8 necessary signs of attention to an unpretentious violet

One day, in the Uzambara Mountains, Baron Saint-Paul Iller discovered a lovely plant with velvety leaves, strewn with bright flowers. This is how one of nature’s favorite and popular creations appeared to the world - Saintpaulia, Usambara violet or indoor violet. All these are names of the same plant, which is valued for the beauty of its leaves, flowers and duration of flowering. They also love it because the small size of the pots with violets easily fits on narrow window sills and allows them to decorate any room.

Features of Saintpaulia violet

Saintpaulia ionantha, or Uzambara violet, is registered in the Gesneriev family. Homeland - East Africa.

Despite its fragility and tenderness, home violet is resistant to external irritants and adverse conditions. Lack of care is not a problem for them if vital conditions are provided.

The description of the violet lists all its main features:

• low-growing herbaceous plant;
• the stem is shortened;
• the rosette looks like a nest with numerous long-petioled leaves;
• medium-sized flowers, from 3 to 7 on one peduncle;
• flowers are simple, semi-double and double, petals are found both regular and corrugated;
• at the peak of flowering there can be up to 80-100 flowers on one plant;
• The flowering duration of most species is 8-9 months; for some - almost the whole year;
• More than 1,500 varieties of plants have been bred, differing in size, shape, color of leaves and flowers;
• All varieties are descended from Saintpaulia violetflower.

The discoverer of violets was Baron Walter von Saint-Paul. He found blue flowers resembling forest violets in the forests of East Africa at the foot of the Uzambara Mountains.

Even before the discovery of violets by Saint-Paul, legends were formed about them. One talks about Adam's tears turning into Saintpaulia. Another tells how the formidable Zeus turned a nymph who was running away from Apollo into a fragile flower.

When breeders got down to business, a huge variety of hybrids and varieties appeared. Now work is underway to ensure that the plants have a pleasant aroma. Although Saintpaulia has been growing for several decades with pink flowers and a slight smell of black pepper.

It is interesting to get acquainted with the richness of colors of other representatives of the Gesnerievs:

• gloxinia;
• streptocarpus;
• koleria.

What to do with violets after flowering

During flowering, faded peduncles should be regularly removed from the plant so that they do not interfere with the opening of new buds and do not spoil the appearance of the blooming violet. When the last flower fades, let the plant rest. Trim damaged, diseased or shriveled leaves. Take care of restoring the vitality of a well-worked violet - tear off the lower rows of leaves at the rosette, transplant it into a new pot with a nutrient mixture. If you do not have this event planned, start feeding the flower again with fertilizers with a predominance of nitrogen components so that the violet begins to grow new leaves to replace the ones you torn off.

How to care for violets at home

Fans of indoor floriculture are passionate about creating beautiful compositions. Saintpaulia is the main one in them. They know almost everything about violets. But for novice gardeners it is necessary to know the rules of care and maintenance of this plant.

Caring for violets is not at all difficult. By following all the rules, you can have a year-round flowering plant on your windowsill. There are few important conditions that this plant needs. You need to pay attention to them and ensure comfortable development of the violet.

Temperature

Violets do not have a specific time when they are at rest. The same temperature throughout the year is an important condition for their successful cultivation.

The air temperature should be 18 – 20°C all year round. In winter they tolerate 16°C. If the temperature is reduced to 15 degrees or, conversely, rises to 30, the Saintpaulia flower will begin to fade, stop blooming and stop growing.

Violets do not tolerate drafts. They cannot be placed on an unglazed balcony or taken out into the garden. Temperature changes are unacceptable; violets will not develop and bloom if they are either hot or cold.

But if the ambient temperature in the room is always low (or high), and you want to grow violets, then there is a proven method:

• find healthy leaves on plants;
• grow new flowers from them;
• maintain the same temperature.

Given the plasticity of Saintpaulia, the next violets grown will be ready for the conditions around them.

Lighting

Violets grow well on the windowsills of western, eastern and northern windows. Saintpaulias should be provided with bright but diffused light at all times.

