Rules for caring for violets at home, cultivation secrets for beginners
Proper care of a violet at home allows you to achieve great success in growing this plant. Thanks to an integrated approach, the culture will blossom abundantly and luxuriantly. To achieve good results, you need to water the flower in time, apply fertilizers and cut the plant. The protection of the bush from the attacks of harmful insects and the development of dangerous diseases is not negligible.
Description of the plant
The violet is an indoor perennial that has a short stem and many fleshy leaves. Culture has small flowers that are collected in a brush.Thanks to the achievements of modern breeders, many varieties of different shades have been obtained. Violets differ in the type of rosette, the color of the foliage, the peculiarities of the flowers, the structure of the roots. Many modern varieties have significant differences from the usual indoor violets.
Popular varieties and types
Today, many varieties of violets are known, each of which has certain characteristics.
Star
This type of violet is characterized by the same sizes of petals. They are regularly spaced around the central part.
Thoughts
There are 5 petals in the corolla structure. The two petals in the top row are smaller than the bottom three.
Bell
This violet is characterized by petals that have grown together at the base. This feature prevents the flower from fully opening. It makes it look like a bell.
bowl
This plant is characterized by petals that do not accumulate at the base. The flower does not fully open. During the entire flowering period, it retains its shape.
Buy. Seedlings or seeds
There are many ways to grow violets. The easiest option is to buy ready-made seedlings. Such a plant is easy to care for and has an excellent survival rate.
It is also quite possible to grow a violet from seeds. This method is considered more time-consuming and requires a number of sequential procedures.
Grow seedlings
To grow seedlings from seeds, first of all you need to choose the right planting material. Strict compliance with all agrotechnical recommendations is not negligible.
The choice of planting material
First of all, you need to choose the right quality seeds for planting violets.Novice growers neglect this step, making them unhappy with the results. By choosing quality seeds, you can get a strong plant of the right variety.
Soil preparation and composition
For planting violets, a ready-made substrate is suitable, which is sold in flower shops. It contains an optimal set of vitamins and minerals. You can make your own potting soil if you wish. For this it is worth taking peat, sand and leafy soil. Immediately after mixing the components, the composition should be fed.
Care
To ensure the normal development of the plant, it is necessary to ensure adequate lighting in the room. Violets don't like too bright light, so direct sunlight won't work for them. When choosing a temperature regime, it is worth stopping at + 16-18 degrees.
Violet needs systematic watering. A prolonged lack of moisture in the soil will cause the death of the plant. It is worth watering the culture with warm water.
Transfer
Periodically, the violet needs to be transplanted to a new place. In order for the plant to quickly adapt to new conditions, it is necessary to observe the rules of procedure.
The timing
Transplanting plants is not recommended in winter. At this time, violets lack sunlight. Also, the procedure should not be carried out in the summer heat, as this reduces the survival rate of the culture. In autumn and spring, you can plant a violet. However, in this case it becomes necessary to use additional artificial lighting. The most favorable months for the procedure are April and May.
How to transplant correctly
To properly transplant a plant, you need to purchase a pot of a suitable diameter and prepare fresh soil.There are several ways to perform the manipulation.
With complete land replacement
This method can be used for mature plants, in which the stem is significantly exposed. It is also used for crop wilting and soil acidification. The advantage of the technique is the complete renewal of the soil and the cleaning of the roots of the plants. This gets rid of rotten and old parts. To carry out the procedure, the violet must be carefully removed from the pot, shake off the soil and remove the lower yellow leaves and peduncles. It is recommended to carefully sprinkle the slices with charcoal.
When you remove a large number of roots, move the violet to a smaller pot. It is recommended to place the drainage downwards, then pour fresh soil and spread the roots of the plant. Cover the plant with soil from the top to the lower leaves. After 24 hours, the crop should be watered and more soil added.
Partial floor replacement
With a planned transplant of violets, it is enough to renew the soil only partially. This allows you to move the violet more gently into a larger pot and avoid damaging the roots. The transplant is performed in the same way as in the first case. The only difference is in the culture extraction process. In this case, it is worth carefully shaking off the crumbling soil from the roots, leaving a small lump of earth.
Transhipment
This method can be used for emergency transplanting flowering shrubs. It is used for young children or plants whose rosette is three times the size of the pot. During transshipment, a clod of earth is completely preserved.
For the procedure, it is recommended to fill the container to a third with drainage, pour a small amount of fresh soil. Place the old pot in the center of the new one and fill the space between them with soil. Then the old container should be removed, and a violet with a lump of earth should be put in its place.
Selection of jars
A small plastic pot works well for violets. A drink is necessary for children. It is not difficult to choose the size of the container. The optimum diameter is one-third the size of the plant rosette. This means that the crown of the violet should be three times the diameter of the pot.
