Violets: description, interesting facts, tips for choosing

Indoor violets (Saintpaulias) are without a doubt the most popular and favorite flowers of many flower growers and housewives. In many countries, the bloom of the violet signifies the arrival of spring. Their inflorescences, although small, but delicate and graceful, remind us of our unity with nature. Indoor Saintpaulias do not take up much space on the windowsills, are not a source of allergies and are completely unpretentious. It only takes a little love and knowledge of her preferences to keep these lovely flowers growing and blooming continuously in your home. We will share the secrets of caring for violets at home. From this article, you will learn how to properly water a flower with a wick and drip method, what soil to transplant into, and even how to prepare the substrate yourself.

Violet is a thermophilic flower. Optimum temperature environment, comfortable for its cultivation, should be in the range of 20 - 25 ° C. If in summer time, during flowering, the temperature will tend to 30 ° C, the violet will suffer from overheating. Its flowers will become smaller, the color of leaves and flowers will fade, varietal features, in the form of variegated foliage and a bright border - will disappear. Use all the devices you have to reduce the temperature - air conditioning, split system, fan, or ventilate the room.

But violets do not like sudden changes in temperature, cold drafts and the scorching rays of the sun. From this they should be protected. In winter, the air temperature should be around 20 °C. (strictly not lower than 16 ° C).

Location of the Saintpaulia pot

It is better to put a flower pot on a windowsill near an east or west window. In the summer, the window sills of the northern direction are also suitable, and in the winter, on the contrary, the violets will be more comfortable on the windowsill of the southern window. If you don't have windows European standard, in winter it is better to remove the flower from the cold windowsill. Place the pot on a shelf or table adjacent to the window, and use additional lighting. And you can use a foam or wooden flower stand, 3 cm thick. Then the root system on the windowsill will not be supercooled. Otherwise, at low temperatures, the flowering of violets will stop.

Ambient humidity

Under natural conditions, violets grow in places with high humidity. If the air in your house is dry, it should be humidified to 50 - 60% or more. It is best to put the flower in a tray with wet expanded clay or pebbles. Make sure that the bottom of the pot is not in the water - the roots of Saintpaulia should not come into contact with moisture. You can install a household air humidifier near the windowsill.

Ordinary spraying of leaves for violets is not suitable. Its pubescent leaves retain water droplets on their surface, as a result of which it can develop. It is especially dangerous to spray violets at night, when the room becomes cooler and the water does not evaporate for a long time. In autumn and winter, increase the humidity in the room will help wet towels placed on heating batteries.

Solar and artificial lighting

Indoor violets love good, but diffused lighting. The direct rays of the sun are detrimental to them, from them the leaves of the plant get burned, get sick and fall off. But without enough sunlight violet will not bloom. For normal growth it needs 10 - 14 hours a day to be well illuminated. Note that saintpaulias with dense, dark green foliage require more intense and prolonged lighting than those with light curly leaves.

If necessary, arrange artificial lighting for flowers with a lamp daylight, phytolamps, or LED strips violets grow beautifully under such light.

Lighting the plant from one side can distort the shape of the flower rosette - because the leaves are drawn to the light. Therefore, periodically turn the flower pot around its axis. Then the bushes will be compact, symmetrical, with lush greenery and lush flowering.

Night darkness is also important for violet growth, otherwise its leaves become faded and it refuses to bloom.

Methods for watering violets

Always be watering responsibly. Be sure to observe the golden mean, avoiding either excessive drying or waterlogging of the substrate, since deviations in one direction or another will equally adversely affect the health of the plant. Watering violets should be carried out settled tap water room temperature. Boiled water is also suitable, since when boiled, most of the harmful salts decompose and precipitate.

Once a month, you can acidify the water for irrigation with acetic (1 tsp per 1 liter of water) or citric (5 crystals per 1 liter of water) acid.

We remind you that the temperature of the water used is no less important than its quality. Too cold or hot water will harm the root system of the flower.

For room violet we do not recommend using the traditional method of watering - in the outlet. Water should not fall on the leaves and growing point, so as not to provoke fungal disease flower. In addition, from wet spots leaves through window glass can get sunburn even in winter. It will be better if you water the violets in other ways. Here are some of the most commonly used methods of watering Saintpaulia.

Watering through the pallet

In a pan or other container, pour water at room temperature, settled for a day, to a depth of a quarter of the height of the pot. Place a pot of violet in water for about half an hour so that the soil is saturated with moisture. You will see that required level humidity is reached when the earth darkens. If you combine watering with top dressing, the flower will receive the necessary nutrition in addition to moisture.

If you have a wide pan, and you put several violets in it for watering at the same time, it is important to ensure that all plants are healthy, otherwise the disease of one will pass to others.

Take water quality seriously. If you water the violets with unsettled tap water, then the numerous impurities in it, during the lower watering, will rise to the top of the substrate each time and remain there. The soil will soon become unusable from salinity. The root system will no longer absorb useful trace elements. You can see this by the white coating on the surface of the soil and the diseased appearance of the plant. Violation of the quality of the water used will result in a minus of irrigation through the pan.

Drip irrigation

For drip irrigation, use a watering can with a narrow spout or a large syringe pear, in order to easily get to the soil, bypassing the rosette of violet leaves. The growth point should also not be flooded. If you don’t have a watering can or a syringe, you can take an ordinary plastic bottle, make a hole in its lid into which to insert a tube. Water the soil drop by drop until excess water flows into the pan from the drainage holes. Then stop watering, and after 15 minutes. Drain excess water from the tray.

If you accidentally spilled water on the leaves, nothing bad will happen, just blot the moisture with a dry cloth.