If it is not possible to illuminate the flowers uninterruptedly, then a minimum 12-hour light regime for them must be organized in any season of the year.

At midday, be sure to shade from direct sunlight. Blinds, thick curtains and curtains are reliable protection for Saintpaulia.

If there is not enough daylight, then gardeners use various modifications of lighting. They are especially relevant in heavily shaded places: corridors, living rooms, office spaces.

In order for the flower bushes to look attractive and compact (and not one-sided), their shadow sides must be periodically turned towards the light.

Watering violets

Patient in all respects, the violet is demanding when it comes to watering. Both the amount of water and the way it reaches the flower are important.

Watering should be done moderately. Do not allow water to get on flowers, leaves or in the middle of the rosette. Drops should not fall on the leaves, otherwise spots, circles or rot will appear on them. The plant will die.

How common watering methods are used in caring for Saintpaulia:

1. Watering from below. Water is poured into a pan, from which it gradually begins to be absorbed into the ground. Give time for the soil ball to get wet all the way to the surface. The plant itself absorbs the amount of moisture it needs. The main thing is to drain the remaining water in the pan by evening. This will help prevent root rot.
2. Watering from above. Using a watering can with a narrow, long spout, direct the stream of water to the edge of the pot so as not to wet the neck of the root. Make sure that the stream of water does not wash away the soil in the pot. When the water is completely absorbed into the ground, you need to repeat the procedure. Continue until water seeps into the tray through the holes in the bottom of the pot. Approximately 1.5 hours after the end of watering, the water from the pan must be drained.

Water for irrigation should be at room temperature and allowed to stand for at least a day; it would not be a bad idea to let it sit for two to three days. The soil should dry out between waterings. Otherwise, fungus may form on the roots. The plant will die.

Spraying the flower should be avoided. In order to maintain the necessary humidity that indoor violets constantly need, the pots must be placed in trays filled with damp sphagnum or peat. Or on a tray with a cup.

How to water violets using the drip method

Given Saintpaulia's sensitivity to watering, it is beneficial to implement hydroponic growing methods. The drip method of irrigation has a beneficial effect on the development of plants. There are automatic drip systems for this, but it is quite possible to get by with a self-designed device.

You need to select containers (cut plastic bottles will also help) in which it is convenient to place pots with plants.

Drip - or wick - watering consists of pouring water into an external container, and pulling a plastic tube or synthetic cord from the pot through the drainage hole. They transport water to the roots exactly in the amount that the plant needs.

In addition to the normal supply of water, there are additional advantages to watering violets in the described way at home:

• Saintpaulias develop faster and bloom longer;
• You can add a nutrient solution to the water and thus feed the plants;
• you can go on vacation without worrying about your flowers;
• no need to ask someone to look after the plants and water them on time.

Feeding and fertilizer

During the period of intensive growth, healthy violets with a well-developed root system need nutrition to form green shoots and flowers.

These plants grow in the wild on rocky soil. The soil is depleted, with a minimum content of nutrients and microelements. However, the space where the plant's roots find nutrition is much larger than the volume of the pot. Therefore, at home, Saintpaulia requires additional care in the form of feeding.

Violets in pots need regular fertilization from late April. Ready-made mineral fertilizers for indoor plants with a minimum amount of nitrogen are suitable. They need to be applied twice a month. If you fertilize the violet frequently, it will react negatively. In winter, the flower is not fed with anything.

Useful supplements can be found in your own kitchen, without additional financial costs. These are additional, not basic, means:

• peels of oranges, lemons, tangerines infused with water;
• coffee grounds;
• yeast solution;
• sugar diluted in water;
• decoction of onion peels.

Dried tea leaves and water from meat, popular folk remedies, are not suitable for Saintpaulia. From them, leaf mosquitoes - sciarids - can settle on plants.

Read more in the article Feeding indoor flowers with home remedies.

In spring and summer, violets are fed every two weeks with mineral fertilizer with a complete composition for indoor crops. Can be purchased in small bags packaged for single use.

