiding direct sunlight, and wait for the formation of new root shoots. Water needs to be changed periodically and it should cover all the roots. After 2-4 weeks, the violet will be ready for a new landing.
Proper watering
Blooming violets is always a beautiful sight pleasing to the eye. But sometimes improper watering leads to the death of the plant. If there is a lot of moisture, then the roots of the flower begin to decay. Stains appear on violets, leaves turn yellow, the inflorescences dry up and the plant dies. That is why proper and uniform watering is important. Its volumes do not depend on the time of year. Water should be at room temperature and be sure to stand. This requirement applies to many indoor plants. There are three ways to water violets, which are considered optimal for this flower. Very often, water is poured directly into the pan of the pot.
When after a while the violet gets drunk, it is necessary to pour out the excess liquid to prevent waterlogging. In the second method, flower pots are placed in a container of water for a certain time, sufficient for the plant to be saturated with moisture. The third way is a traditional watering of soil in a pot. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that water does not fall on the leaves, flowers, and especially the violet outlet. They are very sensitive to excess moisture and can die from this.
Lighting
The violet plant is very photophilous. The color of flowers and their development depend on this. However, it should be remembered that direct sunlight is harmful to the plant. Literally in a matter of hours, violet leaves can burn out in the sun. The best for breeding are considered windows from the north, north-west and north-east side. There violets receive a sufficient amount of light without sacrificing appearance. You can use artificial lighting. It is used for the correct formation of the outlet. Ideally, it should be flat on each side. Violets in March begin a rapid development. If the light comes in unevenly, then the leaves will begin to rise and turn around to the light source. For proper development, an artificial lighting lamp is installed on top. So do all collectors, preparing violets for exhibitions. But for home breeding, a simple window is enough. It is only necessary to periodically turn the pot to the light source on each side.
Temperature and humidity
Proper care is necessary for violets throughout the year. Requirements are made for the temperature and humidity level. Violets in March begin to develop particularly rapidly. The result will be a long flowering that lasts almost all year round. Air temperature should be at least 16 degrees. Otherwise, it will be impossible to achieve abundant flowering and good plant growth, even if all other requirements are met. Do not allow sudden changes in temperature, plants do not like this. Under natural conditions, violets grow near waterfalls and other bodies of water. In such places, the humidity is quite high. There are several ways to provide such a climate at home. The simplest is to put a container of water next to the flower. You can also install pots with plants on a pallet filled with wet sand, pebbles or expanded clay. Regular spraying is also used. This method is effective at high room temperature, above 24 degrees.
Otherwise, white spots may appear on the leaves of the plant, which will ruin its appearance. If the plant is a little wilted, its leaves have lowered, then resuscitation is necessary. To do this, the pot is half placed in a container of warm water. From above, the plant is covered with polyethylene and mixed in a shaded place. After a day, the condition of the violet will improve and it can be returned to normal conditions. When placing, it should be remembered that the senpolia does not like drafts. Therefore, we choose a warm, comfortable place with enough light, avoiding direct sunlight.
Propagation of violets leaf
Violet is pink, white, blue, terry or simple, any kind of this plant propagates by leaf, cuttings, seeds or dividing the bush. The first method has two options. In the first case, the neatly cut sheet is placed in a container (a small pot) with a nutrient substrate. The pot is placed in a bag of cellophane and tightly closed. A sufficient amount of air should remain inside for the development of the leaf. Thanks to the greenhouse effect , the stem will have enough moisture, and the temperature regime will remain unchanged. Periodically, it is necessary to water the leaf, avoiding severe overmoistening of the earth. When the first ones appear, new leaves need to be removed, so that the plant can independently develop and adapt to new conditions. Instead of a bag, you can use a glass jar. The second variant of leaf propagation is simpler. The cut sheet is placed in a glass of water until the roots appear. When they reach one centimeter, you can plant a plant in a pot. From one sheet receive from one to several young outlets. It is worth noting that for reproduction it is better to take large, healthy leaves of the middle row.
Transplant Outlets
Separate the sockets from each other very carefully so as not to damage the root system. Each copy should have good roots and a few pairs of leaves. The top of the plant should match the bottom. These proportions must be observed. If there are too many leaves, then they need to be removed. This will help the plant to better take root in the new conditions and quickly go through adaptation. It is better to transplant young outlets into small pots. They should not be too deep or high. Good drainage is very important. In the early days, you can make a small greenhouse out of a bag or a glass jar. Young violets should be regularly ventilated and watered. Other breeding methods, more complex, are available only to experienced growers. Therefore, you should choose reproduction by leaf or division of the bush. This is the best option that many flower growers use.
Diseases and Pests
Like all plants, violet pink or other flowers has pests and is exposed to various diseases. The main thing is to identify the problem in time and eliminate it. The gall nematode is a disease that contributes to the rapid development of root processes in which worms appear. There is no method to combat this ailment. It is necessary to destroy the plant, throw out the contaminated soil and thoroughly rinse the pots. When a spider mite appears, it is necessary to treat the plant with any insecticide intended for indoor plants. Thrips, insects with wings that affect domestic flowers are destroyed by timely processing by Intavir or phytoerm. This will prevent the spread of insects and protect neighboring plants. An earth tick causes a change in the appearance of leaves and deformation of rosettes. The violet does not open the buds and ceases to bloom. In this case, it is necessary to treat the plant with an insecticide. Leaves affected by gray rot should be removed immediately so that the disease does not spread. Observing all the rules of care, you can grow beautiful, blooming violets of different varieties that will delight you all year round.