Rules of care
For a plant to develop fully, it must receive high-quality care, which includes a whole range of elements.
Pot location
It is recommended to place the container with the plant on the east or west window. In the summer, you can use the windowsills on the north side, and in the winter it is better to move the purple to the south window.
air humidity
Violets need fairly high humidity. A good indicator would be 60-70%. At lower parameters, adult rosettes stop developing and do not lay buds. If the flowers bloom, they dry out quickly. In this case, the leaf cuttings sag.
A humidifier will help increase the humidity settings. It is also allowed to put a pot with a plant in a pallet filled with wet expanded clay.
It is forbidden to try to increase the humidity by spraying the foliage. Violet leaves have villi that can trap water droplets. This will cause leaf rot and sunburn.
Lighting
Violets require bright, diffused lighting. Therefore, it is recommended to place them on the west or east side.It is important to control that the plant is not exposed to the aggressive action of direct sunlight. In combination with heat, this will have negative consequences. Thus, even on the west side, the windows are shaded in summer to avoid burning the foliage. In order for the violet to grow evenly and not stretch in a certain direction, it is recommended to periodically rotate the pot with the plant around its own axis.
Watering methods
Watering should be treated very responsibly. It is important to follow the middle ground rule. The soil should not dry out or be too wet. Deviations in any direction will adversely affect plant development. There are several watering options.
Upper
It is not recommended to water indoor violets in this way, since water often gets into the outlet and onto the leaves. As a result, the risk of developing fungal diseases increases significantly. Wet spots on the leaves can cause sunburn, even in winter.
Wick
For this, lace or a small strip of natural cotton fabric is used. One end of the wick is passed through the drainage hole at the bottom of the container with the violet, and the other into the container with water for irrigation. Place the flowerpot on this container. Due to the capillary effect, moisture rises through the wick inwards.
In this case, the flower will receive as much water as it needs. Soil moisture will remain stable. It is regulated by the plant itself, taking into account the temperature regime.
By pallet
You can water the violet and turn the palette over. To do this, pour settled water into it. The layer of liquid should be a quarter of the height of the pot. Immerse the container with the violet in water for half an hour.During this time, the soil will be saturated with moisture. Watering can be combined with top dressing. Thanks to this, the plant will receive the necessary elements.
By immersion
This method is used in particularly hot weather. To do this, the flower must be dipped in a basin with settled water and left for 1 hour, due to which the plant will be saturated with moisture. Then you need to let the excess liquid drain out and put the flower in place.
Water requirements
It is recommended to water the violets with settled water. It should be at room temperature. You can also use boiled liquid, since this procedure helps to remove many harmful salts. They decompose and precipitate.
Fertilization and feeding
For a plant to thrive, it needs a variety of nutrients. To do this, you can use ready-made home remedies and fertilizers.
Folk remedies
Folk recipes are often used to saturate the soil with nutrients. Such funds are affordable and have a good effect on the plant.
Black tea
This remedy is often used for indoor plants. Usually, flower growers use sleeping tea leaves, which should be evenly distributed over the surface of the earth in a pot. You can also brew black tea and feed the plant with the resulting solution. It should be of medium strength. It is worth fertilizing the flower at intervals of 14-16 days.
coffee grounds
This tool perfectly fertilizes and loosens the soil. For this, the rest of the coffee should be mixed with soil and placed in a pot with a flower. After that, watering should be abandoned for 2-3 weeks. It should be remembered that coffee grounds increase acidity.
Yeast
This product promotes flower growth and strengthens the roots.Therefore, fertilizers based on it are often used by flower growers. First, the yeast should be mixed with sugar, then dissolved in warm water and left for several hours. In winter, the solution is used once a month, in summer it is done at intervals of 10 days.
Sugar
This tool activates the development of indoor plants. Therefore, it is recommended to mix glucose with water at room temperature and use it to spray violets. This treatment is carried out at 30-day intervals.
Vitamin B12
This substance helps to strengthen the immune system of violets. For this, the ampoule is mixed with water in a ratio of 1:10. The agent should be applied taking into account the condition of the plant. This is usually done twice during the season - in spring and after flowering.
Citrus
Citrus peel helps strengthen the immunity of violets, helps keep pests away and prevents the development of diseases. To prepare the fertilizer, the raw material must be poured with boiling water and left for a day.
The resulting solution should be filtered and mixed with water at room temperature in a ratio of 1:10. Pour the violet under the root with a ready-made product.
