Violet is almost every grower. Yes, and how can you refuse such beauty. In nature, there are about 500 species of this plant. The territory of their distribution is almost the entire globe. Varieties of violets differ in size, color and many other features that only experts know about. Admiring their beauty and amazing tenderness of flowers, I want to keep it for a long time and increase it. Each variety of violets is good in its own way, but they require the same care. Learn how to grow these amazing plants in this article.
Origin of violets
East Africa is the birthplace of this beautiful flower. Until now, many rare varieties of violets are found only there and are even protected. The second name of this plant is Saintpaulia. In their natural environment, they grow near waterfalls, in the coastal zone of rivers, where there is a lot of fog and mist.
Discovered this flower by Baron W alter Saint-Paul near the Usambara Mountains. He struck him with his beauty and tenderness. There are many violet-like plants in nature, but only one species, saintpaulia, could take root in home breeding conditions.
Description of the violet
Varieties of indoor violets are similar in structure. All of them belong to the Gesneriaceae family and have a second name - Uzambara violet. Small in size plants are characterized by abundant flowering throughout the year, making only small breaks for rest. This is a perennial flower with juicy, short stems that are collected in a rosette. Violet has broad, oval or slightly round leaves with long petioles.
The top of them is slightly pointed, and the edges are wavy. The fleshy leaves are dark or light green in color. Below they are reddish, green or purple. The plant has a lot of inflorescences, reaching 3-4 centimeters in diameter. Violet flowers are double, semi-double or single. Their color is the most diverse - from white to dark blue. There are varieties that have a two-tone color.
Hybrid varieties
The number of hybrids is many times greater than the main species. Thanks to selection, there are now about 2000 varieties and hybrid forms. Violets are subdivided depending on the color and shape of the flowers and their type. Here you can distinguish star-shaped, classic, bordered, fantasy and "chimera" violets. According to the type of leaves, saintpaulias are divided into boys and girls. At the base of the "girls" leaf there is a noticeablelight spot, the "boys" leaf is completely green.
The size of the rosettes of these plants can reach up to 60 centimeters. These violets are giants. More often you have to see Saintpaulia with an average rosette (up to 40 centimeters). There are also miniature plants with a rosette size up to 15 centimeters in diameter, and microminiatures - up to 6 centimeters. Chimera violets have a contrasting stripe on the petals. These are the most exotic varieties. They can only be propagated by stepchildren and peduncles. Each variety of violets is good in its own way.
The most famous varieties
There are varieties of saintpaulias that are in special demand among flower growers. They are common and quite well adapted to home breeding conditions. Based on them, many hybrids were bred. We will consider varieties of violets and a description of their features in more detail.
Dark saintpaulia (Saintpaulia confusa) has a straight stem that reaches 10 centimeters in height. Its flowers are bluish-violet in color with yellow anthers and are collected in brushes of 4 pieces. Violet-flowered saintpaulia (Saintpaulia ionantha) has different colors of inflorescences of bred hybrids: white, pink, blue, red and purple. Its leaves are green above and greenish-red below.
In its natural environment, this plant has only purple-blue flowers. Saintpaulia ionantha or Magungen Saintpaulia has branched stems, the height of which reaches 15 centimeters. The leaves of this plant have a diameter of about 6centimeters and wavy edges. Violet flowers are purple in color, collected two or four in inflorescences. Saintpaulia teitensis is a rare species of violet that is protected and found only in Kenya. The best varieties of uzambar violets are headed by Saintpaulia Chimera Monique, which has lilac flowers with a white border. Saintpaulia Chimera Myrthe has rose-red petals that are bordered by a white stripe. Violet Saintpaulia Ramona is a cultivar with dark red flowers with yellow anthers. And finally, the white violet Saintpaulia Nada, which is found in every lover of this plant. Varieties and names of store-bought violets may not be known. Real saintpaulias with names are found only in specialized nurseries and are very expensive. Home bred violets may have some mutations.
Buy violets
What should I pay attention to when buying this plant? First of all, the leaves. They should not have any foreign spots. They may indicate that the plant is infected. Such a violet will be difficult to grow. For breeding from a leaf handle, you should choose specimens from the second bottom row. The lower leaves can be severely depleted and will produce fewer babies. Be sure to ask the seller about the name of the variety. The leaves of the plant should not be strongly extended upwards. This indicates a lack of light. The outlet must be he althy and not show signs of decay. Violet cuttings and rosettes are very fragile. This must be taken into account when transporting them. Varieties and names of violets should be written andstick to the pot.
What violets love
Each flower requires its own breeding conditions. Regardless of which variety of violets you have purchased, find a well-lit area for the plant. But remember that saintpaulias do not like direct sunlight. Burns appear on the leaves from their contact, and with prolonged exposure to the sun, the flower may die. Violets, whose photo and variety name can be found in this article, love windows on the west and east sides of the building. On the south side, they need to be protected from the sun by shading. The best temperature for comfortable cultivation of violets ranges from 20 to 24 degrees. For a large number of violets, you can equip a special rack. Lighting in this case can be artificial. Saintpaulias do not like drafts, especially in winter. Therefore, this must be taken into account during long-term ventilation.