Immersion method

A flower pot on especially hot days during the next watering can be immersed in a bowl of settled water at room temperature for about an hour. The plant will be saturated with moisture, rest from the heat, its root system will cool down. After that give excess water drain, and return the plant to its original place.

Wick watering violets

As a wick, use a string or a narrow strip of cotton fabric, which should be passed at one end into the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot. The other end of the wick is lowered into a container of water for irrigation. A flower pot is placed on this container, and moisture rises through the wick inside due to the capillary effect. The essence of wick watering is that the violet will take as much water as it needs. At the same time, the level of moisture in the ground remains stable and is regulated by the violet itself, depending on the ambient temperature. Below is detailed video about wick watering, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with it.

Wick watering is not suitable for all violets, because it has several disadvantages:

• In this way, you can water the plants only in the warm season, because in winter the water cools quickly, especially if the water container and the pot are on a cold windowsill. Violets do not like their roots to be in the cold. A supercooled root system is prone to disease and may die.
• For uniform watering, only small pots, 7x7 in size and no more, are suitable. Uneven soil moisture will lead to the growth of green mass to the detriment of the flowering of the flower.

What soil is suitable for Saintpaulia

Violets love loose, light, breathable soil so that the root system does not suffer from a lack of oxygen. It is also important that the soil is moisture-intensive and retains moisture well. And yet, when choosing land for violets, one should take into account the acidity index. These plants thrive in slightly acidic soils, with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. With a strong deviation of acidity in one direction or another, the flower ceases to normally absorb mineral and organic substances from the soil, nitrogen-phosphorus starvation may occur. Plant growth will slow down, the bud will fall off without even opening. If the substrate is too acidic, young leaves will curl, and if the medium is alkaline, they will lose their bright color, turn pale, their tips will turn brown.

From chemical elements the composition of the soil for violets should contain nitrogenous and phosphorus compounds, potassium salts and macro- and microelements: iron, boron, calcium, chlorine, sulfur, zinc, molybdenum and others.

In small pots, which violets love so much, the soil is quickly depleted - do not forget to fertilize it and transplant plants into new pots in a timely manner. It is best to use ready-made soil for Saintpaulias or indoor Violets, which is desirable to purchase in specialized stores. Unfortunately, often purchased soil suffers from poor quality. Flower growers add to ready soils perlite, vermiculite and coconut fiber as leavening agents. But a little of everything, so as not to provoke root rot.

How to make your own substrate for violets

If you are a fan of self-compilation of soil mixtures, we will tell you the proportions suitable for violets:

• riding peat - 1 part;
• coniferous land - 1 part (harvested under conifers trees after removing the top layer of needles);
• leaf land - 3 parts (harvested under deciduous trees and shrubs);
• sod land - 2 parts (harvested in places where perennial grasses grow);
• large river sand or perlite - 1 part.

Use expanded clay with pieces as drainage charcoal different fractions, which will regulate soil moisture and adsorb harmful impurities.

All components should be disinfected - steamed or frozen.

How to test soil for acidity

Soil acidity is not constant value, it changes over time. Any change in the appearance of the plant, the shape and color of its leaves, slow growth and lack of flowering should alert you and move you to check the acidity.

The acidity of the substrate is checked using a special device. If you don't have one, try to determine the acidity of your soil. folk methods. Let's show you how to do it.

1. Take two small containers, glass or ceramic, it doesn't matter. Put in them the same small amount of soil, slightly damp.
2. Pour vinegar into the first container. If the environment is alkaline, the earth will hiss.
3. In the second container, fill the soil with soda. If the environment is acidic, the release of gas bubbles will begin.
4. If there is no reaction, you have neutral soil.

You can reduce acidity at home with the help of dolomite flour, and increase - with the help of peat.

Pot size and material

It should be remembered that the flower does not like large pots. Conventionally, all violets can be divided into large, medium and miniature species. All have a shallow root system and do not require large amounts of land. In nature, saintpaulias grow quietly even on rocky soils. Therefore, even for a large adult plant, a pot with a diameter of no more than 12 cm is enough. Make a choice based on the information presented in the table.

For young violets, pots with a diameter of no more than 5 cm are suitable, plastic ones are better, as they are light, cheap and durable. One bad thing - they do not let air through. Therefore, we advise you to add more holes in the lower part of its side walls to good drainage holes in the bottom of the pot so that the root system of the plant breathes, ventilates freely, and the soil does not turn sour.

If you only had a large pot available, and you planted your small violet in it, it will not bloom. And there are several reasons for this:

1. AT big pot the flower will begin to build up primarily the green mass of the leaves to the detriment of flowering.
2. Until the root system of the flower wraps around the entire volume of the substrate offered to it, the violet will not bloom. It will take a year or two before you see the first bloom.
3. Excess soil, not braided with roots, does not dry out for a long time, and can turn sour. There will be a danger of a fungal infection and the appearance of pests, which in a huge mass of leaves you can simply not detect in time and lose the flower.

Available for sale plastic pots with special plastic pallets, which have a ribbed surface that allows the container to be in an elevated position above the pallet. It also helps the root system to breathe air.

ceramic pots glazed ones are very beautiful, but they have the same drawback as plastic ones - they do not breathe. In addition, they are expensive and heavy. If you still like ceramics, we advise you to opt for unglazed ceramic pots. They are less aesthetic, heavy and short-lived, but they allow air to pass through the walls, and violets feel great in them. And you can eliminate the aesthetic flaw if you buy a planter or beautiful pot a little larger, in which you will hide the ugly clay.

