Violets have gained such popularity among flower growers due to the fact that they require very simple personal care. They generously "thank" their owners with magnificent flowers. The rosettes of these plants grow quite quickly, violets can be easily propagated, and it will not take much effort to start buds on the culture. The main task in caring for violets is to ensure long-term flowering. For this, special dressings are used. But what to feed violets? This is what this article will be about.
How to fertilize properly
Before answering the question of how to feed violets, you should pay attention to the cases in which this procedure should not be performed:
- Within one month after transplantation.
- When the air temperature is not normal.
- Under direct sunlight.
- With existing diseases or under the influencevarious pests on the plant.
Speaking of what to feed violets, there is a double opinion here. Some flower growers claim that these plants do not need fertilizer at all, while others say that top dressing is essential for violets. In this case, you need to take a closer look at your green pet. If the violet was transplanted, it took root, began to actively develop, released a peduncle and began to delight with its first chic flowers, but after a while the inflorescences began to wither, and nothing has changed in the care, then the culture needs additional feeding.
If the flower is sick or damaged by some pests, then the violet must first be cured before fertilizing. Before answering the question of how to feed violets, you should pay attention to the fact that top dressing is not applied to dry soil. First, the soil mixture must be slightly moistened, and then only pour the solution with fertilizers.
What fertilizer should be
How to feed homemade violets? First of all, top dressing, which is intended for a young crop, should contain a large amount of nitrogen, since this element contributes to the growth of green mass.
And how to feed the violet for flowering? In order for Saintpaulia to please the owner with its chic flowers, it should be fertilized with products that contain potassium and phosphorus. In this case, complex fertilizers are used, designed specifically for flowering houseplants. Also, when talking about how to feed a violet for abundant flowering, it should be borne in mind that fertilizers should contain 2 times more phosphorus and potassium than nitrogen.
Fertilizer name
Those people who have been growing violets for a long time know that ordinary soil from the garden is not intended for growing these crops. In order for the plant to feel good, it is necessary to purchase a special soil, which is sold in specialized flower shops. As a rule, the cost of such a soil mixture is low. In order for the violet to please with its abundant flowering, its root system must be free.
As a rule, black soil, which is taken from the garden, is sticky, dense, due to which the roots of the plant cannot develop normally. Ultimately, there can be no question of any colors. But even if the soil was purchased at the store, the violet should be fed periodically so that it blooms and develops successfully. How to feed a violet at home? This plant needs the elements described below:
- Nitrogen. Fertilizers with this substance are necessary in order for the violet to grow actively, and its leaves to be saturated green.
- Phosphorus. This element activates the development of the root system, and also helps to lay buds.
- Potassium promotes flowering and also increases resistance to various pathogens.
- Magnesium and sulfur. These elements activate the growth of the plant, as well as the formationchlorophyll.
- Calcium. Fertilizers, which contain this mineral, strengthen the tissues of the culture, while making the peduncles the most durable.
- Iron, as well as a complex of trace elements, which includes silicon, manganese, cob alt, zinc, boron, copper.
To provide the plant with gorgeous leaves, the culture is fed exclusively with special formulations. As a rule, such products contain nitrogen in their composition. But here you should not overdo it, otherwise, the violet will give all its strength to the formation of leaf plates. If the soil contains a large amount of potassium, then the leaf plates may turn yellow and fall off. If such a problem occurs, then the green pet must be immediately transplanted into new soil.
Varieties of dressings
How to feed blooming violets? To answer this question, you should pay attention to the fact that all fertilizers are divided into several groups. You should read them in more detail separately.
Simple mineral
This type of top dressing includes superphosphate, which balances the acidity of the soil, and also stimulates flowering. This substance is sold in the form of granules, which are very poorly soluble in water. For this reason, they are recommended to be used as an additive to the soil during transplantation. To do this, 1 teaspoon of superphosphate is taken for 1 liter of soil mixture.
Complex minerals
Considering what to feed violets to bloom,It should be noted that complex mineral fertilizers can be used for these purposes. They come in general or specialized applications. When choosing a top dressing, first of all, you should pay attention to the composition that is indicated on the label. There must be a list of essential nutrients. The best fertilizers are: "Forte", "Uniflor", "Master", "Etisso", "Pokon".
Organic
What else can I feed a violet? This crop should also be fed with organic fertilizers. This should include manure, humus, as well as humic preparations. At home, humic fertilizers are often used, for example, "Rainbow", "Gummi", "Ideal".
If inexperienced flower growers do not know how to feed violet babies, then in order to fully provide the necessary elements, organic and mineral compounds should be fertilized in turn.
Manganese solution
As for home dressings, you can use a pale pink solution based on potassium permanganate to prepare fertilizer. Violets are watered with this liquid no more than once a month. Such a procedure is able to saturate the culture with the necessary potassium, manganese, while slightly increasing the level of soil acidity. In parallel with this, the manganese solution washes out all excess s alts from the soil. After watering the plant, all leaked water must be drained from the drainage holes.
Feeding technique
Very importantknow how to properly feed violets at home. The development of the plant will depend on this. It is also worth paying attention to the fact that the technique is absolutely the same for all varieties of Saintpaulia. There are foliar and root dressings.
Root top dressing
For root fertilization, water must be boiled, filtered or settled throughout the day. The temperature of the liquid should be slightly higher than room temperature. The drug dissolves in water according to the instructions that are attached to it. This applies to cases where a special fertilizer is used for feeding violets.
If universal fertilizer is used, then the concentration is 2 times less than indicated on the package.
Feeding miniature varieties of violets is done with a solution concentration that is half that for normal use. Feeding is applied no more than once a month. The crops are watered with the prepared solution in the usual way: fertilizers are poured under the sheets so as not to affect the central part of the outlet.
If a large number of violets are planted in a pot, it is best to fertilize from a pallet. To do this, pour nutrient fertilizer into a container of sufficient depth, put a pot of violets in it. Plants should stand in this tray for 15-30 minutes. The earth lump during this time should be completely saturated with fertilizer. After that, the pots are removed, and all excess liquidflow out.
Root top dressing
Violets are very responsive to foliar applications. Nutrients in this case get inside the plant much faster. This should be done very carefully, adhering to all the rules. Lingering drops of fertilizer can cause leaf rot or sunburn. Foliar top dressing is carried out on clean leaf plates in the evening, when the sun has set. This can also be done on a cloudy day. The concentration of the solution should be two times less than for root dressing. Spraying is recommended to be done on the reverse side of the leaves.
Home feeding
Few people know, but at home you can prepare solutions for fertilizing violets on your own. For this, substances that a person uses in everyday life are used.
For example, violets are fed with tea. To do this, dry tea leaves are mixed with the ground in a ratio of 1: 3. This method is ideal for making the earth loose and light. The structure of the soil mixture improves, and the culture begins to grow much faster and acquires an attractive and he althy appearance. Fertilizers based on black tea can reliably protect the soil from drying out. This is a definite plus, since violets are moisture-loving plants and very easily lose their tone with the slightest lack of moisture. That is why feeding violets with black tea gives the plant protection from drying out.
Another very effective remedy is coffee grounds, which is usedas a feed. It can also be used to make the soil more loose. To prepare the fertilizer, it is necessary to mix the coffee grounds with the soil, after which the resulting mixture is poured into a pot with violets. In summer, you should pay attention to the fact that after fertilizing the plants for some time do not water. This will be appropriate in cases where the culture lacks acidity in the soil.
Saintpaulia are wonderful plants that, with proper care, will delight their owner with flowering almost throughout the year. To achieve this, it is necessary to periodically fertilize.