Watering violets
All types of violets, white varieties or otherwise, need moderate watering. To do this, it is better to use water at room temperature or a little warmer. Distilled or filtered tap water will do. It is better to water Saintpaulia in a pan. When irrigating from above, you should try not to get on the leaves, flowers, and especially in the center of the rosette.
From this, spots appear on the flower, and it may die. After 10-15 minutes, the water from the pan must be poured out. By this time, the plant will absorb the required amount of moisture. The soil of the flower should be moist and not very wet. If the environment is more damp, then the outlet and root system will rot. Watering is carried out on average 1-2 times a week, but it depends on the season, soil quality and room temperature. Sometimes violets are sprayed. This procedure will be useful in the summer. But it must be carried out with caution, to prevent the sun from hitting a wet plant.
Plant nutrition
Violets do not require frequent feeding. The finished substrate has all the necessary nutrients that are needed for the fruitful development of the plant. Therefore, it is enough to transplant each variety of violets once a year or a little more often. To feed Saintpaulia, if it is depleted, use special fertilizers. They are both liquid and granular. Fertilizers should not be highly concentrated. The label must have the designation (NPK). Top dressing can be carried out no more than once a month. Remember that the earthen ball of the plant should not be overdried.
Be sure to read the instructions to properly feed the violet. For young rosettes, the nitrogen content in the soil should exceed the amount of potassium and phosphorus. In order for the plant to form buds and bloom profusely, it must be fed with phosphorus preparations. Then the flowers will be large and bright. Also during this period, Saintpaulia requires a lot of light. But fertilizer must be applied carefully. Excess nutrients can be harmful. Feed the plant if it really needs it. The unhe althy look of violets may be due to improper care.
Propagation of violets by leaf cuttings
Violet, new varieties of which appear quite often, is perfectly propagated by leaf cuttings. But this does not apply to all species. Cuttings are the most affordable and easiest way to propagate this beautiful flower. But, despite the simplicity of breeding these flowers, many novice flower growers fail for the first time. The stalk rots and dies without rooting. Let's talk about some of the features of this process. Usually boiled water is used for rooting. Also use agroperlite or vermiculite. Quite well, violet forms roots in sphagnum moss. The latest achievement was peat-humus tablets, which minimize the risk of decay. First, cut off the petiole with a sharp knife or razor. It must be taken from the middle rows. We do this carefully, since violet is a very delicate plant. The petiole should not be too long. The optimal length is no more than 4 centimeters. Such a petiole will give large children much faster. We place it in the necessary substance.
Humidity for good rooting should be high, and the temperature in the range of 20-24 degrees. It is better to build a small greenhouse on top, or put a container in a bag. In a month or a month and a half, children should appear. After they get stronger, it is necessary to separate them. We do this very carefully, minimally damaging the root system. We plant the children in a separate pot. Each petiole that the violet gave (varieties, photos are in this article) can form several processes. Planting capacity should not be toolarge, no more than 6 centimeters in diameter. If the donor leaf remains strong, then it can be left for re-rooting.
Planting babies
When planting, be sure to use drainage, which is laid on the bottom of the pot. It can be sphagnum moss, polystyrene foam or small expanded clay. We choose a special soil for Saintpaulia. It should be loose, soft and nutritious. You can add vermiculite and perlite to it (a fifth of the volume of soil). You can also dilute the soil with sphagnum moss by cutting it into smaller fragments. For children, you can build a greenhouse for 2-3 weeks to adapt. We put them on a lighted windowsill, but not on the south side. In winter, drafts must be excluded so that the root system does not overcool. After 2-3 weeks, you need to start hardening the plants, slightly opening the greenhouse. Start with 15 minutes and work your way up to 30 minutes.
Reproduction by stepchildren
Violets, the photo and name of the variety of which are mentioned in this article, are propagated by stepchildren. In order for rooting to be successful, you need to wait for the stepson to have 3-4 leaves. For this procedure, you will need a scalpel or an awl. With their help, the stepson is carefully separated from the mother plant. It is necessary to injure the roots of both Saintpaulia and leaf cuttings as little as possible. Now you need to carry out the rooting procedure. To do this, use a pot with a substrate or a peat-humus tablet. Then the stepson is transplanted into a pot of earth and a greenhouse is made over it. After 3-4 weeks, it is necessary to start hardening, gradually removing the greenhouse. This breeding method is ideal for violets."chimeras" and fantasy varieties.
Choice of pots
Choosing the right container for planting violets is very important. The main thing here is the diameter. Its value for young sockets and children should be 5-6 centimeters. Older plants are planted in pots with a diameter of 10-12 centimeters. It is believed that a good pot should be three times smaller than the outlet itself. The height of the pots should not be large. Violets look very nice in low containers. Both ceramic and plastic pots can be used. The second type is more affordable.
Violet care
These many-sided flowers, pink violets - varieties with delicate flowers, white - pure and innocent, red - passionate, blue - enchanting, need reverent care. In adult plants, it is imperative to remove old leaves that lose color and spoil the appearance. After removing the bottom row of leaves, fill the pot with soil or cover it with sphagnum moss. With proper care, the plants will delight with their magnificent flowering, and their breeding will bring only pleasure. Provide Saintpaulias with good lighting, a comfortable temperature, sufficient humidity and watering, and, most importantly, your love, and they will reciprocate. There are so many varieties and varieties that you can start collecting them, adding new, exquisite types of violets.
