Violet is a flower from the genus Viola, from the family Violaceae, it grows in areas with a moderate climate, but some species can be found far from there. According to some sources, there are 500 species, and the most famous in our country is the African violet.
Violets can be perennial and are generally more blunt, but there are also some types of annuals.
We will focus on the species that is most common in our country, which is, as we said, the African violet.
IN GENERAL:
- The African violet is a very popular indoor plant, but maintenance must be precise in order to survive. One of the interesting things is that at the end of the 19th century, the then governor of Germany discovered a violet in East Africa, while he was on a trip with his future wife. That is why it is said that the African violet is a symbol of love and fidelity.
GROWING AND PLANTING FROM SEEDS:
- We would recommend that you plant African violets in suitable soil for easier cultivation, of course you can buy that mix in flower shops, but you can also make it yourself from an equal amount of peat, minerals and perlite. It is important to moisten the soil well before planting the seeds. After that, it is important to evenly distribute the seeds on the ground, and when you do that, there is no need to cover with new soil again. Our advice is to pour water into a spray bottle and mist the ground and then cover with foil. Put it on the window, it's just important that the sun's rays don't go directly into it. When the soil dries, repeat the procedure, the seeds should germinate in 1-9 weeks. Then the young violets should be transferred to a separate pot when the largest leaf reaches 1.5 cm in diameter.
MAINTENANCE:
- Regarding maintenance, it is important that you know that proper watering is an important part of the care of this plant. Watering should be 2 times a week all year round when the soil is less moist to the touch, but of course do not allow the soil to dry out or be waterlogged. The water you use for watering should be at room temperature, preferably for 48 hours. It is very important that when you water the soil, you try not to touch the leaves and flower of the violet because spots can appear.
When we talk about lighting, you should know that the plant should not be exposed directly to the sun's rays, but it should have the necessary and even lighting. Our advice is to keep the violet a meter away from a window on the south side, and it should have 8 hours of light per day. The optimal temperature is 20 degrees, it must never exceed 27 degrees, and it must not drop below 15 degrees.
PROPAGATION:
- Spawning takes place with a cutting, i.e. a leaf. The leaves with the stem are placed in water, and later planted in the ground. Plant them late in the spring, and they will reach flowering size in half a year. It can also be done by seed, of course, it is best to sow in the spring, and a temperature of 20 degrees is required (we wrote about this method above).
SOME OF OUR TIPS:
- The plant is not pruned, blossomed, yellowed and destroyed flowers are removed. Never wash the leaves with water, but with a soft dry brush, and as for feeding, so that we don't skip that part, you should know that liquid fertilizer is given for 20 days during the summer. If the violet's leaves start to fade, it is a sign that there is a lack of fertilizer.
I hope that we have helped you at least a little and that you will enjoy African Violets.
