The violet variety Summer Red is the brainchild of the famous Ukrainian florist Elena Lebetskaya. It was bred as a result of painstaking selection work to the delight of many amateur gardeners. Admire this varietal beauty for a reason. Her gorgeous large flowers of a deep red hue leave no one indifferent.
In this article we will tell not only about the features of the Summer Red violet, but also about the specifics of its cultivation at home. We will give recommendations on reproduction, transplantation and top dressing. Our tips will facilitate the breeding of senpolis for new flower growers.
In fact, the violet Summer Red is not too capricious, steadily perceives the imperfect conditions of a city apartment and is rarely exposed to diseases. It is a pleasure to grow it - a magnificent flowering transforms any home and pleases the eye for a long time.
Beauty violet Summer Red. Photo and description of the plant
This beautiful Saintpaulia can be recognized by the following distinguishing features:
- A smooth rosette of the plant is quite large.
- The leaves are slightly elongated, oblong, saturated green.
- The flowers are large, up to 7 cm in diameter, semi-double, wavy along the edge.
- Bouquet flowering.
The most striking characteristic feature of the variety, of course, is the unusual color of the corolla - rich shades of red, raspberry, burgundy. A thin white border along the edge of the petals gives special tenderness to the violet Summer Red.
The photo shows how elegant and harmonious this plant looks. When looking at unmatched large flowers, a delightful summer evening appears with a bright raspberry sunset or a cool morning meeting a gentle dawn.
Senpolia Care Specifics: Lighting
For active flowering and well-being, the violet Summer Red should provide favorable conditions close to a warm tropical climate. First of all, you need to choose a well-lit place on the western or eastern windowsill. If the sunlight is direct, the violet must be shaded, especially during peak hot hours. It is not recommended to put the pot with the plant close to the glass, it is advisable to observe a distance of 30-40 cm from the window.
Daylight hours should last at least 10 hours a day (preferably 12-14), otherwise the plant will not bloom. In winter, it is recommended to illuminate the violet with fluorescent lamps.
If you doubt the correct lighting, carefully inspect the leaves of the violet. Their appearance will tell about possible deviations in the lighting mode. If the plant looks healthy, has saturated green leaves and blooms lushly, then everything is in order. If you notice that the leaves curl down and turn pale, there is an excessive amount of light. Shading of the plant is required to prevent burns and further burnout.
If the leaves are small, stretch up, and the cuttings become long - the plant does not receive the necessary amount of light. Organize a follow-up or change the location of your violet.
Temperature and humidity favorable for red violet
Senpolia - thermophilic plants. The optimum temperature range for their maintenance is in the range of +18 ... + 25 ° C in the daytime. At night, a few degrees are allowed. In winter, the temperature should not fall below +16 ° C. Violet Summer Red does not like drafts, the proximity of cold windows in winter and strong temperature fluctuations. Protect the plant from hypothermia.
Another important principle of caring for Saintpaulia is to maintain a favorable level of humidity. Experienced flower growers recommend focusing on a value of 50-60%. Dry air is harmful to violets, the plant dries up and begins to hurt. To increase the humidity level in the room, place a container of water near the plant or spray room temperature water from the spray bottle around the pot. In this case, be sure to protect the inflorescences from moisture.
Some gardeners use household humidifiers. This greatly facilitates the task of constantly maintaining humidity within the set values, especially during the operation of central heating batteries.
The senpolia favors the periodic "soul." Under a gentle stream of water, the leaves are washed gently, preventing moisture from entering the flowers. This procedure gives the plant a healthy, fresh look and removes excess dust.
Proper watering of the red Saintpaulia
Violet LE-Summer Red prefers timely watering with soft, warm water. Cold water has a detrimental effect on the root system of the plant and leads to a lack of flowering. It is advisable to moisten the senpolia using soft water, purified using household filters, or boiled and settled.
Interestingly, some growers recommend using hot water for irrigation, especially in the cold season. It warms the pot, nourishes the root system and gives the plant a healthy look.