Fertilizers and dressings for violets

Young violets need fertilizing with a predominance of nitrogen so that the green mass grows faster and the leaf rosette is well formed. Saintpaulias, ready to bloom, should be fed with fertilizer with phosphorus and potassium. In addition, flowers also need vitamins and other trace elements for healthy growth and profuse flowering. Therefore, we recommend purchasing liquid complex fertilizers with a wide range of components for decorative flowering houseplants.

Top dressing should be applied no more than twice a month. Combine top dressing with watering through the pan. Do not use fertilizers in large doses than indicated in the instructions - it is better not to supplement than to overdo it and ruin the tender violet roots. Feeding should not be neglected. You will immediately notice the lack of nutrients in the appearance of the flower - its growth will slow down, the leaves and stems will lose their elasticity, there will be no flowering, or it will be weak.

After landing or transfer nutrients from fresh soil disappear within two months, and after this period you need to restore the nutritional value of the substrate with the help of fertilizers and dressings.

Violets are not particularly demanding on certain types of top dressing. If there are no special fertilizers for Saintpaulia, they can be fed with complex fertilizers for vegetables, which include nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, cobalt, magnesium, copper, molybdenum and boron. Their role in the life of the plant is to ensure the synthesis of enzymes that make it possible to effectively use the energy of the sun, water and nutrients contained in the soil. Vitamins and amino acids stimulate the roots of the plant to absorb micro and macro elements from water and soil as much as possible.

For the prevention of fungal and bacterial diseases, root and stem rot, we recommend occasionally (once a month) watering violets with Fitosporin solution. This drug can be bought in garden or flower shops in the form of a powder or a briquette in the form of plasticine. How to breed them is indicated on the package. The duration of storage of the diluted preparation is large, literally a few drops should be added to the water for irrigation. One package is usually enough for the whole season.

Transplanting violets at home

Indoor Saintpaulias grow better and bloom better in small pots. Experienced flower growers know that optimal size containers for violets should not exceed a third of its outlet. The stock of soil in them is not large, therefore, as the rosette grows, it is advisable to transplant the flower at first into a slightly larger pot. Adult specimens do not need to increase the size of the pot, the same pot is fine for them if you remove a third of the earth from under the roots and replace it with a fresh nutrient substrate.

The following facts speak about the need for a transplant:

• plant growth has clearly slowed down;
• a white salt coating appeared on the surface of the substrate;
• the lower part of the violet stem is very bare, it obviously should be deepened;
• the root system of the flower filled the entire space in the pot.

A blooming violet is transplanted only in emergency cases, when it is no longer up to flowering, if only to save the flower. BUT healthy plant during flowering, you should not transplant - wait for it to end. Also, this should not be done in winter, wait for spring. But the rest of the time, the violet can be transplanted without fear of harming the plant in any way.

The transplant is done different ways: by transshipment method and with full or partial replacement of the soil.

Transplantation by transshipment

Since the root system of violets is poorly developed, sometimes roots from old earth do not release, so as not to damage them. Then they use the most sparing method of transplanting plants - transshipment into another pot. In this case, a new pot is selected slightly larger than the previous one. A layer of drainage and a layer of new soil are laid at the bottom. Now placed earthen clod with violet roots in the center, and cover it on the sides with a new substrate. Then water the flower and put it in a permanent place.

Transplanting with soil replacement, step by step

If the reason for the transplant lies in the diseased state of the flower, for example, root rot is suspected, the violet must be urgently transplanted into another pot using the method complete replacement old land to new. Transplantation with complete soil replacement is also used for adult plants. The advantage of this method is that by freeing the root system from the soil, you inspect its roots, remove diseased and damaged ones. Also remove the lower leaves of rosettes and old flower stalks. We will tell you how to do it in order:

1. first moisten the substrate in an old violet pot to make it easier to remove it from there;
2. prepare a suitable size pot. If you use the old one, clean it well from salt deposits on the walls and disinfect it;
3. put a layer of expanded clay or other drainage material on the bottom, also pre-treated with manganese or boiling water;
4. put a layer of new substrate on the drainage with a slide in the center of the pot;
5. free the root system from the old substrate and carefully inspect it;
6. remove rotten and damaged roots, powder the wounds with crushed activated carbon; in case of serious damage, treat healthy roots with a root rot fungicide;
7. place the violet root system in a new pot in the center and fill it with a new substrate to the lower leaves, shaking the pot slightly so that the soil fills all the voids inside;
8. leave the treated and transplanted plant in partial shade for a day. During this time, the violet will get used to the new place of residence a little, its wounds will heal. Now the flower can be watered with the addition of some fungicide from root rot. If necessary, if the stem is bare, add a little more soil.

Transplantation with partial soil replacement is carried out mainly for young violets. It is assumed that they need to be transplanted into a slightly larger pot. And in this case, the transplantation takes place by a method similar to the previous method, only the soil is shaken off, only the one that crumbles itself. Everything that was retained, along with the root system, is placed in a new pot and covered with fresh substrate.

Violet pruning

Sometimes, cutting violet leaves is not only possible, but necessary. Let's start with the fact that the room violet rosette should look pretty, proportionate and consist of approximately three rows of leaves. The center of growth and development of Saintpaulia should not be overgrown with foliage.

If this happens to you, then simply remove the lower leaves, which have already begun to turn yellow and do not seem quite alive. Correctly picking violet leaves from the stem is not difficult, just press with your fingernail at the base, and then completely pick up the unwanted leaf with twisting movements. If there are several such leaves, and as a result of such actions, the trunk of the flower is bare, then you can add fresh soil on top of the soil or transplant the flower deeper into new nutrient soil.

