When and how did the flower appear?
In 1930, the first violets were grown in the company's greenhouses. In addition to Saintpaulias, the company was engaged in the cultivation of other plants. Each species took its place in greenhouses, for example, only 1 square meter stood out for the African violet. But one day, the owner of the company, Hermann Holtkamp, decided to change the model of the company and deal only with Saintpaulias. Then active work began on the creation of new varieties and already in the middle of the twentieth century, great success came to the company.
Holtkamp's first commercial variety (1952) was Sankt Martin. This is how the large-scale cultivation of violets began, the company began to develop more and more new varieties of Saintpaulias, and gradually pushed almost all existing plants out of the greenhouses.
In 1961 the company changed its name from Dorrenbach-Holtkamp to Hermann Holtkamp's Greenhouses. In 1977, Saintpaulia greenhouses were opened in Nashville, Tennessee, and the Optimara trademark was patented.
History of appearance and distribution
Violets are a cute and pleasant flower, so it is not surprising that many biologists have shown interest in them. The year 1989 was marked by the breeding of Saintpaulia varieties with peduncles of different colors, since before that only a purple hue was known to bloom. As soon as it was possible to understand how you can influence the color gamut, scientists took up the size of violets, experimenting with it and creating varieties with miniature or huge petals. Breeding experiments could not go unnoticed. They soon developed to a more serious level.
Many lovers of such beautiful plants as violets have noticed in flower shops and on the websites of a representative of the flower world called Optimara violets. They are not a separate species of Saintpaulia, just a company with that name is engaged in their cultivation. These flowers are considered the most striking representatives of tropical plants, but, unlike the simpler species, they can please with flowering only once. Optimara Saintpaulias do not like cold very much, any of its effects leads to a complete stop of the flowering process, and can also inflict a crushing blow on the root system, which should only be kept warm. Despite all their beauty, African violet forts do not grow long, they should not be planted.
You can buy Optimara violets in the form of a small bouquet, which is often sold in pots. This plant can bloom only 1 time, after which it makes no sense to take care of it anymore. Saintpaulias of this firm grow and bloom rapidly all at the same time. The main advantage is the abundance of beautiful symmetrical buds on one violet. Such plants are bred for industrial purposes, so they are easy to transport, they do not deteriorate on the way.
Bright flowers, various shades are the hallmark of Optimara violets, so the interest in them remains consistently high. A lot of time has passed since the appearance of this brand, because the official time of birth is considered to be 1930, when M. Dorrenbach in Germany switched from his business of breeding and growing grain crops to Saintpaulia. The co-owner of Holtkam saw global perspectives in such a small and simple flower and was able to achieve his goals. His son, Reinholt, made a great contribution to the development, who helped to make the modest family business a huge and well-known company all over the world. The first attempts to create a beautiful flower for sale were few, the plantations did not exceed 1 square meter, but thanks to the success, all the plants of the greenhouse were soon replaced by the Uzambara Saintpaulia.
Optimara's main task is to develop a large number of varieties that are constantly being replenished. Already, there are several hundred varieties of these colors, which are posted on the company's website, often they do not even have their own name. Usually a number is assigned to a new violet, but the name of the breeder who bred it must be indicated. In production, they do not set the task of approving or cultivating a particular variety, even if customers like it. Optimara's main rule is to have the widest range of products.
General description of the plant
Violet "Optimara" is not a specific plant variety, but the name of a company engaged in the cultivation of Saintpaulia (the second name for violets). The varieties produced by the company usually have the prefix Optimara in the name. Violets "Optimara" are striking representatives of tropical plants.
The slightest cold can harm them and stop flowering. The roots need warmth, only under this condition will the plant bloom.
Tip: Many gardeners who are trying to extend the life of a violet use little tricks: they put foam circles under the pot. Which provides the necessary warmth for Saintpaulia. It is also possible to use a planter, into which the pot is inserted, so that it is isolated from the cold.
These varieties of violets are not viable, which affects their distribution. African violets are not suitable for breeding and distribution. But depending on the care, they can give excellent cuttings, thereby extending their life. Violets "Optimara" are sold in small pots and are used as a one-time bouquet, as the buds appear only once.
After the plant fades, it is disposed of. Among the huge variety of species of "Optimara" violets, one can find similarities in appearance.
All Saintpaulias have a fast growth from the cutting to the appearance of a blooming rosette. Flowers bloom at the same time. The number of flowers during the flowering period is very large. The sockets themselves are small.
Violets are intended for industrial cultivation and therefore are very transportable and unpretentious. The flowers of the plant can have different shades, but they all have a rich color. Flowers of violets "Optimara" are symmetrical.
Saintpaulias have an underdeveloped fibrous root system. The stems of this violet are fleshy with basal leaves. The leaf has various shapes, depending on the variety, it can be round, ovoid, oblong and with a heart-shaped or simple base.
A sharp or rounded tip may be observed at the end of the leaf. Along the edges there may be small or large denticles, and there are also edges with a lack of relief, slightly rounded.