The moisture schedule may vary depending on climatic conditions, it is advisable to focus on the drying of the soil and not to water the plant more than 3 times a week.
Ways of watering violets. Choose any convenient!
There are several ways to water violets:
- Top watering (it is convenient to use containers with a long nose so that moisture does not get on the outlet and leaves).
- Watering in a pan (a good method that allows a plant to absorb as much moisture as it really needs).
- Wick watering (a pot with a plant is placed in a container with water so that the bottom is higher than the water level, one end of the cord is inserted into the drainage hole, and the other is immersed in water. Thus, the plant itself regulates the amount of moisture and is not at risk of decay).
- Watering by immersion (a pot with a plant is placed in a basin with warm water and left for some time, then it is removed and the remaining liquid drains).
You can use any convenient method of watering, the main thing is not to over-moisten the earth and prevent liquid from entering the outlet and leaves.
Violet transplant Summer Red: how to do it right?
Periodic annual plant transplantation allows you to get a lush, long flowering and healthy plant growth. Carry out this procedure in the spring or, subject to the use of additional illumination, in the fall and winter (in the absence of flowering).
Before transplanting, the correct capacity, soil and drainage are prepared. It is advisable to buy a pot plastic, three times smaller than the diameter of the outlet, shallow. It must have drainage holes.
Soil for growing violet Summer Red is used loose, moisture- and breathable, with peat and sand content. They purchase a special soil mixture for the senpolia or make up independently from 3 parts of peat and 5 parts of leafy soil. Sand, charcoal, sphagnum are added to the substrate. Expanded clay is used as drainage.
How to transplant violet Summer Red? The description of the process is as follows. A layer of drainage and some fresh substrate are placed in a new pot. The Saintpaulia is taken out of the old container, the old earth is carefully shaken off from the roots, bad leaves and peduncles are cut (it is advisable to cut the cuts with charcoal). The prepared plant is placed in a new pot, the roots are sprinkled with a substrate to the level of the lower leaves. At the same time, to lighten the soil on the pot, tap lightly. That's it, the process is complete. The plant is not watered for a day and left alone.
Three ways of propagating the red Saintpaulia
At home, the cultivation of violets is successfully carried out in three ways, including:
- rooting a leaf;
- plant division;
- germination of seeds.
All of them are quite simple, the main thing is to observe the conditions and organize proper care for young plants. To root the leaf, cut the stalk and place it in water until the roots form. And when the roots reach 5-7 cm, the leaf is transplanted into a small pot.
The division method is used when the mother plant has daughter sockets. They are carefully cut with a knife and placed in peat for rooting, and then transplanted into a pot and build a greenhouse.
Breeding violets with seeds is a more time-consuming method. This procedure will require phytocassettes with covers. At their bottom lay sterilized drainage, sand, and on top of the soil. Violet seeds are mixed first with charcoal, and then with sand, to increase their size. Seeds are distributed on the ground and cover the container. It is kept warm for two to three weeks, waiting for germination. After the lid is removed, a pick is made when the seedlings reach 1.5 cm in size. And after two weeks, the plants are planted in glasses.
Do violets need top dressing?
For the long flowering of Saintpaulia, it is necessary to obtain a sufficient amount of nutrients. Therefore, it is recommended to apply fertilizer every two or three times in spring and summer, and once every four weeks in autumn and winter. You can only feed a moistened plant, while it is more convenient to make recharge through a pallet. This will exclude the possibility of fertilizer getting on the leaves.
It is advisable to buy complex fertilizers, which will include the summer violet Red phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium, which are necessary for the violet. For example, “Doctor Foley”, “Mr. Color - Station Wagon”, “Mr. Color - Saintpaulia”, etc. It is important not to go too far with the amount of fertilizers and dilute them in a weak concentration.
Following simple recommendations, you can definitely grow a healthy plant on your windowsill, lush and long flowering!