Pruning violets do the same in the following cases:

• to remove excess leaves to stimulate lush flowering;
• to remove the top of an old violet to rejuvenate it - after a certain time, children will appear on the remaining stump, which you use to propagate your specimen;
• to remove diseased leaves so that the disease does not spread to healthy ones.

What to do with violet after flowering

During flowering, faded flower stalks should be regularly removed from the plant so that they do not interfere with the blooming of new buds and do not spoil the appearance blooming violets. When the last flower has faded, let the plant rest. Cut off damaged, diseased, or shriveled leaves. Take care of restoring the vitality of a well-worked violet - tear off the lower rows of leaves at the outlet, transplant it into a new pot with a nutrient mixture. If you do not have this event planned, start feeding the flower again with fertilizers with a predominance of nitrogen components so that the violet begins to grow new leaves to replace the ones you cut off.

How to care for violets in winter

In winter, the main procedures for caring for violets are:

• Good flower lighting with fluorescent lamps or fluorescent lamps up to 12 - 14 hours a day, alternating with the dark time of the day up to 8 hours.
• Maintaining the ambient air temperature in the room at least 20 ° C, without sharp fluctuations in one direction or another, without drafts during ventilation.
• Regular moderate watering with warm water up to three times a week.
• High humidity in the room where your Saintpaulia lives. All ways to increase humidity are welcome - Appliances, water containers, pallets with wet expanded clay, wet towels on all batteries and other tricks that you come up with.
• On cold windowsills under pots of violets should be thick, at least 3 cm thick, plastic or wooden coasters protecting the roots of the flower from hypothermia.
• Violet leaves should not touch cold glass windows, keep an eye on this.

Conclusion

We are sure that you will have a lot of fun caring for these cute plants. Grateful violets will delight you with magnificent flowering several times a year. If your window sills are filled with pots of different varieties violets, then your house will be filled with a powerful positive aura. After all, the delicate aroma of flowers stabilizes heart rhythms and has beneficial effect on the mental state of not only the owner of this splendor, but also on all members of his family. If you have mastered the rules for caring for this beautiful flower, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with .

Violets have attracted attention due to their charming appearance and variety of bright colors. Wild violet has a small flower of bright purple color, but its rich and pleasant aroma does not leave anyone indifferent.

Home varieties of this plant are practically odorless, but the flowers are larger, colorful and varied. Homemade violet flowers will delight you with bright color throughout the year with proper care.

How to grow violets at home. Plant characteristic

Indoor, domestic violet, which is also called the Uzambar violet, belongs to the genus of herbaceous flowering representatives of the fauna of the Gesneriaceae family. Such plants are very popular in indoor floriculture.

In the natural sphere, violets grow in East Africa. They choose places near water bodies, rivers and waterfalls.

Experts distinguish more than 20 varieties of the Uzambar violet. The representative of noble blood Adalbert Walter Radcliffe discovered the violet to the world back in 1892.

After buying a homemade violet, this plant will decorate any room for a long time. This is a perennial, evergreen representative flora. Violet has short stature and a root socket.

leaflets room option of the above plant are covered with numerous villi. The base of the leaves is heart-shaped, and the tip may be round or pointed, depending on the growth of the plant.

Indoor violets differ not only in the color of the flower, but also in the height and shape of the leaves. Photos of violets will clearly demonstrate the beauty of this unique plant.

The color of flowers can be varied. From light to rich and dense shades. Some varieties can combine several colors at once. If you properly care for violets, the plant will bloom throughout the year.

plant care

Home violets cannot live without light, however, they must be hidden from direct sunlight. The best light for these plants is soft and diffused. The optimal length of daylight hours is 13-14 hours. At a time when the day is short, additional lighting is indispensable.

The optimal temperature regime is from 18 to 24 degrees Celsius above zero. Sudden changes in temperature and drafts adversely affect the plant.

Violets love high humidity, but the flowers and foliage should not get water.

Indoor violets are not large in size, so the pots for them should also be compact.

It is worth noting that the plant begins to please abundant flowering only when the root completely fills the pot.

For young plants, the optimal pot size is about 6 centimeters in diameter. The best material is plastic.

For domestic violets, the standard soil of the Terra-Vita class is great. Sold in stores special land for each type of plant, but experience shows that purchased soil is not always ideal.

How to transplant a violet

In order for the plant to feel good, it is necessary to change the substrate in the pot once a year. If you notice that the violet began to look worse, the leaves began to fall off and the flowers lost their brightness, then you need to pick up a larger pot.

It is necessary to carry out the procedure for planting homemade violets as carefully as possible so as not to damage the plant and the root system, which is covered with an earthen lump. At the end of the transplant, it is necessary to water the flower well.

Violet breeding

Indoor violets reproduce in several ways: by seeds, leaf cuttings and babies. Experts recommend using vegetative propagation methods.

Reproduction with children. Periodically, the violet bush releases baby rosettes. When they grow in the same pot as the main plant, they become crowded and the violet has to be seated.

Using a sheet. This method of plant propagation is the simplest. To do this, you need to separate a healthy leaf from the second tier of the outlet and put it in water. As soon as it takes root, it can be transplanted into the ground.

Photo of home Violets

Botanical characteristics of violets

Violet breeding

Violet can be propagated by seeds, but sometimes the method is used with cuttings of shoots. From seeds, the plant grows much stronger than with the help of cuttings. Seeds need to be planted in the beds. Shoots will appear in April. And after a month they need to be transplanted separately from each other. Do you want to see beautiful violets in a pot on your windowsill in winter? To do this, at the end of summer, dig up the plant along with earthy clod. finished plant plant in a pot with fertile soil and place in a cool place. In winter, transfer this pot with a plant to a place with 10 degrees Celsius.

