One of the most beloved and popular inhabitants of our windowsills is violet. By the number and variety of cultivated varieties, not a single plant can be compared with it. Variations of shapes, sizes and colors of these beauties are truly impressive. It is hard to believe that they all came from one modest unpretentious mountain flower.
Origin of violet
Violet, or Saintpaulia, got its name in honor of the German baron Saint-Paul, military commandant of the German District in East Africa. It was he who discovered these modest blue-violet flowers, strolling in the vicinity of his residence. From the seeds of this plant, his friend, a well-known florist, grew a flower called Saintpaulia violet, which became the progenitor of all the species now available.
By the middle of the last century, there were already more than one hundred varieties of this plant in the world. And now, several thousand varieties of violets are already known, and the selection process does not end there.
Violet Botanical Description
The homeland of the senpolia is the Uzambar and Ulugur mountains in East Africa, therefore it is also called after these "giants". Under natural conditions, this evergreen herbaceous perennial grows up to thirty centimeters.
The height of the room violet is much smaller. Her oval leaves are collected in a basal rosette. The leaves are quite fleshy, covered with villi and slightly pointed in the upper part. The color of the leaf blades is green or spotty. Violet flowers consist of five elements collected in a brush.
By the type of petals, the senpolia is divided into terry and semi-double. The former have many additional petals.
Fruits are similar to boxes in which there are numerous small seeds.
Humako inches violet variety
This variety of Uzambara violets belongs to the Gesneriev family, the genus Senpoly hybrid. A photo and description of the variety of violet Humako inches are presented below.
This is a beautiful, spectacular plant with very large white flowers, decorated with a bluish-blue wide core. The cup diameter is from six to eight centimeters. The leaves of the violet Humako inches are light green, rounded, collected in a large, smooth, neat rosette. It can be made more compact if the petioles are not allowed to grow in length. In the description of the Humako inches violet (photos with the rooting of the leaves are located below), it is noted that it propagates very simply and begins to bloom after eight months. It blooms luxuriantly, forming a thick hat. Flowers completely cover the outlet and hold for a very long time, even in the heat. This process in the violet Humako inches lasts a long time. Used flower stalks are constantly replaced by new ones. All this makes the violet of this variety very decorative and attractive for decorating rooms.
Variety Name Meaning
The name of the violet Humako inches in translation into Russian means Humako inches. Obviously, the second word in the name indicates the size of the flower. Humako is a well-known Dutch company. Humako Holding BV specializes in the selection, breeding and wholesale of violets. She does not give the names of the scientists, instead, the name of the company is indicated in the name of each cultivated variety.
Varietal Features
Very many violets are prone to swimming with increasing temperature. If white is present in their coloration, it becomes less in heat. This happens quite often. At low temperatures, the plants brighten. All this applies to the violet Humako inches, the flowers of which become more blue in the heat.
Collectors distinguish between two different plants called Humako inches. Real violet Humako inches have petals with even edges. The second known variety is test. It was not put into production due to the fact that it was impossible to transport plants on an industrial scale. But they have become quite popular among amateur gardeners. Their flowers are not so large, but with wavy edges. This species is called Humako inches-2, or Humako inches No name.
How to care for Saintpaulia
Care for Humako inches violet, according to gardeners, as well as for most senpolia, consists in choosing the right place, observing the temperature regime, optimal watering, top dressing and maintaining the required level of humidity.
- The violet should be placed in well-lit places, but do not allow direct sunlight to fall on it. The plant must be protected from drafts and ensure that its leaves do not touch the window glass.
- Only one socket should be placed in the pot. This rule applies to all types of violets, except ampelous. Appearing lateral processes need to be removed.
- For successful flowering, wilted and damaged parts of the plant should also be torn. This must be done very carefully so as not to injure neighboring leaves and peduncles.
For abundant flowering, which usually occurs from March to November, violet needs good lighting - bright diffused light at least ten hours a day, and preferably 14-16 hours. To extend this period, pots with plants are placed on the southern and western windows in winter and artificial lighting is used. During the flowering period, they can not be rearranged to another place. The capacity needs only to be constantly turned so that the lighting happens evenly.