A convenient option for producing fertilizers in the form of sticks. In this case, you don’t have to worry about an overdose: you put a stick of fertilizer in the pot and you don’t have to think about fertilizing for 2 months. It is practical to use the preparations in liquid form along with watering.

Do not feed Saintpaulia in the following cases:

• if it is hot and very dry air;
• immediately after the transplant, at least a month must pass;
• if pests appear.

Be careful with dosages. Experienced flower growers advise taking 2 times less fertilizer than recommended in the instructions. Also, before fertilizing the flowers, they must first be watered with clean water.

Transplanting violets

At home, violets must be replanted if they were purchased in stores or supermarkets. There they are often overfed with fertilizers and oversaturated with moisture. If you bought flowers at markets from private flower growers, then at first it is better to do without replanting and let the root system grow. As soon as the entire earthen lump in the glass is intertwined with roots, then you can transplant the plant into a pot.

Violets are flowers that quickly generate daughter rosettes. Therefore, every potty pet will soon need a transplant.

Transplantation is provided in the following cases:

• if the plant has grown greatly;
• when the soil becomes acidic from excess moisture;
• if the flowers begin to hurt or are attacked by pests.

To plant violets correctly, you need to remember the seasonality. The most suitable time is cool summer, warm autumn and spring. Especially if the plants were exposed to additional lighting in winter. April and May are the most favorable months for transplantation.

If the plant begins to bloom, then replanting is permissible only in an emergency. And only by transshipment method.

Formation of a bush

Violets require periodic inspection of the above-ground parts. How to trim a violet so that the bushes look symmetrical:

• remove a leaf with an overgrown cutting using a very sharp sterile instrument - a knife or pruning shears;
• damaged or drying leaves can be removed manually;
• pinch the top of the main shoot.

The neat shape of the rosette is an additional decoration of the plant.

Rest period

Saintpaulia does not have a pronounced dormant period. This plant is perennial and evergreen. It does not lose its leaves even in winter, and violet flowers can appear all year round. But even here nature provided a short pause for plants.

Caring for violets at home in winter has its own characteristics. In winter, the plant needs more light (additional lighting). Monitor humidity and temperature carefully. Heating radiators dry out the air greatly. It is necessary to regularly humidify the air near the flower garden. Watering should be reduced.

It is useful to move flower pots to a dark place during the dormant period and reduce watering to a minimum. Violets will rest peacefully.

When can violets be replanted?

Saintpaulias, in principle, can be replanted at any time of the year. But, still, it is better not to touch the flowering plant if time is of the essence. Typically, planned transplants are carried out in the spring, before budding begins. In this case, the violet has time to get used to its new “home” and subsequently delights with its lush color. If signs of disease appear and the plant withers and turns yellow, then in some cases only replanting with a complete replacement of the soil and treatment of the affected root system can help. Here, naturally, you should no longer pay attention to flowering.

Soil for violets

Violets are grown in air- and water-permeable, slightly acidic soil. It should retain moisture well, but quickly remove excess moisture so that stagnation does not occur at the roots. High-quality drainage can be achieved using expanded clay and broken bricks, filling the pot one quarter with them. You can now find special soil mixtures for violets on sale, but if it is not possible to purchase such soil, then it is easy to prepare it yourself.

To do this you need to take:

• turf land – 20%;
• leaf soil – 30%;
• peat – 15%;
• old humus – 15%;
• coarse sand – 20%.

All this needs to be mixed well and disinfected with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or fungicidal preparations.

Which pot is suitable for violets?

To grow violets, it is advisable to choose pots of the smallest possible size. Until the root system fills the entire volume, the upper part of the plant practically does not develop. The selection of the diameter of the pot depends on the width of the existing bush. The new container should be approximately twice as narrow as the socket or even a little smaller. Approximately, for the smallest varieties of violets and rooted seedlings, a pot with a diameter of 5 cm is enough, for medium bushes - 7-9, and for the largest ones no more than 15 cm.

Bloom

Violets are one of the beautiful flowering indoor flowers and are grown for their wonderful blooms.