Violets grow well in the light and in the shade. This plant can grow well under trees. Violet does not tolerate drought. Fertile, loose and slightly moist soil is most suitable for growing violets. Wild violet can be seen in the lowlands, because moisture accumulates there.

Every 3 years after planting, it is necessary to remove old plants and plant new ones. At the same time, fertilizers (compost) are applied. If the violet does not have enough air or is not watered enough, then it will be affected by a spider mite.

Violet seeds are best sown immediately after harvest, as they quickly lose their germination capacity. Violet is a plant that can reproduce by self-sowing. It needs to be weeded regularly. Violet - unpretentious plant. It needs regular watering, loosening and weed removal.

violet flowers

Violets are fabulously beautiful flowers that delight with their variety of shades and shapes. The size of flowers and leaves varies greatly. Thanks to selection, they were bred various varieties- from miniature to incredibly large. The flowers of this graceful plant contain anthocyanin glycosides and essential oil, due to which it is an effective remedy in the treatment of eczema, lichen, urticaria and cracked lips. Fresh juice of flowers is often used for smallpox and severe cough.

violet leaf

Violet leaves amaze with their content of useful substances. A decoction of these parts of the presented plant, combined with honey, can cure chronic, cough and various gastrointestinal ailments. An infusion of violet leaves is useful for soothing watery or irritated eyes.

How to grow a violet from a leaf:

violet care

Violet grows well both in sunny places and in partial shade. It prefers clearings under trees. For cultivation, you should choose loose fertile soil. Due to the fact that the violet does not tolerate drought, it should be watered abundantly and regularly. A wild-growing perennial violet can be seen in darkened lowlands, as moisture accumulates there.

How to care for violets at home. Such graceful plant propagated by seeds. In order for the violet to feel good, it must be weeded often. Every three years old plants should be removed and new ones planted at the same time as fertilizing the soil. Violet loves Fresh air and good watering.

How to grow violets at home?

Violet room (home) Unique houseplants are very fond of high level humidity in the room. But do not forget that spraying the leaves is strictly prohibited. Caring for a violet will not be difficult even for a novice grower. For reproduction, you can take leaves from the middle row, which give good offspring. The main thing is that the shape of the sheet should not be too elongated. We put the stalk in water until the roots appear. After that, it can be transplanted into fertile, moist soil. It should also be noted that significant hypothermia of the root system often leads to the death of the flower. That is why you should protect the plant from frost. The ideal place for a violet pot would be east side with sufficient lighting. Best Temperature for proper cultivation is in the range from 20 to 24 degrees.

Violet varieties

These beautiful flowers are great amount varieties. Graceful violets can be subdivided according to the type of flower. Small flowers are less than 2 cm in diameter, medium - 2-4 cm, large - up to 6 cm. Depending on the size of the bushes, violets are simple - rosette up to 8 cm - and practical miniature - from 6 to 8 cm. You can also divide the varieties by the number of petals. There are simple views with even leaves, there are terry - with fluffy leaves and lush flowers, as well as semi-double - with wavy petals.

Equally important is the shape of the violet flower. In classic varieties, the upper petals are larger than the lower ones. In a violet-star, all the petals are the same. Narrow buds - in bell violets. If the top two leaves are fused, then you have a violet-wasp variety. In addition, violets can be divided by color - one-color, multi-color and chimera violets. Depending on the original pattern on the leaves, there are varieties of finger, moire and border.

Violet uzambarskaya. Such a perennial plant has a shortened succulent stem, on which a rosette of leaves is located. As a rule, the leaves of this variety, heart-shaped at the base, are no more than 8 cm. The flowers of the uzambara violet are collected in small inflorescences. The fruit is presented in the form of a densely pubescent box. Modern varieties of this species may vary in terryness and shade of petals.

Violet blue. Violet blue impresses with its attractive flowers heavenly shade. Elegant wavy edges give the flowers a special charm. The leaves are pale green and have a serrated edge. Flowering is usually quite abundant. This sort of violet will decorate the collection of any grower.

Violet white. White violet has thick double large flowers which look great on a compact rosette of dark green leaves. The snow-white shade gives the variety innocence and grace, causing undoubted tenderness. Almost always, white violet has a magnificent composition of white flowers, which will decorate your interior.

Violet Jan. Unusual Yang violets are unique varieties that have unusual shapes and sizes, as well as exclusive color combinations. Such fantastic plants often have notched or wavy edges and light green leaves.

Violet red. This variety of violet can rightfully be called one of the most common varieties that every self-respecting grower has. Such violets have a wide variety of shades - coral, ruby, raspberry, purple, wine and burgundy.

Useful properties of violets

Violet contains all substances and elements useful for the human body. The plant has anti-inflammatory, diuretic, laxative and antimicrobial properties. It is also used as a good pain reliever and sedative. In addition, this plant is often used to lower blood pressure.

Violet herb is used to treat bronchitis, sore throat and whooping cough. A decoction of violet helps to improve well-being with bronchitis, pneumonia and suffocation.

In addition, violet can be used to treat all kinds of skin diseases. A decoction of the plant will help improve overall well-being after an illness.

Application of violet

AT medical purposes field violet (Viola arvensis Murr.) and tricolor violet are used! Potted violets - Saintpaulias, are not used for medicinal purposes!

Violet in equally used in folk medicine as an excellent internal and external remedy. Violet tea is useful for dry bronchitis, in addition, it perfectly cleanses the blood of harmful substances. This plant is recommended not only for inflammation of the respiratory tract, but also for, and. Violet leaves are used for external treatment of the epidermis.