The "Optimara" violet leaf is flat, slightly wavy, strongly corrugated, or resembles the shape of a spoon, or a backward curved spoon. Almost always the leaves of Saintpaulia are painted in various tones of green, but there is an exception, in some types of violets, the leaf may have areas painted in cream, olive, lettuce, yellow or pink.
Multi-colored areas can be located at the base, along the edges of the leaf blade, or form various mosaic patterns on its surface. The seamy side of a violet leaf is usually silvery green, although some varieties or species of violets often have different shades of red in its color.
The surface of the leaves can be glossy or dull, which is covered with hair to varying degrees. The sheet can have a bubbly or quilted texture.
Overview of individual varieties and their photos
There are many industrial varieties of Optimara violets. All Saintpaulias presented in production differ significantly from each other in color, shape and size.
- Violets optimara my love.
- Optimara my desire.
- Optimara ever precious.
- Optimara May Dream.
- "Optimara Michigan" British selection.
Attention: A neat rosette is formed by medium-sized leaves.The leaves are tiled to each other, so the rosette is formed very compact and does not take up much space .. The violet blooms in large flowers of various colors
They are usually decorated with a contrasting color spot. The yellow stamens add charm to this flower. Peduncles are very strong, each of them forms 5-6 buds
The violet blooms in large flowers of various colors. They are usually decorated with a contrasting color spot. The yellow stamens add charm to this flower. Peduncles are very strong, each of them forms 5-6 buds.
My love
It has light green leaves. Violet flowers are white. They are decorated with a contrasting ink-violet spot. A special feature is that in warm weather the flowers become almost completely inky-violet, and only the tips of the petals are white.
And in cool weather, the violet forms almost white flowers. And in the center of the flower remains a small inky-purple eye with yellow stamens.
We recommend watching a video about the Optimara violet of the “My love” variety:
My desire
It has two-tone white flowers with a deep pink center. The foliage is medium green in color. The leaves are slightly serrated, heart-shaped.
Ever precious
It is endowed with white flowers with a red-violet border on the lower three petals and blue on the upper two in combination with a green corrugated border. The violet flowers themselves are simple semi-double, slightly corrugated. The foliage is green, glossy, ruffled, slightly wavy.
May dream
A variety from the my Violet series. It has huge, simple, cup-shaped, star-like flowers. And in the center is a bright blue-violet peephole. Flowers grow up to 7 cm. They retain their cup-shaped shape for a long time, then open.
Flowers of 2-4 are on short, strong peduncles. The flowering is rich and lasts a long time. Simple quilted foliage has a medium green color. The seamy side of the sheet is colored red.
Beautiful quilted leaves of medium green color create a perfect flat, even rosette. This allows large white flowers to look great against its background.
We recommend watching a video about the Optimara violet of the “myDream” variety:
Michigan
It is endowed with flowers of a very delicate light pink color. Its flowering is rich, resembles a hat. The leaves are beautiful green. On the seamy side, they have a red tint. The socket is standard, compact.
We invite you to familiarize yourself with other, no less beautiful varieties of violets: unusual "Fairy" and other varieties obtained by the breeder Dadoyan, graceful "Cherry", abundantly blooming "Isadora" and "Bronze Horseman", everyone's favorite "Pansies", reminiscent of lilies of the valley " Greenhouse effect ”, bright“ Chanson ”and exquisite“ Blue fog ”.
Optimara Millennia: description and features of the variety
Optimara Millenia was obtained back in 2001 by the nursery of Hermann Holtkamp, who is known all over the world for his series of violets "Optimara" and "Rhapsody". The variety, like other plants bred by the breeder, is resistant to various diseases, is distinguished by early flowering times and compact size.
Optimara Millenia's foliage is simple, medium green in color and well pubescent. Plates are serrated, with a pointed edge, small in size. The rosette of this Optimara is small, which allows the variety to be classified as small standards. Symmetrical rows of leaves that are superimposed on each other, the violet grows independently, without any interference from the collector.
Optimara Millenia's flower belongs to the anyutka type, its color is quite interesting - red-crimson imprints appear on a white background, located on the lower petals and supplemented with a corrugated border. In rare cases, red strokes may appear on the top of the bud.
The Optimara Millenia has a lot of flower stalks - it seems as if they are located all over the outlet. The size of a fully blossoming bud is small, only 4 cm, but this “compactness” is more than compensated by a large number of flowers.The budding period is quite long, lasts about 5-6 weeks, while after the last flowers of Optimara Millenia have dried up, they bloom again in 2-4 months.
Optimara Millenia is a temperature-dependent variety, so in hot conditions the buds float, flourishing completely red. In the coolness, the white base of the petals manifests itself more strongly, there are often cases when the rosette reveals almost monochromatic snow-white buds with weakly expressed crimson strokes
It is important for the variety to choose the right lighting, since a lack of light will inevitably affect the quality of flowering, as well as overexposure.
Optimara Millennia reproduces well - after rooting, the leaf quickly produces a large number of babies. Young plants bloom on average 10 months after planting the cuttings.