Violets bloom profusely and grow well if you use ion exchange culture or hydroponics under artificial light. Sufficiently bright lighting regulates the active flowering phase. Saintpaulia will begin to produce many new flowers.

It should be remembered that plants quickly become depleted during endless flowering. They need 8 weeks of rest in a dark place.

Abundant flowering usually begins in the second year of violet growth and development.

How to care for violets after flowering

Proper care at home for the Uzambara violet after flowering is to replant it. Some tips on how to do this:

• break off all the lower leaves and dry flower stalks;
• remove the violet from the pot and separate the stepsons for rooting;
• trim the lower part of the root by 1.5 - 2 cm;
• if you intend to use the old pots, then wash them from salt deposits without detergents;
• fill half the container with soil and immerse the exposed rosette trunks into it as deeply as possible;
• add fresh soil on top of the pots without compacting them;
• Water a little, the soil will settle a little and you can add new soil.

The violet planted in this way should be placed in a place with gentle, shaded lighting. Water carefully and moderately - do not overwater, do not overdry.

Typically, caring for violets after flowering does not cause problems if you follow all the recommendations exactly.

What containers are best to use?

There is an opinion that the larger the pot, the better. However, do not forget, first of all, about aesthetics: a small flowering plant will look ridiculous in a large pot. Also, the root system of a flower develops on the surface, and the lower shoots of the root die off, this is due to the fact that there is more oxygen and nutrients on the surface. It so happens that in nature, senoplia grow on rocky surfaces, and it is not typical for the root to grow into the depths .

As for the dimensions of the pot:

• For the largest representatives of violets, a pot measuring 9x9 cm is suitable.
• 7x7 containers are suitable for medium-sized ones.
• For the smallest, or miniature varieties, the pot should be no more than 5x5.

Important! By choosing a large pot, you may encounter acidification of the soil, which will not be covered by the root system, and instead of flowers, abundant foliage will grow.

You will learn about other reasons why violets do not bloom and what to do about it here.

The material of the pot also plays an important role when growing violets.

Various retail outlets can offer you a large selection of pots, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages:

• Plastic pots are inexpensive and durable; their flexibility greatly simplifies replanting plants. The main disadvantage is that in such a pot the violet will suffer from a lack of oxygen.
• of ceramic dishes - glazed or not. Treated pots always look beautiful, but due to the glaze they do not allow oxygen to pass through, and the other type, although it allows oxygen to pass through well, quickly loses its appearance and may eventually crack altogether. The heaviness of ceramic pots can also be considered a disadvantage.

Beauty and benefit for a flower can be combined; just put a flower, planted in an ugly pot without glaze treatment, inside a beautiful and bright ceramic pot.

The same method can be applied to any other containers. Your beauty will look unusual and beautiful if placed in a pot in any jar, bottle, or even in an original large mug. Individual decorative elements can be perfectly combined with the color and shape of the violet. Different types of this plant are suitable for this.

Reproduction

At home, a productive method of propagating violets for further cultivation has been chosen by flower growers for a long time. It is simple and accessible. This is the propagation of Saintpaulia by leaves. You can propagate flowers all year round, but it is better in spring and summer.

How to grow violet from cuttings

For cuttings, select a fully developed Saintpaulia leaf with a 1 cm petiole. Place it in a container of water, peat-sand mixture or sand. The petiole will take root in a month. In two months, young leaves will appear.

When propagating by leaf cuttings, it may happen that the daughter plants do not inherit all the varietal qualities of the mother specimen. In order not to “lose” a beautiful violet, you need to root several leaves. For example, out of three young plants, only one or two will completely inherit the characteristics of a given variety.

Dividing bushes into rosettes

When growing violets, rosettes form on the plant bushes. They are also called children. Over time, the developing rosettes cause the flower to become very cramped in the pot. Saintpaulia may stop growing and not bloom. Exit in the following steps:

• remove a flower from a pot;
• carefully separate all rosette roots;
• Plant rosettes in separate pots.

If the plants are not sick, then they can be divided into rosettes during flowering.