The leaves of the plant are used externally for various skin diseases. An infusion made on the flowers of the plant is indispensable for convulsions, memory impairment and tinnitus.

Violet for cough. The infusion is prepared as follows: we take the grass and violet flowers in the amount of 50 grams and grind. Pour the mixture with a glass of boiling water. We let it brew for a day. After straining the composition, it is heated over a fire and a glass of sugar is added. It is necessary to take a ready infusion 4 times a day, 1 teaspoon. The optimal course of treatment is 7 days.

Violet tincture for angina. To prepare it, you need to take 50 grams of violet flowers and pour a glass of alcohol. We leave for 1 week to infuse. It is necessary to take tincture three times a day, 30 ml before meals. And after eating before going to bed, you need to rinse your throat with the same tincture: 10 grams of tincture is diluted with a glass of warm water.

Violet flowers in milk for insomnia. Take 3 grams of plant flowers and pour 200 ml of boiled milk. Let's leave for half an hour to infuse. Ready milk should be drunk before going to bed, and the flowers should be eaten.

Violet for rheumatism and gout. 30 grams of violet grass and roots are poured with 1 liter of boiling water and taken during the day instead of tea.

Violets syrup for coughs in children. To prepare it, take violet flowers and fill the cup to the top. Next, pour 200 ml of boiling water there and leave to infuse for 24 hours. After straining the finished broth, squeeze out the raw material and throw it away. And again add to the broth fresh flowers and leave to brew for a day. Now, having filtered the infusion, add the same amount of honey to it as the broth turned out. Take the medicine 3 times a day, 1 teaspoon.

Violet during pregnancy. We take 10 grams of violet grass and pour a glass of boiling water. Pour into an enamel bowl, close tightly with a lid. We bet on water bath for a quarter of an hour, then remove from heat and leave to brew for an hour. After straining the broth, we squeeze the raw material. In the finished broth, you need to add another glass of boiling water. The resulting remedy is taken three times a day.

Contraindications to the use of violets

Don't forget that violet is poisonous plant! That is why when taken orally, be careful in dosages.

Expert editor: Sokolova Nina Vladimirovna| Phytotherapeutist

Education: A diploma in the specialty "Medicine" and "Therapy" received at the University named after N. I. Pirogov (2005 and 2006). Advanced training at the Department of Phytotherapy at the Moscow University of Peoples' Friendship (2008).

Violet cultivated in ancient Greece. The first mention of the plant dates back to 500 BC. The Greeks bowed to purple flowers, considering them a symbol of fertility and love.

To prevent these phenomena from passing them by, the inhabitants of the country added violet petals to wines, food, and love potions. In the 21st century, the plant is mainly used for interior decoration. Whether the violet has any hidden roles, and what are the features of the flower, we will find out further.

Violet features

Violet - plant Violet family. All kinds of flower perennial herbs growth from 15 to 40 centimeters. Varieties of violets unites the structure of the rhizome. It is thick and woody. Plant stems are shortened. Their growth is so slow that the emerging leaves are located close to each other, folding into rosettes.

Basal not only greens, but also flower stalks violets. A photo plants begin to do in the spring. At this time, the first buds open. They are single, consist of 5 petals lanceolate or ovoid. rounded and violet leaves. They are solid, with oval or heart-shaped contours. There are small notches along the edge.

Violet greens can be smooth or velvety. Short hairs cover the foliage of about half of the plant species. There are varieties that have pubescent and bud petals.

By autumn violet flowers turn into seed pods. They are oblong, ovoid, smooth. In order for the seeds to spill out onto the ground, 3 flaps must open. grains homemade violets used only for propagation of culture. The stems, leaves and flowers are also suitable for medicines. They are good against inflammation and as antiseptics, they help with colds, ailments of the kidneys, and the gastrointestinal tract.

The medicinal properties of a flower are due to the substances it accumulates. Violet room contains carotene, rutin, salicylic acid and vitamin C. The tissues also contain glycosides. All these elements are necessary for the health of the body.

True, violets also have contraindications: - hepatitis and glomerulonephritis. It will not hurt to consult a doctor even in the absence of prohibitions. Overdose, or too much long-term use decoctions lead to nausea, vomiting, loose stools.

Coma biological, nutritional, therapeutic, violet description also has a symbolic one. So, in France, a flower is a sign of constancy, eternal love. The peoples of Scandinavia honor the violet as a symbol of innocence and modesty. In ancient Rome, the plant was associated with Jupiter - the God of the Gods. So, from the point of view of the Romans, the queen of flowers is not a rose, but violet.

At home about 30 out of 600 plant species are grown. Botanists divide them into 16 genera. According to their purpose, they are divided into wild or forest, garden and indoor. Consider options suitable for cultivation at home.

Types of violets

Most popular among flower growers night violet. More often it is called dark. The reason is the purple-black color. It is reinforced by the fact that the buds are collected in inflorescences of 4 pieces. On a dark background, yellow anthers of stamens look spectacular. There are 5 of them in each bud.

night violet one of the Russian TV series is also named. He tells the story of the relationship between a wealthy businessman and a girl he pulled out of a brothel. The heroine's name is Rita. She accepts the courtship of a benefactor. The intrigue is that the girl begins to have feelings for another.

Those who once fell in love with a violet plant, as a rule, no longer change their addiction. Some choose wild species, others selective ones. Dark varieties belong to the latter, as well as violet le. This name hides the abbreviation of the name Elena Lebetskaya. She has been breeding new varieties for 15 years.

