Is orchid soil suitable for planting violets. From flower pots to shelving, what do you need when growing violets? Drainage is made from

Before proceeding to the description of various soil mixtures, we denote General requirements to the composition of the soil for violets. What land do these miniature plants need? Land for violets should consist of leafy ground, which, due to its characteristics (it is very loose), perfectly passes air and moisture. Leafy soil is called rotted fallen leaves. Next, the composition should be turf. He, like the leafy earth, is upper layer soil and is in close proximity to the roots of Saintpaulia.

Best for fillers coniferous land(also characterized by good friability) and peat. High-moor peat is perfect as a soil base for violets, it also adds friability to the soil and supplies it with useful substances.

It is high-moor peat that is most often the main component in soils for indoor plants located in flower shops. Peat perfectly nourishes the flowers for the first time, however, as mentioned earlier, one peat mixture will not be enough - you need to supplement it with other elements.

In addition, recently, in order to improve air and water permeability, coconut fiber has been used in the composition of the soil. However, no useful properties, except for those indicated this component does not possess, since it cannot give the plant any nutrients.

In small quantities, it is allowed to use vermicompost in the ground for violets. Although it is very heavy and unable to provide good water and air permeability, it provides the plant with the necessary substances. If you use biohumus, it is best to add baking powder: high-moor peat, perlite, vermiculite.

Baking powder is a must, because soils without it turn into a frozen earthen clod and the roots quickly rot. Often used are perlite (small white balls), vermiculite (if not available, sphagnum moss is allowed), and peat. River sand will perfectly protect your land composition from dehydration.

To ensure good drainage, a layer of expanded clay is laid out first, and on top of it - charcoal(the presence of charcoal will ensure good absorption). Expanded clay and charcoal need to fill the pot to about half - the rest of the space is for the substrate.

With these elements in the soil, your violets will feel great.

Ready soil mixtures

For those who do not want to make soil for violets at home, manufacturers have prepared many ready-made options. You can choose a mixture called "For sowing seeds and planting seedlings", which includes sand, peat and coconut fiber.

You can also choose the soil "Saintpaulia" - a mixture for violets, where you need to add baking powder and fertilizer.

The soil for violets "Bereginya" is also suitable, or you can choose the soil called "Flower Happiness. Violet" - both from the manufacturer "Fasco". Their composition is not very different.

If you want to get an excellent peat base, and then supplement it necessary components, you can choose a mixture of Tera Vita. But this is suitable for those who are ready to additionally improve the soil for saintpaulias, and not buy a mixture that can be used right away.

You can also choose a professional mixture for violets "Classman". For use in "Klassman" you just need to add perlite. Judging by the reviews, this option can be called the best for your room violet. The only negative is the purchase. You need to buy "Classman" directly from the distributor, and this is a rather lengthy and costly process.

Remember that no matter how good the land bought in the store is, it must be steamed with boiling water before use. After such a procedure, you do not need to immediately use it and plant flowers there. It is necessary that it completely restore the microflora (it takes about a month), and it is also necessary to fertilize it during this time if there is a lack of nutrients.

Making your own substrate

Indoor flowers can be pleased by making a substrate for violets with your own hands. There are several recipes for the substrate for violets, but which one is right for you - you can only decide by experience. So, what are the rules for compiling the soil mixture for your houseplant?

1. We take universal soil (or specially designed for violets), mix it with peat (we adhere to a ratio of 1: 2). Next, add one part of perlite to this composition (you can replace it with moss or vermiculite). In conclusion, you will need half a serving of charcoal. Feel free to plant your violets in such a substrate.
2. mix nutrient soil, perlite, sphagnum moss and charcoal in a ratio (6:1:1:1). In this composition, violets will also grow well.
3. Peat and nutrient soil (in a ratio of 3: 1) supplement with vermiculite (one part). To this mixture you need to add half a serving of charcoal, and it will be suitable for use.
4. into four parts peat soil you will need one part of sphagnum moss and half of perlite (or vermiculite), as well as coconut fiber. A small amount of charcoal can be added to the resulting soil mixture to improve its properties.