Onion
This product can be used to control diseases and pests. In addition, onions contain many beneficial components that stimulate the growth and flowering of violets. To prepare a useful composition, the husk should be poured with water and cooked for half an hour over low heat. Let the solution infuse for 6 to 8 hours, then strain. Apply the finished product in a foliar way.It should be borne in mind that the composition can be stored for up to 1 day. Therefore, it is recommended to use it immediately after preparation.
Iodine
This tool is necessary for the full development of plants. Therefore, in the warm season, violets are fed with this substance. To prepare a liquid product, 1 drop of tincture of iodine is mixed with 3 liters of water and applied to the root. The plant can be fed three times during the season.
Mineral fertilizers
These products are available in the form of tablets, sticks or solutions. This allows you to choose the best option.
Nitrogen
For the active development of the plant, it is worth using nitrogen-containing products. Such substances provide a rapid buildup of green mass.
Phosphoric
Such substances contribute to the activation of flowering and make it possible to balance the acidity of the soil.
Potash
Such funds are necessary for the abundant flowering of violets. Therefore, they are usually combined with phosphorus agents.
Complex
Today you can find a huge number of ready-made fertilizers on sale, which include all the necessary components for violets.
Bona strong
It is a liquid product that contains organic and mineral components. You can buy it in specialized stores. The solution is sold in small bottles. The composition contains the necessary minerals, trace elements in the form of chelates, humic acids.
Good power
It is a liquid complex fertilizer that has a complex composition. It also contains succinic acid. This substance activates the processes of growth and flowering, and also increases the plant's resistance to adverse external factors.
flower paradise
This mixture of violets contains mineral components that ensure full development and abundant flowering. The product is sold in a bottle with a measuring cup. The composition is used for watering and spraying crops.
Fasco
The composition contains the required amount of potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus. It also contains additional trace elements. A special cap is used to prepare the solution.
RESIL
The composition contains a standard set of substances. It also contains many organic ingredients. These include amino acids, vitamins B and C, humic elements, hydroxycarbolic acids.
Pruning rules
The violet should have 3 rows of leaves. The leaves below can be picked together with the petioles. Also, faded flowers and yellow leaves should be removed promptly. Periodically, the pot should be turned around its axis to ensure that the leaves are evenly positioned in the rosette.
the reproduction
Violets can be propagated in different ways - by seeds, rooting of leaves, stepsons or peduncles. The easiest method is to root the leaf. This keeps all the characteristics of the mother plant.
Rooting in the aquatic environment
Usually, violets are selected by rooting the leaf in water. This allows you to control the process of root emergence. The disadvantage of this method is a long rooting period, since the cutting must undergo double adaptation to water and soil.
For the procedure, the cut leaf should be placed in a dark, clean container filled with 1.5-2 centimeters of settled water. The bottom of the cut should not touch the bottom or the walls. Keep the plant in liquid until its roots are 1-2 centimeters high.Then the sprouts are placed in the substrate.
Rooting in the ground
This is the fastest and most efficient method. In this case, the cut stalk is immediately transferred to the prepared container from 1 to 1.5 centimeters. The planted sheet is placed under a greenhouse with holes. The temperature should be + 22-25 degrees. Irrigation with hot water is not negligible.
How to seat children
It is recommended to peel off the old leaf before moving it to a permanent pot. In this case, only the children remain. These are new leaves that appear after 5-6 weeks. 1 rod can hold up to 10 babies. When the leaves reach 3-4 centimeters, they are separated and transferred to a permanent pot.
Diseases and pests
Violet can cope with a variety of diseases and pests. To deal with it, you need to identify the problem in time.
Brown or root rot
With excess moisture, the roots of the plant begin to rot. At the same time, the violet loses its turgidity and becomes duller. Such a plant requires urgent treatment. It must be removed from the pot, the roots removed from the ground and examined. If the affected fragments are identified, they are deleted.
Then the plant must be treated with Fitosporin and transferred to new soil. When using an old pot, it must be thoroughly washed and disinfected. In advanced cases, the plant must be destroyed.
Powdery mildew
With the development of the disease, the leaves of the flower become covered with white flakes. Indoor violets are more susceptible to this disease. The cause of the disease is a lack of lighting, too high air humidity, contamination of the culture or pot, potassium and phosphorus deficiency against the background of excess nitrogen.
To prevent the disease, the leaves should be treated with a damp cloth, periodically ventilating the room. When pathology appears, the flower is treated with Fundazol or Benlate. After 1.5 weeks, the procedure must be repeated.
Fusarium
The disease causes rotting of the alveolus. The main cause of the disease is considered to be a violation of the rules for caring for the plant. In this case, the petioles turn brown and fall off, and the roots acquire a dark shade.
