Violet The Black Prince, like all indoor violets, belongs to the Gesneriaceae family from the genus Senpolia. Thanks to its beauty and unpretentiousness, this flower can be confidently called one of the most popular both among professional flower growers, and among ordinary lovers of indoor plants.
Violet Black Prince: photo and description of the variety
This senpolia is a low perennial with a short stalk and numerous fleshy, dark green leaves that have a red hue from the inside.
One of the characteristics of the Black Prince violet variety is the shape of its flowers. Large and terry, they consist of many wavy petals, which creates the impression of elegance and sophistication of the plant.
In the first bloom, this violet has a red-burgundy color, but gradually the color becomes darker and deeper, and the petals become velvety, which can be seen in the photo of the Black Prince violet below.
The rules for caring for the senpolia of this variety are the same as for all types of indoor violets. For stable growth and flowering, they need good lighting, a comfortable room temperature, regular moisture and fertilizer. With a competent combination of these conditions, cultivating Black Prince violets at home does not present any difficulty even for a beginner grower.
Lighting and location of violets
Saintpaulia The Black Prince needs good lighting, but at the same time does not tolerate direct sunlight. In the winter season, it will be preferable to place pots with plants on the windowsills of windows facing the south side.
If there is a draft from the windows or windows are often open, it is better to move containers with flowers from the windowsill to shelves or tables located close to the window.
In the warm season, the western or eastern window sills are an ideal place for a plant. The Black Prince also feels comfortable in a warm and bright kitchen.
Direct sunlight is detrimental to the decorative violet, and threatens the plant with a burn. Therefore, if there is no way to remove the flower pot from the sunny windowsill, then it must be pritenit.
Inadequate lighting will cause the plant to stretch upward and the rosette to become light and lethargic. In order to prevent this from happening, the light day of a home violet should last about 14 hours. In winter, it is simply necessary to provide the Black Prince with additional lighting with fluorescent lights.
Room temperature
Violet Black Prince does not tolerate too high temperatures. The most favorable temperature for its growth is considered to be in the range of 18-21 degrees.
At a higher temperature, its varietal characteristics will change - the color will fade, the leaves will turn pale, the flowers will begin to fade.
Since this senpolia does not tolerate drafts and temperature changes, it is not recommended to take it to the balcony or leave it near open windows.
Humidity
The homeland of violets is Tanzania, a country with a very humid climate. Therefore, the senpolia should be kept as close as possible to its usual conditions. The optimum humidity level in the room where the Black Prince violet is located should be about 60%.
For beginner gardeners, it is worth recalling that the senpolis categorically do not tolerate the traditional spraying from the spray gun. Water droplets are not able to drain from their pubescent leaves, as a result of which the liquid, lingering in the outlet, can lead to the development of fungal diseases on the leaves and even to the death of the whole plant.
The way out of the situation can be found using pallets with wet stones or expanded clay. You should install pots with violets on wet pebbles so that the bottom of the pot does not touch the water - the roots of the senpolia do not like excess moisture.
Watering
Watering violets The Black Prince is carried out by defended water at room temperature. As in the case with all indoor plants, in the watering of home violets, you need to observe the middle ground. It is not necessary to overmoisten the soil, but it is not necessary to wait for the soil to dry out.
When watering the senpolia, water should be avoided on the leaves and growth point. Therefore, it is better to avoid watering the plant under the root. After all, moisture that has fallen on the leaves can ruin the violet.
For the Saint Paul Black Prince, alternative watering methods are better suited:
- drip method;
- through the pallet;
- using a wick;
- through immersion.
Particular attention must be paid to the quality of the water, because the harmful impurities contained in it will linger in the soil, which may render the soil unusable.
The soil
Violet The Black Prince prefers light, loose soil, being in which, its root system will not lack oxygen. Senpolia soil should retain moisture well and have low acidity.
Today you can easily buy any soil mixture in a garden store. Florists who prefer to make the soil on their own can take the right amount of ordinary garden soil and mix it with a little sand.
This mixture must be sieved and then cooked. It is enough just to calcine the soil in the oven. This will get rid of the harmful larvae and fungal spores present in the soil.
Experienced gardeners add a small amount of peat, pine or leafy soil to the violet soil. Do not forget about drainage, which will regulate soil moisture.
One third of the pot is filled with drainage. Fine pebbles, expanded clay and pieces of charcoal are well suited for this.
In the care of the violet, the Black Prince is not very whimsical, but requires regular fertilizer with minerals. Young senpolis need nitrogenous top dressing. This contributes to the growth of green mass and the formation of rosettes.
Violets, ready for flowering, require phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Well for these purposes, liquid complex dressings for ornamental plants, which can be purchased in specialized stores, have proven themselves.
Planting in a pot
The photo and description of Violet Black Prince make it possible to understand that this ornamental plant does not happen to be large, which means it does not require spacious pots and significant amounts of land.
Plastic pots with a diameter of 5 cm are well suited for the young senpolia. For adults, a pot of 9 cm in diameter will be enough for the Black Prince.
Propagate violets by cuttings. At the same time, due to the good ability to root, a leaf of Saintpaulia can be planted immediately in the ground. Shank should be 3-5 cm long.
Rooting is performed by planting a leaf at an angle of 40 ° and substituting a toothpick as a backup under its leg. Then cover with a glass jar, creating the effect of a greenhouse. Set the pot in a bright and warm place, regularly moisturizing.
When young leaves reach 3 cm in violets, you can clean the greenhouse. Renovation of the soil in senpolia is carried out every 2-3 years.