Necessary fertilizers

So, we figured out how to prepare (or purchase) a substrate for violets. However, that's not all. No matter how good the soil is, it will still need additional fertilizer.

As top dressing, ash and charcoal are used. You can also use for these purposes mullein, previously crushed. These elements help the roots of the plant develop, and it will always delight you with beautiful flowers.

In order to saturate the soil with calcium and potassium, it is recommended to use eggshells. In addition, it will reduce the acidity of the soil to an optimal level.

In addition, you can not suffer, choosing necessary fertilizers independently, and use ready-made mineral supplements and complex fertilizers, which are easily found on the shelves of specialized stores.

Many flower growers know that violet is a very whimsical plant. It is afraid of drafts and improper care dies very quickly. Therefore, when choosing soil for planting violets, you need to know some of the nuances. Which soil is better to choose you can read in this article.

Flower soil must always be mixed with different ingredients, whether it be fertilizer or soil additives, some standards must always be adhered to. Firstly, the soil must be light, it must not be compacted, it must contain air. It must be rich in trace elements to nourish the plant. Therefore, when choosing it, take the land on which nothing has grown for at least a year. Accordingly, before planting, the soil must be fed, as well as from time to time to use top dressing. Phosphorus and potassium are an integral part of any earth, thanks to these substances, your plant will always be healthy, it will bloom and delight the eye. Remember, also, that nitrogen must necessarily be part of the soil, but do not overdo it, stick to the proportions, otherwise you will destroy your plants due to excess nitrogen in the soil.

Thirdly, in any pot there must be drainage - this is necessary so that the moisture in the ground does not stagnate, and the roots of the flower do not rot. Drainage can be bought at a special flower growing store or you can make it yourself from broken brick. The main thing is to make drainage with a diameter of at least 1 cm, so that there is space between the pebbles, and water seeps through it. If you make a very shallow drainage, it will not bring any benefit, its presence will be useless, the water will stagnate and the flower will die.

In any case, when preparing a flower for planting, remember that the soil for the flower must be done by adding impurities to it, in ordinary earth the plant will die. If you do not want to make it yourself, you can purchase it at the store. Usually it is called "violet soil".

What you need to know in order to make the soil at home yourself? What impurities should be added and how not to harm the plant due to improperly selected components or their quantity.

There are many tips on how to create soil for violets, for example, you can get great soil if you mix it with peat and sand. Remember peat and sand should be 4 times less than the earth, that is, the proportions can be as follows (4: 1: 1). It is recommended to dig the earth better under deciduous trees; such earth is ideal for violets. But don't worry if you've been digging under coniferous trees, such land is also not bad and flowers will grow on it. Some people often add sphagnum moss, or fine charcoal, to the ground. This can be said to be a kind of subcortex for a flower. Moss must be poured with boiling water, then dried and ground, very finely. Then lay it neatly around the plant on the soil. Such moss will protect the plant from diseases, it performs a disinfecting effect. Coal fine helps to remove excess moisture. It can be used in the same way as conventional drainage. Just put the larger charcoal in the bottom of the pot and mix the smaller charcoal with the soil.

For best quality, often mix several types of land, the first is leafy, that is, the one that is collected in the forest where they grow deciduous trees. And the second, collected in the field, in the meadow, it is also called sod. It contains decayed plant roots.

The soil should be slightly acidic, and best of all slightly acidic, normal acidic soil is also suitable. If, however, the soil in your area is too acidic, you can solve this problem with dolomite flour. This is ordinary limestone, which is crushed to a state of flour. It is added to the soil in small quantities, it all depends on the level of acidity of the earth.