The woman has created more than 250 previously unseen varieties. All of them are intended for indoor floriculture. A feature of the varieties from Elena is terry-type buds, with a fringe or fantasy color.

Fans of wild species usually choose Altai. Motherland these violets- Russia. Although, most of the colors of the family are Africans. Altai shoots are distinguished by triangular stems and singly planted buds. They are blue-violet, based on long petioles. The diameter of the flowers is about 3 centimeters.

Altai violet reaches 20 centimeters. Those who want to start an even more miniature, but untouched by selection plant, pay attention to the mountain view. This violet home care requires careful.

In particular, the shoots need coolness, as in the mountains. Flower growers try to satisfy requests, because the effort is worth it. In pots, a “carpet” of shoots only 5 centimeters high blooms. The buds on them bloom large, blue or purple.

Yellow are the buds of graceful violets. From beads copies of it are rarely made. The species is known only to botanists and avid flower growers. The height of the shoots is from 10 to 20 centimeters. The diameter of the buds is about 4 centimeters. Graceful violet blooms from spring to autumn, which is unusual for representatives of the genus.

In general, about one and a half thousand varieties are grown at home. These are the same 30 species. Only the most popular are listed. By the way, it is customary to call hybrids, breeding samples senpolia. Directly violets are called wild variants of the plant. But, the rules of care for both those and others are the same. We will find out what care should be taken for the selected flowers.

Violet care at home

Before buy violets, you need to find a well-lit place for them. Contrary to ancient Greek legend, flowers love Sun rays, albeit scattered. The legend says that the daughter of Atlas became a violet.

The forest nymph was molested by Apollo, but the girl did not like his attention. She asked Zeus for protection. He took pity, turning the nymph into a violet and hiding her in the darkest corner of the forest so that the admirer would not find it.

Simultaneously with the light, violets require high humidity. Therefore, many flower growers place plants in the kitchens. Vapors from cooking, washing dishes, boiling water help violets feel comfortable. If the pots are in living rooms, a humidifier is required, or pallets of water placed near the plants.

You can mix it up yourself. Ordinary garden soil with the addition of sand will do. The composition is processed in the oven or microwave oven. This kills fungal spores and other pests.

violet price

"Violet House" free. This is not about a real building, but about a movie. In it, the family acquires a manor with a flower garden and a bad reputation. If the plans are not to watch the series, but to buy a real plant, it will cost 200-500 rubles. This is the price tag of flower shops. Offers are received from individuals in the amount of 50-100 rubles.

Announcements should be searched on the Internet. There are also websites of private sellers who breed violets personally, like Elena Lebetskaya. On such resources, prices also do not bite, starting from the same 50 rubles. However, if you need delivery, you will have to pay extra.

For many flower growers, violet is the most favorite indoor flower. It is also called Saintpaulia or Uzambara violet. It owes its popularity to the variety of colors and not very complex care at home. The flower is native to the tropics and subtropics. South America, Africa, Asia and Australia. In the 19th century, flower lover Walther von Saint-Paul first discovered the violet on the African continent. Today, there are about two thousand varieties and species of this representative of the flora, the description of which is presented below.

Violet is a small plant with a short stem. From it on long petioles depart numerous leaves covered with villi. various forms and coloration. They are rounded or heart-shaped, reach a length of 8 cm. The flowers of Saintpaulia are from 3 cm in size, grow in inflorescences of several pieces. The color is infinitely diverse, some varieties, in addition to the main color, have a border, dots, stripes and spots on the flowers. They have no smell.

Saintpaulia is classified according to many parameters, in particular, according to the following:

• outlet size: microminiature, miniature, semi-miniature, standard, large;
• flower size: small-flowered, medium-flowered, large-flowered, especially large-flowered;
• flower type: simple, semi-double, terry;
• form: pansy, star, rounded flowers, bluebell, wasp, spider;
• color: one-color, two-tone, two-color or multi-color;
• leaf shape: round, oval, heart-shaped, elongated;
• sheet type: boys, girls;
• edge of the sheet: rounded, entire, serrated, corrugated, wavy, torn.

Species and varieties

Varieties of violets are incredible. To distinguish them, letter prefixes are often written before the name, which help to find out which author is in a particular variety. For example, the EC is Ekaterina Korshunova. Below are some of the most popular varieties bred by domestic breeders.

frosty cherry

Refers to the type of semi-double violets. Cherry color with white center and border. The color becomes more intense as the plant matures.

The color is also very dependent on the lighting, the less light, the lighter the flower will be.

The pigment changes, depending on the temperature, the higher it is, the more pronounced the red color, and when low temperatures white prevails. The leaves are simple, painted with the usual green color.

Sea Wolf

In accordance with the classification, the flowers of this orchid are very large semi-double wavy colorful blue stars with an openwork pattern. 3-5 flowers grow on peduncles. At the beginning of dissolution, the flowers have a juicy blue tone, and with time they become a little lighter. The leaves are glossy, ragged dark green above and burgundy below. In the case of an abundance of light, the leaves drop a little. This variety is not very whimsical in home care.

Winter Smiling

The violet is semi-double or terry, the coloring of rather considerable flowers is light pink, having wine-red strokes and light green braid on the edges of the petals. 3-5 flowers are placed on stable peduncles. The leaves are rounded, slightly elongated, quilted with a jagged edge of a yellow-green hue. Saintpaulia is recommended to beginner gardeners as a fairly easy-to-care plant.

