Types of wild-growing violets
The natural distribution of wild violets is limited to certain mountainous areas in Tanzania and Kenya. There it can be found along the banks of rivers flowing down steep mountain slopes, near waterfalls that irrigate the adjacent territory with water dust, at the bottom of ravines in partial shade of tall trees. In direct sunlight, this violet quickly dies. Under natural conditions, there are about 20 species of Saintpaulias. Let's introduce you to some of them.
Velvet
Saintpaulia velutina has serrated rounded dark green leaves, 4-5 cm in size. The reverse side of the leaf has a reddish tint. The lush inflorescence consists of small blue-violet flowers with a dark center.
Grotte
Grotte (Saintpaulia grotei) is an ampel type plant that has rounded, pubescent leaves of bright green or purple color up to 6 cm long and about 5 cm wide. Small blue-purple flowers up to 2.5 cm in diameter have a dark eye and border.
Violet-flowered
Violet or violet (Saintpaulia ionantha). The plant has a large rosette, up to 60 cm in diameter, shortened juicy stems with heart-shaped, dark green leaves up to 8 cm in length. The flowers are violet-blue in color.
Description of the variety
Saintpaulia Trailers have a special place in the circle of home growers. Violet "Liutanika" is a prominent representative of this group.
Reference! Trailer violets have an elongated stem. Their difference from other Saintpaulias is the presence of stepchildren in the leaf axils, which gives multiple points of growth, as well as continuous flowering.
Leaves
The foliage is dark green, pointed and jagged. It is small and carved, the petioles are long and straight.
The rosette is compact and not very large, the bush is spreading. The petioles can stretch out if bright consecration is provided.
It is impossible to find identical sockets at the violet-trailer of "Lituanic".
Trailer flowers
The flowers are densely double, their color is soft peach. The ends are brown, in the form of double balls.
The petals in the middle cannot bloom.
The shape of the trailer flower resembles a dahlia, but its apricot color with bright ends is very unusual. The size of the flower is about 4 cm.
Abundant flowering. Every year the violet "Lituanica" can delight with different colors. Peduncles are thin and long in shape. Because of them, the flowers hang upside down.
Features and differences from other varieties
Violet Trailer is notable for its unusual fantasy coloring. It can include strokes, polka dots, segments, which will be combined with the main color of the plant. The flower is very beautiful, but reproduction is rather difficult.
Reproduction
To obtain new plants of Saintpaulia, you can use several methods of reproduction:
- seeds;
- pinching;
- planting peduncles;
- rooting cuttings.
The most common and effective way to grow a new plant is by rooting stepchildren.
The technology of this method is to separate the little stepsons from the mother bush and carefully transplant them into a new flower container.
To propagate violets using peduncles or cuttings, you must first place the planting material in a container with water or in wet soil. Special growth stimulants will help speed up the formation of the root system. Only after the appearance of roots about 1 cm long can they be planted in a permanent place of growth.
Getting a new plant from seeds is a complex and lengthy process that is used in special nurseries by experienced botanists. For self-cultivation of violets with the help of seeds, you need to purchase only ready-made seed.
Subtleties of care
Novice gardeners should pay attention to this type of violets, which is unpretentious and needs minimal care. The soil mixture for planting should consist of 3 parts of peat, 5 parts of deciduous soil and 1 part of sand
Experienced gardeners recommend adding a little charcoal or moss to the nutrient composition, as well as particles of expanded clay and vermiculite. Experts recommend using ready-made potting mixes sold in specialized stores. The main condition for planting a plant in a pot is the presence of a drainage layer
The soil mixture for planting should consist of 3 parts of peat, 5 parts of deciduous soil and 1 part of sand. Experienced gardeners recommend adding a little charcoal or moss to the nutrient, as well as particles of expanded clay and vermiculite. Experts recommend using ready-made potting mixes sold in specialized stores. The main condition for planting a plant in a pot is the presence of a drainage layer.
The violet has a shallow root system that feels comfortable in low pots. For planting young plants, it is necessary to give preference to pots, the diameter of which does not exceed 8 cm. Every three years, as the flower grows, it must be transplanted into larger containers.
