One of the most beautiful types of violets is the Duchess. Her luxurious armful of lilac-white flowers will decorate any interior. But some gardeners are afraid to grow these flowers, as they require a lot of care. Check out tips on how to grow a violet, and you will see that it is not as difficult as it seems.

Botanical description of the plant

Herbaceous perennials of the genus Senpolia, the Gesnerius family are not true violets. But, unlike the true ones, they grow perfectly in indoor conditions, do not take root very deeply, differ in leaves and flowers.

The genus is represented by six species, most of them grow well in the temperate climatic zone. Another frequently used name of the genus is African violet, obtained due to the origin of the plant. Violets are widely used in interior decoration.

Did you know? The ancient Romans used violets to make wine ("Vinum Violatum") around 500 BC. e. They sweetened and decorated food during the festivities.

The root system is fibrous, consisting of many identical roots. The stem is a basal rosette of leaves on a short thick stem. As the senpolia develops, the trunk lengthens and lignifies. The leaf socket can reach a diameter of 40–45 cm.

The violet "Duchess" has dark green shaggy leaves with an egg-shaped shape with a pointed apex and a wavy edge. The surface of the sheet plate is ribbed. Senpolia is prone to thickening, so some leaves should be removed to allow flowers to develop.

Flowers - the main decoration of the "Duchess". Very large buds can reach a diameter of 8 cm. 5-6 flower brushes form a large bouquet of five-petal plum-white flowers. Flowers, like leaves, are covered with villi, which makes them appear terry. The plant blooms from September to March. After flowering, each flower forms a small seed box.

What conditions need to be created for growing a house

African violets do not take up much space, and from them you can make beautiful decorative compositions. They bloom at a time when there are so few bright shades around. A plant can multiply by leaves and seeds, so it is almost not difficult to get the right amount of seedlings.

Seat selection

The amount of light that the senpolia receives is very important for good growth and great appearance. Violets can adapt to any lighting - from moderate to bright, indirect, internal light.

Important! The correct illumination for violets is determined by hand. If you extended a hand over the plant and there is no shadow from it - this is the right degree of lighting.

Grow the "Duchess" on a windowsill with moderate lighting. Insufficient sunlight can be harmful to photosynthesis, but bright sunlight also causes brown spots on leaves and flowers. This manifests leaf necrosis, a pathology related to a sunburn. For best results, place your violets in the western window.

There is a lot of light here for most of the day, but it is not enough for burns to appear on the Saintpaulia. Adjust the lighting using blinds or curtains. For maximum flowering, plants require daylight hours of 10 to 14 hours and an eight-hour rest period in the dark.

Temperature and humidity

"Duchess" grows well at temperatures from +21 to +28 ° C. Do not allow the temperature to drop below +15 ° C. Avoid drafts and sudden changes in temperature.

The plant tolerates dry air well. The maximum humidity is 50%. It will be correct to place the pot with senpolia in a pan with wet pebbles. This will help maintain optimal humidity. It is not possible to spray violets or allow water to get on the leaves during watering.

How to care at home

For optimal development and flowering of Saintpaulia, you will need:

• maintain optimal temperature and humidity;
• take care of fertilizer;
• carry out timely transplantation and thinning.

Watering

Water the plant with warm water at room temperature - from +20 to +35 ° C. Very cold water inhibits growth, causing spots on the leaves. It is best to water the plant when the soil becomes slightly dry.

Excess moisture from the pallet must be removed. Wet pebbles under the influence of the sun will evaporate moisture, but stagnant water will contribute to the development of pathogenic microflora.

Important! Do not water the violet with hard water or water containing a large dose of chlorine.

Top dressing

Fertilizers should include nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Fertilize the violet every 2 weeks with balanced fertilizer in liquid form. A plant with a high phosphorus content is also suitable for the plant.

Reduced flowering and pale color of the leaves indicate that violets lack nutrients in the soil and require fertilizing. Experienced growers use ¼ of the usual dose of fertilizer with each watering.

Important! Violet cannot be fertilized with urea.

Pruning

It will be wise to remove dying leaves or faded peduncles to stimulate the growth of new ones. Also on the senpolia remove side shoots, if they appeared. Try not to damage the barrel when removing the side outlet.

The "Duchess" has a very thick leafy rosette, so periodic removal of part of the leaves is required. Excessive leaves interfere with the formation of flowers.

Transfer

It is recommended that the senpolia be transplanted once a year or as needed. It is advisable to transplant in the spring, but you can do this at other times. Air temperature should not be lower than +21 ° C. There is no need to increase the size of the pot, you just need to update the composition of the soil sweep after an active period of vegetation.

For transplanting violets, you can buy special soil in the store or make soil from peat mixed with perlite and vermiculite. Peat is the basis and storehouse of nutrients for the plant. Perlite is necessary in order to make the soil mixture loose and airy.

Vermiculite also improves soil permeability, but also reduces high acidity and creates an unfavorable environment for pathogenic microorganisms.

To transplant the violet from the previous pot, you need to do the following:

1. Make sure the soil is moist enough.
2. Take the plant by the base below the extreme set of leaves and gently pull. Do not pull by force. You can gently tap the pot so that the earthen ball comes out easily.
3. The mixture on the roots is carefully removed with massaging movements. Remember that a transplant is needed to update the soil.
4. Remove any leaves that look damaged or old. Usually these are those located at the bottom of the plant.
5. If there are flowers on the violet at the time of transplantation, they are also removed to give the senpolia the opportunity to concentrate on rooting.
6. Take a new soil mixture and a new pot. Fill the pot with the mixture.
7. Set a root ball in it and add soil around the violet.
8. It is not necessary to compress the soil very much, give the roots the opportunity to start comfortable development of new soil.
9. Water the plant after transplanting.

Did you know? The violet was considered very useful by the ancient Greeks. She was actively used in love potions. Pliny recommended the use of this universal symbol of fertility to prevent headaches or dizziness. The violets should be worn in the form of a garland above the head.

How to propagate by leaf

In order to propagate the violet leaves, you will need:

• healthy leaf;
• a small pot;
• soil mix (60% vermiculite, 20% perlite, 20% peat);
• thin knife or scalpel;
• container;
• film.

If everything is done correctly, then after 3 months you will receive a new plant.

Instructions for propagating violets leaf:

1. Choose the healthiest leaf you see on your plant. It should not be too young, but not too old instance.
2. Cut it, leaving the stem on one side with 75% of the surface of the leaf plate. The incision is performed at an angle. This will speed up the germination process.
3. Take a small pot with a drainage hole and fill it with soil mixture. The size of the drainage hole is not more than the diameter of a ballpoint pen. Through holes of large sizes will "leak" the soil. The diameter of the pot is not more than 5 cm.
4. Moisten the mixture with water.
5. Now insert the leaf (stem down) into the mixture, setting it directly in the center of the pot. Only the core is buried in the soil, but not the sheet plate.
6. Place a pot of leaf in a container and cover with a film to create a greenhouse effect.

Now it remains to wait for the results of germination. Once the sprouts become strong enough (after 4-6 months), you can separate and transplant them.

Video: How to grow a violet from a leaf

Growing difficulties

The biggest problem is the appearance of spots on the plants. The table below shows the problems and ways to deal with them. Correct and timely diagnosis of problems will help your plants stay healthy.

Did you know? Violet flowers are edible. They are used in pharmaceuticals as a laxative. And candied flowers will help to decorate jelly.

As you can see, growing violets is not too difficult. Be sure to start growing these wonderful flowers. They are able to decorate the room in winter with their magnificent flowering.