Bridal bouquet

This flower is striking in its beauty. It has huge white terry corrugated stars with voluminous ruffles, with a yellow stamen placed in the center. Flowers stay fresh for a long time and do not fade. The leaves are simple light green. The variety is very prolific, not capricious and does not require special attention.

Bullfight

Very beautiful bright violet, the color of which looks new at different viewing angles. According to the classification by flower, these are large semi-double or double crimson stars. There are 3-5 flowers on the peduncle. Flowers show their real size only after 3-4 flowering. The socket is symmetrical bright green. The leaves are elongated.

White Queen

The charming charm of this violet is large puff semi-double and double wavy rounded white stars, about 7 cm in size. The tips of the flowers have a greenish tint. Flowering in a cap-shaped violet. The leaves are medium pointed green. The socket is compact and neat.

Lyubasha

Violet with pale pink terry corrugated flowers in the size of about 6 cm, which have a white-light green border 2 mm wide. The flowers are very voluminous, resembling a ball, many flower growers note their magnificent shape. Lyubasha blooms very plentifully and for a long time. Light green rosette. In home care is not whimsical.

Love Magic

Rosette at a violet of an emerald-green coloring of the average sizes. The flowers are huge, densely double, rounded purple-red stars with a edging on the edge of the petals, which contrasts with the main color of the violet. The magic of love is very easy to care for, some flower growers notice that even children can look after them.

Black Pearl

Violet blooms with a hat, huge, about 7 cm, densely double cherry-purple balls on hardy flower stalks. Often the flowers are miniature when blooming, and become impressive after a while. The leaves are dark green in color, the rosette is quite dense.

Yesenia

The flowers are large semi-double white flowers. On the petal, the shade is from lilac to dark purple. Also flowers have one feature - these are ears that are several tones darker than the main color. The edges are trimmed with green and white ruffles. The socket is very neat.

Origami

Insanely huge white terry vast stars-balls. The petals are entirely covered with waves and folded into triangles at the beginning of blooming, which in their appearance resembles origami - paper products in Japanese art. Leaves are clean and bright.

Beautiful Creole

Unusual beauty violet. Flowers with a voluminous terry wavy shape. Curly dark blue coloring, reach a size of 4-5 cm. Peduncles are strong, sometimes falling when all flowers open, the number of which is 5-7 pieces. Dark green leaves form a small rosette. This variety is very easy to care for. Natural lighting is quite acceptable.

Chateau Brion

The texture of the petals is similar to porcelain. On strong erect peduncles, the flowers keep their shape for a long time and do not age. They are large, velvet wine-ruby stars with a snow-white corrugated border. Flowering cap form. The leaves are slightly elongated, sinuous green. The outlet is a normal size, compact and neat. The leaves are ovate, stretched, wavy in shape.

Duchess

Violet blooms in a bouquet of huge fluffy ruffled white flowers sprayed with plum. Flowers open gradually at a slow speed, but according to most flower lovers, the wait is worth the result. Medium green foliage forms a large rosette.

An excess of light has a bad effect on the development of the flower, especially on the opening of the buds.

The beauty of flowers corresponding to the species does not appear from the first flowering.

Green Lagoon

The plant is very unusual and fragile, interesting colors. The flowers are large, double with a fringe, white with blue blots with green outer petals, shaped like a cabbage. The leaves are wavy light green in color. The socket is very dense with sheets raised up. Sometimes the flower at home is naughty, the flowers are not always perfect and the buds often do not open, and the leaves are darker than expected.

Reproduction at home

There are several ways to propagate a plant. But the most commonly used method of leaf propagation is carried out, as a rule, in spring and summer.

First you need to choose a healthy leaf from a plant that is not damaged by insects or ailments. It is desirable to choose a sheet from the second or third row. The method of separating the sheet may be breaking off or cutting, the second method is recommended as more acceptable. After that, the rooting of the sheet is carried out. This procedure can also be carried out in several ways. The first is rooting in water, and the second is in the ground. After the leaf gives roots, you need to transplant it into a permanent pot.

Landing: the choice of pot and soil

For planting violets, a small pot is used, so that the roots would not grow much, which will take all the strength from the flower. Soil for violets can be used ready, bought at a flower shop, and also cook it yourself, using a mixture of sod, coniferous, leaf or peat soil for this, adding baking powder: sand, perlite, vermiculite, chopped sphagnum moss. A prerequisite for planting is the presence of drainage.

The plant is transplanted at least once a year. The main reason is a decrease in the size of the leaves due to the fact that the flower grows and becomes crowded. During the growth of the violet, it forms side rosettes, which must be separated from the main bush, this contributes to better flowering.

When transplanting, the bare part of the stem should not exceed 6 cm. In this case, a new pot is used one size larger than the previous one.

Features of care for Saintpaulia

Violets love the light that plays important role in the process of flowering. But it is also recommended to avoid direct sunlight.

Particular attention must be paid watering a flower, because because of a large number water, most often the roots rot, resulting in the death of violets. Saintpaulia needs high humidity, but it is undesirable to use spraying for this, since such a procedure can lead to spots on the sheets.

This plant is thermophilic The ideal temperature is +16-21 degrees. Fertilizer is recommended to be used no more than once a month.

Diseases and pests of indoor violets

Even following all the rules for caring for a violet, diseases and insects can arise unexpectedly.

Infectious plant diseases:

• Fusarium (rotting outlet)
• powdery mildew
• late blight
• Gray rot

Pests:

• Chervets

Growing violets does not require special care, there is nothing complicated in it, and any amateur grower can add to his collection this incredibly beautiful flower. Providing him proper care, the plant will delight you with abundant flowering and wonderful appearance throughout the year.

Video about the most beautiful varieties of Uzambara violets