The transplant must be carried out very carefully, keeping the earthen lump intact. It is not recommended to change the pot during the flowering period or the formation of peduncles.
In specialized stores, you can buy two types of pots:
- plastic;
- ceramic.
Both types of flower pots can be used to grow violets, but experts recommend giving preference to ceramic pots.
A good level of illumination is the key to abundant flowering. After contact of violets with direct sunlight, burns and white spots may remain - violets must be grown on window sills on the west or east side of the apartment. To get even light on all sides of the plant, you need to turn the pot once a week.
During the short daylight hours, violets need additional lighting for active growth and flowering.
The most comfortable temperature range is 20 to 25 degrees. In winter, the air temperature should not be lower than 19 degrees.
When ventilating the room, it is necessary to protect the flower from drafts and strong air flow.
The humidity level in the room with plants should not be lower than 50 percent.
Biologists categorically forbid spraying a flower.
For watering, you must use a watering can with a thin spout, which will exclude the ingress of water on the stems and leaves of the plant. If it is impossible to exclude the ingress of water on the leaves, you must immediately dry the plant and blot the drops of moisture. If you moisten the soil through the pan, then after a few minutes, be sure to drain all the remaining liquid. Water droplets on leaves and damp earth can provoke putrefactive processes. In the event of a long absence, you can organize automatic watering, for which you need to lower one end of the rope into a container with water, and put the other end in a pot.
Experienced gardeners recommend moistening the soil only after it has completely dried out with settled water at room temperature.
In the summer, you need to wash off the dust from the leaves with a shower every month. It is strictly forbidden to use cold water and strong water pressure.
For the full growth and development of the plant, it is necessary to regularly use a complex of special fertilizers, which must be dissolved in water before use in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturers.
Possible diseases
Like any plant, the violet can also hurt. For such a plant, the greatest danger is posed by infectious diseases, namely: pathogens, viruses, fungi and bacteria, and pests:
- spider mite;
- shield;
- nematodes and aphids.
The best thing is to prevent the violet from getting sore. Therefore, the most competent solution is the prevention of all diseases by spraying with special preparations.
We invite all lovers and connoisseurs of violets to get acquainted with the varieties of the flower: with the fabulous "Fairy" and other varieties bred by the breeder Dadoyan, the graceful "Cherry", abundantly blooming "The Bronze Horseman" and "Isadora", the famous "Pansies", similar to the lily of the valley " Greenhouse effect ”, striking“ Blue fog ”, as well as varieties of the“ Optimara ”series.
Violet is a plant of amazing beauty that should be in every home. It is quite easy to clean and therefore suitable for beginners. If there is a desire to propagate the plant, then it will not take much effort and effort. And with the successful completion of this task, even more representatives of such a beautiful flower as a violet will appear in your home.
History
Even in Ancient Greece, the Greeks considered this flower a symbol of sadness and death - most often they used it to decorate the graves of young girls. But, in our modern society, this flower is considered a symbol of the awakening of nature. And oddly enough, it has its own special history.
According to ancient Greek myth, it can be assumed that the daughter of Titan, when she was fleeing from Apollo, asked for the help of Zeus. He, in turn, turned the girl into a beautiful flower, which eventually became known as a violet. After a magical transformation, Zeus hid the flower deep in the forest.
And no one would have noticed her if the violet had not been kidnapped by Hades, the king of the government of the dead. But suddenly he got scared and dropped the flowers on the ground. Those, in turn, began to actively grow and delight everyone around them with their beauty.
The Greeks consider the violet to be one of their favorite flowers. Such a symbol of Athens appeared in the days of Ancient Greece. With the help of violets, the artists depicted the images of women.
Violet Chanson
Lovely violet Chanson.
Among the original varieties of Saintpaulias, which are invariably popular with flower growers with various experience and experience and often take prizes at all kinds of exhibitions, the Chanson violet variety with fancy flowering can be named. Above is a picture for you, which shows Saintpaulia Chanson.
The history of the origin of the variety
INTERESTING! The authorship is often attributed to Paul Sorano, a celebrated breeder from the United States, or to his Lyndon Lyon Greenhouses plant breeding company. But on the site of Sorano, no mention of the variety of this magnificent violet is found.
