Violets are very delicate flowers, the beauty of which is appreciated all over the world. One of the most popular varieties is Fairy Violet. Her description, tips for growing are presented in this article.
Description
This plant belongs to grassy early flowering perennials. Its flowering begins in April and lasts until the end of May, bears fruit in June. It grows in Europe, North Africa, Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Crimea, as well as on the Balkan Peninsula. He feels most comfortable in deciduous forests and on mountain slopes.
Bred by breeders in 2012, the flower immediately gained popularity. Violet Fairy has a height of 15 cm, its rhizome is very thick and strong. The trunks are thin and long, their diameter is about 2 mm. The leaves are rounded, at the edges their shape is characterized as town-serrate. Single flowers. Dark lilac petals are arranged as follows: the side petals are directed down, and the lower in size is slightly wider than the others.
The soil
Quite whimsical is the Fairy violet. Planting and caring for this plant require a lot of effort. In order for the flower to feel comfortable and please the eye for a long time, you need to choose the right soil. Acidic soil is best suited, so a substance such as peat should be added to the substrate. If the earth is clay and heavy, the plant may die.
The basic requirements for the soil are its lightness and airiness. In addition, it must be moisture permeable. In order for the root to be saturated with oxygen, perlite or vermiculite must be added to the soil. It is important not to overdo it with additives: they should not make up more than 50% of the total soil mass.
The ideal soil formula for violets is as follows: three parts of leafy soil, two - turf, one part of coniferous and peat soil. Once these ingredients are mixed, add the above substances.
Pot
It is also necessary to ensure that the flower grows in a suitable pot, the diameter of which should be 3 times smaller than the outlet. It is best that he has a stand that will make the violet Fairy more stable. A flower can be injured if there is light soil in a large container. To prevent yellowing on the leaves and rotting of the root system, you need to fill the pot with good soil.
A quarter of the space must be filled with drainage. You should give preference to containers with holes or do them yourself. This is necessary so that excess moisture does not linger in the soil. Moreover, through a highly porous drainage, the plant will constantly receive fresh air, which will benefit him. The most suitable material for the pot is plastic. It is better to refuse clay containers, since they retain water, as a result of which mold may appear on the flower.
Watering
Violet Fairy, the description of which was presented above, will bloom for a long time, if properly taken care of. The irrigation procedure is especially important, because due to a lack or excess of moisture, the plant may die. So that spots do not form on the petals, the leaves do not turn yellow, and the inflorescences do not dry out, you should choose the best method of watering. There are three of them:
- In the pot. This option is traditional. To implement it, you will need a watering can or other device. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the liquid does not get into the outlet, on the leaves or flowers, because of this they can wither.
- Into the pan of the pot. In this case, you have to act carefully. At that moment, when the plant receives enough moisture, that is, “gets drunk”, the remaining water must be removed.
- Another option is to lower the pot into a container filled with liquid. After a while, they take it out.
Whichever method of irrigation you choose, you should use settled water at room temperature.
Lighting
Violet Fairy is a plant that loves light. Therefore, poor-quality lighting can be detrimental to him. In the summer, the flower can be placed on the window sills that overlook the north side. In this case, he will receive the necessary amount of light, but he will not be afraid of any damage. In winter, it is better to use fluorescent lamps, which give soft, close to natural lighting. Particular attention should be paid to this issue in March, because it is in the spring season that the period of active growth of the flower falls. If any problems with lighting begin, for example, it will be uneven, then the leaves of the plant will become brittle and brittle.
Temperature and humidity
This kind of violets cannot be called unpretentious, because there are many nuances that need to be taken into account in caring for it. One of the most important aspects is the temperature regime. The most important thing is to properly care for the flower in March, since at this time it begins to grow actively. Therefore, at this time, the temperature should be at least +16 0 C.
Frequent temperature changes are dangerous, because they can have a detrimental effect on the plant. In the garden, humidity can exceed 50%, and in the room it should not fall below 30%. What to do to make Violet Fairy comfortable throughout the year:
- In the room where the flower is located, several containers filled with water should be placed.
- The pan on which the pot stands should be filled with expanded clay or ordinary wet sand.
- The plant should be sprayed regularly if the temperature in the room exceeds +24 0 C.
Very often, flower growers are faced with the following problem: leaves of violets fall down. This is due to insufficient moisture. To save the flower, you need to hurry. Half-put the pot in a container with warm liquid. The top of the plant is covered with polyethylene. All this is put in a warm place. Already on the next day you can notice an improvement in the condition of the flower, and after a while it is returned to normal conditions.
Diseases and Pests
Violet Fairy, the cultivation of which is a rather time-consuming process, is prone to several diseases.
In addition, pests can attack the flower. What diseases does the plant suffer most often from?
These are the following diseases:
- Gall Nematode. This disease leads to active growth of root processes. Subsequently, worms start in them. If this disease affects the plant, it is already impossible to cure it. You should get rid of the flower and wash the pot thoroughly.
- A spider mite is a parasite that attacks many indoor plants. To fight it, you need to treat the flower with an insecticide. For these purposes, "Omight" or "Apollo."
- Pests with wings - thrips - drink the juice of a plant, which leads to its withering and subsequent death. To fight them, you need to treat the violet with a drug called Itoferm. At the same time, you will not only get rid of parasites, but also protect neighboring plants from their appearance.
- An insect such as an earth mite deforms outlets. Due to its activities, the violet may not bloom. To prevent the occurrence of this parasite, you need to treat the plant with insecticides ("Sunmight" or "Ortus").
In conclusion, we can say that the Fairy violet variety gained popularity for a reason. Delicate, lush, luxurious flowers are appreciated by many gardeners. However, behind the external beauty is a lot of work to care for the plant.