Not unimportant for violets and the size of the pot. Remember too large a pot, just as too small will not favorably affect the plant. Choose it by size, it is better to plant small cuttings in small pots with ready-made soil. When they grow up, they need to be transplanted and at the same time change the land. You can also use the old soil, just adding a new one, similar in composition, to it. Don't forget to feed the flower.

Very often in stores there is not high-quality soil, or the composition of the soil does not suit you. It doesn’t matter, you can fix everything yourself, just add to the soil exactly those components that the plant needs most in your opinion. Suppose, if the violet is weak, and you decide to transplant it, then you need to add top dressing, naturally observing the dosage. Do not overfeed violets or they will stop blooming.

A great addition to your soil is coconut fiber. Although there are no nutrients in it, it perfectly absorbs excess moisture, and also makes it breathable. Finely chop the dry fiber and mix with the earth in a ratio of 1: 8. The earth should be at least 8 times more than this component.

If the buds of your violets fall off before they open, and the lower leaves deteriorate, turn yellow and fall off, this is the first sign that the soil is not acidic enough. Although you are feeding the soil, due to the low acidity, the plant will still lack nitrogen and phosphorus. In order to get rid of this problem, take an ordinary eggshell, dry it, then grind it into powder with a mortar or rocking chair and add this powder to the soil.

The second method will also save you from this problem, you will need the usual wood ash. Take two liters of settled water and add 1 tbsp. a spoonful of ash, mix well and pour your violets with such water.

If you want to know how acidic the soil of your houseplants is, you can buy an acidity indicator from a specialty flower shop. Such a device will help you detect a decrease or increase in soil acidity, and you can always fix this problem in time.

If your violet leaves have changed color, turned purple, or have a bluish, purple, or red hue, this is a sign that the soil is deficient in phosphorus. The only exception is certain varieties of violets, which have this leaf color by nature. If this happened to your violet, feed it or adjust the acidity of the soil in a way familiar to you. Sometimes it happens that there is too much phosphorus, this also negatively affects the colors. In this case, the violet rosette gets old very quickly.

In any case, which fillers you would not choose for the soil, always remember a simple circuit. Drainage must necessarily beat in the soil, it must be fed, it must have an element that will absorb excess moisture. And the earth itself is best to take several types, then it will contain all the necessary trace elements that are needed for violets.

If you do everything right, the violet will not keep you waiting long. Soon you will be able to admire the beauty of its flowering. After all, green plants at home are not only aesthetic beauty, but also a guarantee of comfort and health, since houseplants purify the air in your home.

One of the most important factors for success in growing saintpaulias is a properly composed earth mixture. What should it be so that adult plants bloom luxuriantly and do not get sick, cuttings take root safely, and young rosettes grow quickly? As you know, each collector has his own, proven by many years of experience, the composition of the earth mixture.

as show laboratory research, soils that are sold in stores have a number of disadvantages: firstly, too high acidity; secondly, an excess or lack of macro- and microelements; thirdly, the soil is too heavy, which is quickly compacted. What to do if there is no way to collect in the forest different components? Years of experience violet growers proves that the use of " ready soils"possible. Plants are presented at exhibitions in the House of Violets, most of which are grown on purchased soils.

In order for plants to develop and bloom well, the soil must be loose, moisture-absorbing, breathable, contain required amount nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, have a slightly acidic environment - pH 5.5-6.5.

Exist various components, which are recommended to be added to the purchased soil so that it meets the above requirements.

	Perlite - rock volcanic origin. It is added to the soil up to 30% of the volume, making the mixture lighter, breathable, loose, which prevents caking, clumping, compaction. Thanks to these properties, the roots develop well in the plant, air exchange is not disturbed.
	Vermiculite - natural material from the hydromica group. It is added to the soil in the same way as perlite, up to 30% of the volume. The main difference between perlite and vermiculite is that vermiculite retains water longer, while perlite releases it faster, providing air exchange and oxygen delivery to the roots.
	Sphagnum moss is hydroscopic, makes the substrate breathable. And thanks to the antiseptic substance sphagnum has antibacterial, disinfectant and antifungal properties. It is also added to the soil (approximately 20-30%).
	Charcoal - good antiseptic, it prevents rotting and acidification of the soil, and also absorbs salts and improves soil structure.