Possible problems and preventive measures

If all stages of preparation and transplantation were performed correctly, then no problems should arise. The main mistakes may be:

• Deepening or high planting of the plant;
• Inappropriate conditions: lighting, humidity, temperature;
• Not final adaptation of the plant after purchase;
• Incorrectly selected or prepared soil;
• The sections have not been processed.

Methods of solution and prevention consist in urgently correcting the mistakes made and preventing them from happening in the future. Carry out preventive treatments against pests in a timely manner.

Pests and diseases

When caring for violets at home, you must remember that in the event of a plant disease, it is advisable, if possible, to do without the use of pesticides. They are toxic and harmful not only to people, but also to flowers. Harmless herbal preparations act sparingly. Or a mechanical way to destroy pests - collecting by hand.

Diseases and their treatment

Fragile Saintpaulias are vulnerable to careless care. They may suffer from common diseases.

• Fusarium. The disease affects the leaf rosette, in which the petioles one after another become watery transparent and rot. The disease can be provoked by temperature changes and drafts, as well as watering with cold water. Immediate removal of the affected parts is required, followed by treatment of the rosette and rhizome with a fungicidal solution.
• Rust appears from the spread of fungus. Visual signs are yellow-brown raised spots on the surface of the leaves. It is obvious that the plant needs treatment. Affected leaves should be removed and the entire bush should be treated several times with fungicidal preparations.
• Powdery mildew most often appears on the leaves of Saintpaulia from insufficient lighting and excess humidity. In addition to treatment using a foundation solution, it is necessary to change the living conditions of the flower. Otherwise he won't be able to cope.
• Gray rot is an insidious disease that quickly spreads to the entire plant. It is caused by a complex of unfavorable factors - temperature changes, waterlogging of the soil, insufficient lighting. The leaves become moldy and die. It is extremely difficult to treat. More often than not, the affected plant must be destroyed.

To prevent diseases, daily inspection of indoor plants and watering with Fundazol solution is necessary once every two months. This is a well-proven drug for the prevention and treatment of fungal diseases.

Pests and their control

Saintpaulia violet can get sick and even die from pest attacks. The most common among them:

• aphid;
• all kinds of mites;
• worms that attack roots.

Proper care of violets and daily careful inspection will prevent pest invasion in time. It is recommended to use only herbal preparations for destruction - infusions of garlic and onions, red hot pepper, citrus peels, tomato leaves, tobacco, pyrethrum.

Description of indoor flower

The scientific name of the flower is Saintpaulia. This is a very delicate small flower that requires close attention and careful care and adherence to the basic principles of growing at home. The perennial has a low stem on which medium-sized fleshy leaves are collected in a rosette, and inflorescences appear from the leaf rosette.

Violet amazes with its variety of shades and riot of colors:

• blue;
• purple;
• white;
• lilac;
• wine shade;
• pink and others.

Violet flowers can also vary in size and shape. It all depends on the variety of perennial and the main points of caring for it. Every gardener knows that when violets appear in the house, it is necessary to follow certain “tricks” so that potted plants bloom beautifully and actively.

Types and varieties of violets

The painstaking work of breeders has so enriched the violet world that it was necessary to create several classifications dividing varieties into groups.

In the American classification, violets are described and systematized according to the following characteristics:

• socket size;
• by leaf type;
• their colors;
• by type of flower;
• by the color of the petals;
• by the number of petals.

This classification, very complex due to the huge number of varieties, is used by many gardeners.

Classification by socket size

The sizes of Saintpaulia rosettes range from miniature to large with a half-meter diameter:

• micromini (up to 6 cm);
• mini (from 10 to 15 cm);
• midi (from 15 to 20 cm);
• standard (from 20 to 40cm);
• large standard (from 40 to 50 cm).

A separate category is trailer violet, which has elongated stems.

Violets with micro rosette

Leaf color and edge line

Saintpaulia usually produces an environment of serrated or entire velvety leaves that are round, oval or ovoid in shape with a heart-shaped base.