If the taxonomic position of the violet of the Chanson variety is determined absolutely precisely and is not subject to any movements in the near future, then it is difficult to reliably name the breeder who raised this variety.
According to some unconfirmed data, the Chanson violet is the result of domestic selection, however, the specific name of the grower who received this variety is not named anywhere.
Officially, the author of the Saintpaulia variety "Chanson" is considered unidentified, and the catalogs of violets indicate that the breeder is unknown.
Taxonomy
Violet Chanson is a fancy cultivar from the genus Saintpaulia hybrid, representing the Gesneriaceae family:
- By the size of the rosette, the variety can be attributed to the enlarged standard;
- And according to the shape of the rim - to the type "Bell".
Photo and description of the variety
This variety belongs to the standard varieties.
An original variety with a fancy color type forms a compact, with a very neat contour, a standard rosette. Usually, the size of the bush is at the minimum or average size of the standard (about 20 - 30 cm), but when creating ideal conditions for the plant, the rosette can become as large as possible for its type - up to 40 cm.
Violet leaves have a tonality of dark green with a slight tint of olive color, which:
- Does not always suit flower growers - collectors;
- And it is the only significant drawback of the variety.
From below, the leaves gradually acquire a reddish tint.
Leaf plates of a rounded configuration with a clear venation relief sit on dense elongated petioles. The glossy character of the upper side of the leaves gives them a solemn, elegant look, and the reverse surface is covered with light, fluffy fibers.
ATTENTION! Chanson violet leaf plates can be too brittle due to their succulent structure. This should be taken into account when placing the plant on the windowsill .. The flowering of the Chanson variety belongs to the cap type
Violet corollas differ:
The flowering of the Chanson variety belongs to the cap type. Violet corollas differ:
- Particularly large (over 6 cm);
- And with an increased degree of terry, the edges of each petal have a slightly wavy configuration.
The velvety structure of the flowers is emphasized by sparkling blotches.
The color tone of the buds varies from a bluish-lilac shade to a deep purple tone with a purple tint. The fantasy of the variety is manifested by the presence of peas, splashes and specks of various tonalities of pink on the entire surface of the flower, creating a glow effect.
Peculiarities
Unlike many varieties and hybrids of Violet Chanson:
- Blooms quite early;
- And immediately gives abundant buds.
Each bloom lasts approximately 3 months.
The peculiarities of the variety include the manifestation of its fantasy type only during the second flowering - the corollas of the first stage may not have a pink highlight. The violet gains its full strength and beauty during the third blooming of the buds.
Saintpaulia blooms for about 3 months.
Saintpaulia Chanson is different:
- Rapid growth;
- Formation of green mass;
- Violent flowering from an early age;
- And the decorative splendor of a blooming rosette.
Violet is a very light-loving plant - with a small amount of daylight, it begins to pull the leaf plates up, which violates its varietal decorative effect.
Chanson violet care
Chanson violets are watered only after the earthy clod has dried. Watering frequency is 2 times a week. Excess moisture will inevitably cause rotting of the roots of the outlet. Water for irrigation is used exclusively soft, settled for 2 days or thawed.
You need to water the violet at the root, without getting on the leaves and in the center of the outlet. It is convenient to use a watering can with a long spout or a syringe pear for this. If water accidentally gets on the leaves, dry them with a paper towel or napkin. Water from the center of the outlet is collected with a cotton swab.
Violet Chanson is watered a couple of times a week.
You can avoid water getting on the leaves and at the same time achieve uniform soil moisture by using bottom watering of violets. A pot two-thirds of its height is immersed in a container of water for about 20-30 minutes. As soon as the surface of the soil begins to shine with moisture, the pot is removed from the water.
Once a month, the violet needs to have a bath to free the leaves from the dust accumulated on them. The plant is placed in a bath and washed with a shower with a very weak pressure of warm water. after bathing, the violet is allowed to dry and only after that is returned to its permanent place.