We offer an approximate soil recipe based on purchased:

• 6 parts purchased soil;
• 1 part perlite;
• 1 part vermiculite;
• 1 part sphagnum moss;
• 1 part coal.

It is important not to forget about drainage. Fine expanded clay or perlite can be used as drainage.

When compiling the soil, each grower uses his own recipe. You can add more or less of each baking powder, use additional components (sand, pine bark, needles, etc.). The main thing is that the result is a loose, not very heavy, homogeneous substrate that can provide air and water access to the roots.

Such soil can also be used for violet relatives from the Gesneriaceae family - gloxinia, synningia, streptocarpus, khirit, etc.

We wish you success in growing plants!

Galina Lunyakova

Violet (saintpaulia) is not an unpretentious plant to care for. One of the main conditions that must be met for the normal life of Saintpaulia is the right soil. It must be balanced, contain nutrients, have the right structure and acidity. Flower care is equally important.

Modern flower growers often use ready-made soil that meets all the right parameters. But it does not always turn out to be of high quality, so you need to know what kind of land is needed and is the most suitable for violets.

You can prepare it yourself, knowing which components must be included in its composition.

soil for the plant

The soil must have certain characteristics so that violets can bloom normally in it.

In this regard, the land taken in the park is not suitable for growing Saintpaulia, adjoining territory etc.:

• Acidity. The soil should be neutral, and its optimal acidity should be from 6.5 to 6.8 Ph. If this indicator is lower, the plant will not receive all the necessary nutrients, which can lead to its death. With increased acidity, violets do not receive the right amount phosphorus, because of which they become oppressed, lethargic;
• Breathability. The plant must be planted in loose soil that is well breathable.

Compound

It directly depends on how well the flower will take root, whether it will be healthy.

As a rule, the soil purchased in ready-made, contains peat. After a few months, it hardens, air does not penetrate well through it, so the plant will not be able to stay in it for a long time.

In this case, you will need to transplant the flower.

Therefore, it is better to prepare the soil with your own hands by adding the following components:

• Leaf humus (usually used birch);
• Perlite. This substance is a small balls of white color. They have shiny surface, and are added to the soil for loosening. You can buy perlite in the store;
• Vermiculite. It is often used in conjunction with perlite, but only this baking powder can be used. The substance has the ability to retain moisture, which the plant needs so much, and passes air well;
• Turf. For him it is better to go to the grove;
• Moss-sphagnum (they are often replaced with vermiculite). It can be found near water bodies, in humid forests, in swampy areas. Not only fresh moss is used, but also dried. Some flower growers harvest sphagnum for the future, simply by freezing it in freezer in order to, if necessary, prepare the soil for the plant with your own hands;
• River sand. Its main task is to protect the soil from dehydration. Good for a mixture ordinary sand taken from the river bank.

In small quantities, peat is added to the mixture, which gives the flower the necessary amount of organic substances and minerals. If all the components of the soil are correctly selected, it will not dry out.

It is better to prepare all the components in advance if you are going to transplant the plant.

If you still decide to purchase ready-made land for growing saintpaulias, its composition can be enriched with perlite, coconut substrate, sphagnum. Such mixtures have their own advantages. They consist primarily in the fact that they are biologically sterile, therefore, violets will not be threatened by various harmful microorganisms, bacteria.

Experienced flower growers know that the plant requires good drainage. Therefore, in their practice, such a recipe for preparing the land for growing violets is often used: expanded clay is placed in the pot almost halfway, then charcoal is added, and soil purchased ready-made or prepared independently is poured on top.

For some of those who have recently decided to start breeding saintpaulias, the fact that in their natural environment this flower grows in rather poor soil is misleading.