To prevent the development of the disease, it is necessary to avoid frequent watering, plant a violet with an oversized pot, allow sudden changes in temperature, and use ice water for irrigation. Fungicides are used to treat the flower. For prophylactic purposes, a solution of Fundazole is used.
bronze virus
Pathology leads to leaf damage. They smudge and warp. The virus damages all important plant tissues and disrupts their nutrient supply. As a result, the violet becomes non-viable and must be destroyed. The virus is carried by parasites, so you need to get rid of it in time.
mildew
With this disease, the leaves are covered with dry brown spots. The cause of the problem is a fungal infection that enters the structure of the violet through microscopic cracks in the roots and leaves. As a result, the crown begins to rot, and brown spots appear on the leaves. Damaged fragments die, the rosette fades. Even watering and fertilizing does not restore the elasticity of the leaves.
It is impossible to cope with the disease. If the top of the rosette is intact, it can be cut with a clean, rooted tool. It is recommended to treat the cut with an antifungal agent.You can also choose healthy leaves for rooting. Remove the rest of the plant with soil. For prophylactic purposes, neighboring plants are treated with Fitosporin.
Thrips
These are small insects that have a brown tint. Pests cause leaf damage. White stripes and damaged leaves and flowers help identify the problem. In addition, there is a risk of brown or black spots. For treatment, Aktellik, Fitoverm, Aktar are used.
Sciarid flies
These insects appear when the soil is excessively wet. Adults do not harm violets. Their larvae lead to the defeat of the bushes. They cause rapid destruction of the substrate, cause damage to the root system and strong compaction of the soil. Pests are especially dangerous for young plants. These pests cause stem and root rot.
Karbofos solution, which needs to be watered, helps to cope with the problem. Adult insects can be destroyed with sprays - Reid or Dichlorvos.
Aphid
These insects cause damage to buds, peduncles and flowers. Small green pests consume plant sap. This causes the leaves to warp and wilt. With a large number of aphids, a white layer of a sticky liquid appears on the plant. Aktellik or Mospilan helps to cope with the problem.
Mites
Violets suffer from attacks of different types of ticks:
- Red cobweb - leads to the appearance of red dots and cobwebs. As a result, leaf curling and death are observed.
- Common cobweb - brown indentations appear on the leaves.
- Cyclamen - affects the youngest leaves located in the central part of the rosette. They are deformed and covered with yellow spots.
When ticks appear, the treatment of the plant is immediately started. For this, the acaricide is used with an interval of 7 days. If it is difficult to identify the pest, the soil should be watered with Aktellik or Fitoverm.
How to care in winter
For the plant to develop normally, it must be given all the care in winter:
- The plant needs good lighting for 12-14 hours. For this, fluorescent lamps are used.
- It is important to keep the temperature at least +20 degrees. In this case, there should be no sharp fluctuations. When ventilating, it is important to avoid drafts.
- The plant should be systematically watered with warm water. This is done 3 times a week.
- In the room where the violet is located, you need to maintain high humidity. For this, household appliances, pallets with wet expanded clay, dishes with water are used.
- If the pot with violets is on a cold windowsill, plastic or wooden coasters should be placed under it. Their thickness should be at least 3 centimeters. This will protect the root system of the culture from hypothermia.
- It is important that the foliage of the flower does not touch the cold window.
Main issues
When growing a plant, there is a risk of various problems. To deal with it, it is necessary to provide the culture with adequate and quality care.
Light
Novice growers may not always be able to maintain the correct lighting regime. When the plant is exposed to direct sunlight, there is a risk of light yellow spots on the leaves.
Fertilizers
Fertilizer deficiencies often lead to soil depletion. This becomes the reason for the lack of flowering. In order for the plant to bloom abundantly, nutrients must be systematically introduced.
The water
With stagnant moisture, there is a risk of rotting in the middle of the output and wilting of the leaves. It is very difficult to save such a flower. With the development of putrefactive processes, it is recommended to cut off the lower healthy leaves and try to root them.
Humidity
It is not recommended to water the violet abundantly. It is especially harmful to pour water from above. This will cause putrefaction processes. It is also not recommended to keep the plant in conditions of high humidity, as this leads to the development of diseases and pest attacks.
Priming
Improperly selected soil leads to wilting of the plant. Nutrient deficiency in the soil causes lack of flowering. Therefore, it is so important to systematically feed the culture.
Ability
For the plant to develop normally, it must provide a container of sufficient size. If you plant a violet in a pot that is too big, it will not bloom.
Age
An old plant cannot please with abundant flowering. In such a situation, there is no way to help him. Violet is a beautiful plant that enjoys well-deserved popularity among flower growers. To achieve noticeable success in growing a culture, it must receive proper care.