Organization of feeding
With regular transplants twice a year, additional feeding of the violet is not required. You can feed the plant with phosphorus-potassium fertilizer once during flowering. Top dressing is applied no earlier than 2 months after transplantation.
If the transplant is carried out once a year, 2 months after the procedure, it is necessary to start regular feeding of the plant once every 2 weeks. During the development of the rosette, organic fertilizers with a high nitrogen content are used. During budding and flowering, nitrogen is excluded from fertilizing. The plant needs phosphorus and potassium during this period.
Transplant schedule and rules
The Chanson variety does not like transplanting, but the soil in the pot must be changed 2 times a year.
This must be done by the transshipment method, carefully removing the plant with a clod of earth and moving it to a new pot
The transplant substrate is prepared as loose and nutritious as possible. Milking this mix peat, humus, sand and leafy soil. Additional looseness of the mixture is given by the addition of vermiculite. You can use ready-made violet soil by adding a small amount of vermiculite or perlite to it.
The Chanson violet variety does not like frequent transplanting into a new pot.
The pot for the transplant is selected wide and shallow. It is such dishes that are suitable for the superficial root system of the violet. The diameter of the pot increases as the rosette grows. For young plants - 5-7 centimeters, the maximum size for an adult violet is 11-12 centimeters.
Drainage from expanded clay, small pebbles, gravel or pieces of polystyrene is laid at the bottom of the pot. The violet is taken out of the old pot, placed in a new one, and the remaining space around the clod of earth is covered with fresh substrate. You can water the transplanted violet only after 2 days.
Diseases and pests
The violet is susceptible to the same diseases as other indoor plants. They usually appear as a result of violation of the rules of cultivation and are detrimental to the flower.
Saintpaulia may have:
- Powdery mildew - appears during the off-season. It is enough to spray once with any fungicide (for example, topaz).
- Fungal rot is a consequence of improper care. The best treatment is prevention. Water the ground with trichodermine or phytosporin from time to time.
- Thrips - affect young leaves and flowers. In this case, they resort to chemical preparations (Aktellik, Fitoverm, Aktara).
- Mealybug - cotton lumps appear at the base of the leaves. Any specialized drug will do.
Violets are compact indoor plants that are distinguished by their beauty and abundance of flowering. Saintpaulias exhibitions are regularly held, where you can see the most incredible colors and shapes. Decorate your home with such items, and they will constantly delight you with a unique view.
Planting and breeding
Planting this plant is almost no different from the basic rules for planting varietal violets. You can multiply "Chanson" in several ways:
- With the help of seeds. The seed method is very painstaking and time-consuming, it is mainly used by breeders when breeding new varieties. It should be remembered that self-collected seeds are not suitable for propagation of a hybrid plant variety, since they do not inherit the parental traits.
- Cut a leaf. A stalk rooted in the soil will sprout in one and a half to two months, this is a simple and reliable way to propagate a flower. The leaf stalk can be rooted in water and soil. When rooting in water, the cutting can be transplanted into a pot when the root length is already 0.5 cm. It is impossible to overexpose a leaf in water - it can simply rot.
- Stepsons. Grasshopping is the most effective way to reproduce violets. It is very simple: you just need to separate the stepsons and transplant them into a separate pot. The plant forms a sufficient number of rosettes-stepsons, they are located in the axils of the lower leaves and can be easily removed by biting off with tweezers. Having separated, they are planted in separate seedling cups, pre-filled with a loose substrate. After transplanting, the sprout is covered with a transparent bag, creating a mini greenhouse to retain heat and moisture. After the rosette is completely rooted, the film can be removed. And when the cuttings of the leaves grow up to 4-5 cm, the plant can be transplanted into a pot for further growth. But, this method requires special care, since it is very easy to damage the root or fragile leaves of the plant.
Separated and germinated violets sit in a specially selected pot, in which a drainage layer should be laid 1/4, consisting of fine gravel, pebbles, expanded clay or crushed foam (everything is interchangeable).Then the drainage is sprinkled with the main soil, a sprout or rosette is carefully placed in the center and sprinkled with the remaining substrate. He gently presses his fingers at the base so that during further watering the flower does not bend over. You should know that the transplanted violet is watered only after two days.