The upper side of the leaves can have a color from light to dark green, the lower side is pale green or purple, with sharply protruding veins, the leaves are pubescent along the edges, depending on the variety.

Top dressing

Produced when violets bloom, no more than once every 2 weeks. This is quite enough so that the flower does not experience a lack of nutrients. During the rest period - approximately once a month. But the fact is that with proper organization of maintenance and care, violets bloom almost continuously. Therefore, when it comes to applying fertilizers, you need to be guided by the circumstances. You can use fertilizers prepared at home.

At different times of the year

The condition of the roots, the health of the plant, the abundance and frequency of flowering largely depend on seasonality. Let's take a closer look at the plant's moisture needs in summer and winter.

In summer

In summer, it is recommended to maintain a temperature regime of no more than +25 degrees. If the temperature outside is higher, then the best option is to use an air conditioner or fan. In hot weather, you should avoid excessive watering, but do it more often.

in winter

During the winter period, plants need special care, since it is at this moment that they are at rest. The frequency of watering is reduced; in addition, it is necessary to reduce the duration of daylight hours (lighting), and not to use fertilizers and fertilizing.

Spring and autumn

Spring is a great time to replant plants and apply fertilizers. As you know, the most abundant flowering of violets occurs in spring and autumn. At this time, any watering method can be used.

conclusions

1. The indoor violet is a light-loving plant, but you should not place it on the windowsill on the south side of the house.
2. Comfortable temperature for the growth of violets is 20-22 degrees.
3. Violets are lovers of high air humidity. To do this, it is best to place a bowl of water next to the pot.
4. In summer, at temperatures above 28 degrees, the room where the violet is located must be periodically ventilated, and also use a fan or air conditioner.
5. It is best to take a pot for a violet three times smaller than its crown.
6. The soil in the violet needs to be changed every spring.
7. There are three ways to propagate violets: by children, by seeds and by leaves.
8. It is best to water the violet through a tray.
9. Once every couple of months, the violet should take a preventive shower. Remove excess moisture from the leaves as quickly as possible.

Why is there no flowering indoors?

If an adult violet does not bloom, then the reason for this may be improper care for it, namely:

Lighting: the danger of poor care

If the leaves are small and strongly stretch upward, then there is not enough light in the room. Violet loves good lighting, but is afraid of direct sunlight. They cause leaf burns.

Humidity: how much to water

Saintpaulia requires regular watering, but does not tolerate waterlogging.

Let the water sit before use

The water should be settled and warm:

Therefore, it is necessary to periodically humidify the surrounding air, but the drops should not fall on the leaves. It is best to place a humidifier next to the flower.

Fertilizing: how to apply fertilizers

During flowering, the plant needs to be fed once a week with special fertilizers for indoor flowers. And if this is a universal fertilizer, then the dose indicated on the package should be halved.

The soil

To bloom, violets need loose, light soil so that moisture does not accumulate in the top layer. Drainage for Saintpaulias is of paramount importance, because... Stagnation of water leads to rotting of the roots.

Foam plastic, pebbles, and expanded clay are used for drainage. Violets do not like acidic soils either. The top layer of soil must be renewed annually.

Choosing a pot: the reason for long flowering

The pot in which the Saintpaulia is located should be a little cramped. In a spacious pot, she will tend to develop a root system to fill it. And you will have to wait a long time for flowers from her.

But in a very cramped pot the plant will also be uncomfortable. Especially if he is surrounded by stepchildren. Periodically it is necessary to replant the plants, removing young bushes.

Diseases and pests: what to do

Violets do not bloom when they are attacked by diseases and pests:

If the plant is lethargic, then it suffers from microflora; spraying with foundationazole will help.

You can also treat it with a weak solution of manganese.

Violets can also be affected by scale insects (red spots on leaves), aphids and mites (cobwebs). Spraying with Actillic or Fitoverm will help get rid of them. In the initial stage, washing the ground part with a weak soap solution helps.

To create conditions conducive to flowering, the violet is placed in a room facing east or south. In the second case, shading of the plant in the summer heat is required.