From this it is concluded that violets bloom in almost any soil. In fact, the land in which the plant lives is rich necessary elements. Without them, it can not do either at home or in the natural environment.

The ratio of the components

Flower growers with experience usually "by eye"Determine how many components to use for the soil. As a rule, vermiculite and perlite are combined in a ratio of 1:1.5 and a glass of the mixture is added to 1 bucket of earth with the rest of the ingredients.

Why is it so desirable that the land for violets be prepared with your own hands? For mixtures collected independently, natural components are usually taken. This is important for the health of the plant, which will receive the full range of necessary substances.

In addition, this approach significantly reduces the risk of damage to flowers by various insects and harmful microorganisms. An important advantage of natural ingredients lies in the fact that they do not contain chemical elements, so it is safe for humans and flowers.

fertilizers

Having learned what kind of soil the Saintpaulias need, it is worth learning about what kind of fertilizer they need. Only after adding this component will the soil be ready for violets to be planted in it. But this only applies to the case when you prepare the mixture yourself.

As a fertilizer, you can use ash or charcoal rich in minerals. Saturated with useful microelements and cow cakes (popularly they are called " mullein"). Before adding to the soil, they must be crushed. This type fertilizer allows the root system to develop properly, so indoor flowers will be healthy thanks to it, have a beautiful appearance.

Another good view fertilizers - eggshell, reducing the acidity of the soil, enriching it with calcium, potassium.

Ready-made mixtures purchased at the store do not need to add fertilizers. An excess of these substances also adversely affects Saintpaulias.

Landing

When you have decided what soil you will plant violets in, prepared it (or bought it), it is advisable to let the soil settle for several weeks. If this is not possible, plant flowers in fresh soil.

Or saintpaulias. They take up little space, and the beauty of their leaves, flowers can not be compared with any other plants. These bright and delicate bouquets of flowers attract with the fragility of the petals, their pristine purity, unusual colors. Growing them is difficult, not everyone will cope with this difficult task. But there are no obstacles for violet fans: they study all the nuances of growing conditions and caring for a room beauty.

For the first time, the description of the violet was made by the German botanist Wendland, who called the flower Saintpaulia. Another name for the plant is the uzambara violet, after the area in Africa where it was discovered. There are thousands of varieties of violets in the world, and its breeding is actively continuing. All types indoor flower similar underdeveloped root system and rosettes of leaves. The varieties differ in the shape of the leaf plate, its diameter. And the variety of inflorescences is such that it is simply impossible to describe all types.

There are three types of indoor flower: simple, double and semi-double. At simple species plants flower petals are arranged in one row, in semi-double and terry - in two or three rows.

According to the color of the petals, one-color violet and fantasy colors with spots and dots are distinguished. Some varieties have a contrasting border around the edge of the petals. In chimeras, a line is drawn in the center, different in color from the main tone.

Among the best varieties Violets note the following Saintpaulias:

• The five-petal variety Lions Pirates Treasure has bright pink flowers with a raspberry border.
• In the rosette of wavy leaf plates of the Melody Kimi variety, there is a bouquet of delicate flowers with two blue petals on top and white ones on the bottom.
• look like stars coral color violets Austins Smile.
• Distributed among flower growers Saintpaulia Admiral. Cornflower blue semi-double bell flowers with wavy edges remind of the sea.
• Of the two-color species, LE-Tiger can be noted - pink-coral petals, rather large, with a white speck in the middle adorn the plant.
• Of the chimeras, the violet Solitaire is original. She has blurry stripes coming out of the yellow middle purple. Against the background of snow-white petals, everything looks very harmonious.
• The corrugated cups of the Ming Dynasty are snow-white, edged with lilac stripes. In a rosette of variegated leaves, they look decorative.
• The variety Natalis Estravagante is attracted not only by lace white-pink flowers with a greenish border, but also the variegation of the leaves.
• The complex, unusual color of the Chimpansi violet, which combines bright pink tones of semi-double star-petals with strokes, swirls of blue color on them.