Temperature and humidity
In the photo, the Humako inches violet looks like this because it was grown at the optimum temperature - from +18 to +24 o C.
In winter, the air should not cool below + 10 , otherwise the plant will die. In violent heat, the violet will not bloom.
For well-being, a flower requires moderate air humidity. If it is dry, the pot with the plant should be placed on a tray with wet pebbles or peat. Do not spray the violet.
Watering
Violets need regular watering under the root. The soil in the pot should be moist, but not wet-stagnant. It is necessary to avoid getting water on the leaves in order to avoid their decay and death of the whole plant. The following watering methods are used for this:
- Immersion of a pot in water.
- Watering from the pan.
- Wick moisturizing. This is when moisture enters the pot with a plant according to a special device, the end of which is in a container of water, above which there is a flowerpot.
- Watering with a syringe.
So that the soil in the pot does not mold, you can moisten the violet with water with the addition of phytosporin once or twice a month. For irrigation use soft lukewarm water, which must be defended for at least twelve hours. In winter, violet should be watered less often.
Top dressing
In spring and summer, violets should be regularly fed with a full mineral complex. It is applied once every 1-2 weeks at the rate of 1-3 grams per liter of water. Before laying buds, special fertilizers for senpolia are recommended to be used in full dose to increase their number, and to maintain flowering - half as much. In such periods important for the plant, it is fed with fertilizer with a high phosphorus content, due to which the flowers turn out to be larger and brighter.
Transfer
For the successful development of violets, they need a regular transplant. The planned procedure is carried out once every two years, when the soil in the pot is depleted. This is done in the spring. The new pot should not be much larger than the old. For transplantation, you can buy a special soil mixture for the senpolia or prepare it yourself, taking three parts of leafy soil, five - peat and one - river sand. Drainage should occupy almost half the pot. Planned transplantation is usually carried out by transshipment, that is, with the ground.
An unscheduled procedure is carried out as necessary during acidification of the soil in the pot, due to plant diseases, etc. Usually carried out with full or partial replacement of the earth. During each transplant, the state of the root system must be checked and daughter sockets that can be used for vegetative propagation are separated.
Breeding methods
Violet Humako inches, like most of its relatives in the room, propagated by leafy cuttings. For propagation, take a healthy mature leaf from the lower tier of the outlet, cut it at an angle, and this place is treated with activated carbon. Root it in a container of dark glass with boiled water, or by placing sphagnum in moist moss. When roots appear on the cuttings in a half to two months, it is planted in the soil. Some people prefer to place the cuttings directly in the ground, where rooting takes place.
Violet can be propagated by seeds, but this method is almost never used at home.
Diseases and Pests
If the room where the violets are located is too hot, they can be damaged by red spider mites. You can fight them by spraying the plant with systemic insecticides.
Violation of the temperature regime and waterlogging of the soil leads to the appearance of a disease such as a black leg. The base of the stems blackens and becomes thinner, which entails the weakening and death of the plant. In this case, it is necessary to completely replace the soil and disinfect it with Fundazol.
High humidity of soil and air can cause violet damage by late blight. The leaves are covered with brown spots, rot and fall away, as a result, the plant may die. For the prevention of late blight, superphosphate should be applied to the soil.
Dangerous pests of violets are thrips. They settle on the bottom of the leaves, and the larvae hatch in buds and flowers. Outwardly, this lesion looks like a violet Humako inches strew pollen. To save the plant, all buds and flowers should be removed.
The root nematode is another dangerous enemy of violets. It affects the roots of the plant. You can recognize the disease by the yellowing leaves of the plant. To save him, special potent drugs will be required. To avoid infection with a nematode, it is strictly forbidden to use ordinary land on which cultivated plants grow for the cultivation of violets.
Despite the capricious disposition and high requirements for the conditions of detention, this kind of indoor flower is worth it to decorate your home with it. The violet will gratefully respond to the attention it has given and will delight you with its abundant and lush flowering.