Violet (also called Saintpaulia) is one of the most popular indoor flowers. Each grower can easily choose a plant to his taste from a huge number of varieties. They differ in color, shape and size. Love violets for their long flowering. Usually it can last 10 months a year. Violets have oval or slightly elongated leaves with smooth or serrated edges. Their color varies from light to deep green. Flowers can be smooth or double - depending on the variety. The color of the petals is very diverse: purple, blue, red, burgundy, pink and white. There are also two-tone violets (for example, white with a blue or pink rim).
How to care for violets at home? Pot selection
The choice of planting capacity for violets must be approached very responsibly, because the he alth and duration of flowering of the plant depends on it. The first and most important criterion is the size of the pot, or rather, its diameter. He must not bemore than 6 cm for young violets and no more than 12 cm for adults. Plastic or ceramic pots are suitable for these plants. Choose the ones that suit your preferences and taste.
Selecting drainage and planting flowers
This is also a very important point in breeding and growing Saintpaulia. Drainage is necessary so that water does not stagnate at the bottom of the pot. Expanded clay or crushed polystyrene are suitable for these purposes, with which you need to fill at least 1/3 of the pot. Indoor violet flowers are very whimsical to the depth of planting. Caring for them becomes more difficult if, during reproduction, the stalk is very deep or the socket itself is transplanted, then the plant may not take root well and will often get sick or die altogether. Violets planted too high turn out to be very unstable, therefore they slow down in growth.
How to propagate and care for violets at home?
These flowers are propagated either by stepchildren or leaf cuttings. The easiest way to breed violets is cuttings. This requires a he althy leaf with a petiole 3-4 cm, cut at an angle. It must be placed in water at room temperature or in finely chopped sphagnum moss before the formation of roots. After the roots appear, the leaf is transplanted into loose soil to a depth of 1-2 cm.
When breeding violets with stepchildren, a newly formed rosette with 3-4 leaves is separated with a sharp scalpel. It is important, when removing the stepson, not to injure the main plant. To take root, you need to use a special substrate that can be bought at the store.
How to care for violetsat home? Some important rules
Temperature conditions
These delicate plants do not like sudden changes in temperature, so stability is important: +18-24 degrees Celsius. Drafts should also be avoided.
Lighting
Violet needs bright light, but not direct rays. In winter, it is necessary to highlight the plant with fluorescent lamps 13-14 hours a day. This will guarantee their flowering even in the cold season.
Water
Saintpaulia are whimsical and in relation to watering: it must be regular and accurate. To prevent water from entering the outlet and causing decay, you can not spray the leaves, you must avoid getting water on them in every possible way, and water only under the root or using a pan. It is best to place the flower pot in a pan of water for a few minutes, and then remove it from there. Remove residual moisture. The top layer of earth in a pot should not be constantly wet, but it cannot be kept dry for a long time. From an excess of water, the plant can rot, and due to a lack of water, it can dry out. Water should be at room temperature, settled.
Feeding
For good growth, violets need regular fertilizing with mineral fertilizers. Ideally, you need to fertilize once a week from March to September. Then the violet will not get sick.
Transfer
Saintpaulia must be replanted every year in fresh soil, as the soil is depleted during this time. Transplantation is usually done in the spring. New pot followsput in hot water for half an hour, then remove it, cool and let dry. This is done in order to disinfect the container. If the pot is not new, with a touch of s alt, then before reuse it is necessary to remove the touch with a hard washcloth or brush. And you will need to do the same procedure as with the new container. If you notice the instability of a planted plant, it is best to put a centimeter layer of moss on the surface of the earth.
Now many flower growers are fond of breeding this particular plant. And all this despite the fact that these flowers - violets - are whimsical and capricious. Photos posted online by flower lovers arouse admiration for their courage and diligence. These are charming plants and, of course, insanely beautiful. How to care for violets at home, you already know. And remember that these flowers love care, affection and love in very large quantities, and in their absence they may be offended and not bloom.
