Violet is known to many flower growers as one of the most beautiful and charming indoor plants. Its delicate flowers can have a different color, and velvety leaves form a compact bush. If you want to breed a plant yourself, you need to familiarize yourself with the process of its reproduction.
Rooting of a violet leaf is most often used by gardeners. This is a simple process that everyone can do. What methods and features of propagation of violets by a leaf exist today will be discussed in detail below.
Process features
The rooting of a leaf of mini-violet, half -mini or other varieties occurs according to one pattern. This is the easiest way to breed the presented type of flowers at home.
It is best to do this in the summer or spring. At this time, the plant receives a sufficient amount of light and heat. The plant should not bloom during this period. Some species produce buds almost year-round. Most often, the flowering process ends in March. It is at this time, while the plant is resting, you need to have time to take material for seedlings.
In autumn and winter, you can also plant violets, but in this case you have to solve the problem of maintaining the right conditions for the full development of seedlings. Experienced gardeners are not afraid. Even in winter, you can grow the rarest types of violets at home.
Sheet selection
Rooting of violet leaves begins with the selection of the right material for seedlings. They should not be weak or sick. Otherwise, the offspring of such leaves will be equally sluggish.
It is not recommended to cut leaves for the cultivation of violets from the lower tier of the bush. Here they are often weakened and old. It is these leaves that are most susceptible to attack by pests, fungi and harmful microorganisms. Material for seedlings is recommended to be cut from a tier above the lower leaves. It is well formed, has a pronounced turgor.
If the sheet was transported along the street before landing (from a store or from acquaintances), it may become lethargic. To restore his vitality, you should prepare a weak solution of potassium permanganate with water. The liquid should be slightly warmer than room temperature. After two hours in the solution, the sheet is disinfected and regains its strength.
Sheet cut
Rooting violet leaves requires proper preparation of the material. To do this, it is not enough just to pick a leaf. This can lead to adverse consequences. The handle must be cut correctly.
A sharp blade or a well-sharpened knife is suitable for this. Cutting surfaces must be treated with an alcohol solution. The selected sheet must be placed on a hard surface. Then, with one solid motion, the stalk is separated from the plant. The slice must be oblique. It is performed at an angle of 45º. The leg should be 3 to 5 mm long (depending on the capacity for seedlings).
The leaf must be left to dry. It is recommended to sprinkle the slice with activated carbon. Experienced flower growers claim that in the absence of an antiseptic for processing a knife, it is better to simply break off the sheet. If an infection gets into it, the consequences will be irreversible.
Transplant into water
There are two ways to cultivate violets. The sheet can be planted in water or in the ground. To understand which method is preferable, you should consider them in detail.
Rooting a violet leaf in water is simple. It is necessary to prepare boiled or standing water. The sooner the stalk is placed in water, the faster the leaf begins to release roots. It is best to use plastic clear cups as containers for planting. They are thoroughly washed and sterilized.
The handle is immersed in water to a depth of 1.5-2 cm. The tip should not abut against the bottom of the glass. Fixation is performed using the cover. Holes are made in paper by threading cuttings in them. Activated carbon (one tablet) should be placed in water. As the liquid evaporates, it should be poured into a glass.
The emergence of roots
Rooting of a violet leaf by the presented method can take a lot of time. It depends on the plant variety. Usually the first roots appear on the handle after 2-4 weeks. Before that, it is necessary to control the water level in a glass.
If traces of rot become noticeable on the handle, the leaf should be removed from the water. It is dried and carefully cut with a sharp blade. A new slice must be well treated with activated carbon. This will help prevent the appearance of rot again. After this, the sheet is again placed in water.
Once strong roots become visible, the plant can be transplanted into the ground. The pot should have holes in the bottom. A third should be filled with fine drainage. Top soil is poured.
Transplant to the ground
Rooting of a violet leaf in the ground occurs at a shallow depth. If you plant the stalk too deep, it will be difficult for the shoots to break out through the soil. In this case, the plant weakens. In some cases, sockets may not appear at all. Therefore, the new roots that let the violet should be close to the surface.
The soil around the leaf needs to be compacted. Then the plant is abundantly watered. The violet container is covered with polyethylene. This will help maintain the proper humidity level inside. The plant is placed in a warm, bright place (but not in direct sunlight).
The package should remain on the pot until the new processes appear on the leaf. This indicates that the process was successful. The processes can be transplanted into the pots intended for them.
Soil preparation
Experienced flower growers claim that when planting a plant directly in the soil, the rooting time of a violet leaf is significantly reduced. In this case, more new shoots appear, the likelihood of rotting on the handle is significantly reduced.
To transplant into the soil, you must purchase a special mixture. Such a soil includes polystyrene, sphagnum, vermiculite and perlite. You can also prepare the land for transplanting yourself. Vermiculite and perlite are mixed in equal proportions. The first component is responsible for providing the roots of the violet with oxygen. Vermiculite loosens the soil and absorbs excess moisture.
Next, the resulting mixture and sphagnum are added to the soil. This component has an antibacterial effect. You can add peat. Such components make it possible to provide the plant with the right conditions for full growth.
Landing
Rooting of a violet leaf in the soil is faster. However, correct trimming and transplanting of the material is required. The selected leaf is broken off from the plant. It is cut with a sharp blade obliquely. If miniature varieties are transplanted, the stalk is shortened more. You can leave it only 1-1.5 cm long.
The slice is treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Half an hour, the stalk dries up. At this time, drain holes should be made in the plastic cup. It is filled with warm, moist soil. A stalk is planted in it. Mini violets deepen by only 5 mm. For ordinary varieties, the stalk can be dug into the ground to a depth of 1-1.5 cm. The soil around the sheet is well compacted. Watering the plant is not recommended.
The cup must be closed with polyethylene. Periodically ventilate the seedling. This avoids mold on the soil. After transplanting, the leaf will fade a little. This is considered the norm. When the plant has roots, it will again become full of strength. Watering is performed once a week. You can not fill the plant or feed it with fertilizers. In this case, the violet will develop the root system faster. The plant is grown in a warm, well-lit place. It is protected from direct sunlight, drafts.
Leaf fragment propagation
Rooting of violets with a leaf fragment is rarely used. This approach may be the way out if planting material begins to rot. The stalk breaks off near the base. With a sharp knife, the sheet is cut into several fragments. The blade should be very sharp. Each fragment must have at least one vein.
This method is suitable for rare varieties of violets. In some cases, only a third of the top of the sheet is taken for such purposes. The slice is performed horizontally. The fragment is left for several minutes. During this time, the edge is covered with a film. Next, the cut is treated with activated carbon.
The plate is placed in the ground. The cut should fit snugly to the ground. The pot is also covered with polyethylene. When the plant takes root, many processes are obtained. They appear from each leaf vein.
Having considered how the rooting of the violet leaf occurs , as well as the basic techniques for conducting this process, each grower will be able to independently grow this wonderful plant at home.