The variety of flower species and varieties allows you to choose those whose color matches the taste, mood of the owner of the violet.

Choose a pot for planting home saintpaulia need to be thorough. It's playing big role in plant development and flowering. The capacity is selected taking into account the diameter of the rosette of leaves. For children, a flowerpot 6-8 centimeters in diameter is suitable, for an adult plant - 9-10 centimeters.

In this case, the height of the container can reach no more than ten centimeters. If the pot becomes small, then the violet will not bloom. And in a flowerpot large in diameter, the soil will begin to turn sour, since the roots of the plant will not use it in nutrition. The soil will cake, rot, which will affect the plant.

The diameter of the pot is measured by the size of the leaf rosette, reducing it in half.

The best material for a flowerpot would be plastic or ceramic. But be sure to put a tray under the container, and the bottom of the pot has holes. Then excess moisture will not accumulate inside, and the plant will avoid fungal diseases. When carefully choosing a container for violets, we must remember that its roots are small and fill the entire volume of the soil mixture.

Soil for violets: what should be?

Creating conditions for the development of violets: lighting, humidity, temperature

Since the homeland of the flower is the moist soils of the African continent, then the conditions must be created for the plant like:

• Sunlight is useful for violets, but diffused, dim. And then ultra-violet rays leave burns on the leaves. Eastern and western window sills of the house are suitable for Saintpaulia. During the growing season, the plant needs a light day of ten to twelve hours. If there are no such conditions, then organize the backlight fluorescent lamps. They are placed at a distance of half a meter from flowering bushes. I want violets to please with blooming constellations all year round, then the lamps will work in the winter.
• The humidity in the room should be between fifty and sixty percent. In winter, it decreases, so you can put water containers on the windowsills. You can increase the humidity by placing moss or pebbles soaked in water in a tray. It is not recommended to arrange a shower for violets, but the leaves are wiped as they become dusty.
• The air temperature in the room where saintpaulias grow must be controlled. It should be between 18-25 degrees Celsius. The plant does not tolerate heat well, begins to wither. BUT low temperatures lead to a weakening of the immune system of the green organism.

Flowers look beautiful, healthy, if the conditions for their growth are observed.

The active growth of violets leads to the fact that its capacity becomes small. At this point, the flower is transplanted into another container. The pot is taken two to three centimeters larger in diameter than the old one. A transplant is also organized if home plant slows down in development. The procedure is carried out after the vegetation of the plant has ended - at the beginning of winter. You can transplant the violet in February, before the activation of growth processes.

They begin the procedure by choosing a container, filling it with drainage and soil mixture.

Be sure to disinfect the soil by spilling a solution of potassium permanganate. After the procedure, a pot of soil is left for a week to saturate the earth with oxygen and beneficial microorganisms.

Having pulled the plant out of the old pot, they transfer it together with clods of earth on the roots into a prepared container. Then the soil is slightly tamped and watered. To rejuvenate the violet, its leaves are pruned. Dying lower leaves must be removed, and the top is cut off for reproduction. Violet disease reacts to any deviation in developmental conditions with lethargy and weakness. Only a transplant can save the plant.

Saintpaulias are subject to various fungal diseases:

1. Rot fungi infect the root of the plant. From this, the flower begins to wither, and if it is not transplanted, it will die.
2. A whitish coating spreads to leaves, stems - these are the first signs of powdery mildew. The disease actively occurs if the plant does not receive enough light, and the room has high humidity. Treatment with Topaz will save you from the fungus three times with a break of ten days.
3. Phytosporosis spores destroy the roots and leaves of the plant. You can treat the violet by transplanting its children into another container.
4. Fusarium begins with root rot. And flowering bushes at the same time begin to weaken, turn yellow. A diseased plant cannot be saved, it is destroyed. And healthy flowers are treated by spraying Fitosporin.

More information can be found in the video: