Rules For Growing Uzambara Violets - 2

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

First, you need impeccable dishes. The edges of the pots should be even and smooth, without potholes and notches, otherwise the petiole gets injured, tissue necrosis begins, and the leaf dies. Before planting, you can dip the top edge of the pot in paraffin or wax melted in a water bath to get a smooth, rounded surface on which the leaves will not be injured and hurt.

Secondly, you need to arrange the Saintpaulias so freely that they do not touch the leaves and are well lit.

Sometimes it is necessary to put large specimens with hanging leaves on an inverted pot so that the leaves are freely located in space, well lit, show all their beauty and do not touch the common pallet, where there is wet sand or expanded clay, or water simply lingers.

Thirdly, in order for the Saintpaulias to bloom longer, it is imperative to carefully pluck out the faded flowers and brushes.

How to water an uzambara violet?

Fourth rule: you need to know that the most vulnerable point of a violet is its root collar, which easily rots when over-watered. This circumstance should be taken into account when planting plants: in addition to a good drainage layer 2-3 cm thick, washed river sand should be poured into the deepening of the nutrient mixture in the pot so that it is he who surrounds the roots and neck of the violet. When transplanting adult plant specimens, it is noticeable that the root collar is strongly extended upward, and this is a clear sign that it is time to divide the violet into rosettes and plant in separate pots (wounds from these manipulations are powdered with activated carbon powder). And in this case, the washed river sand around the neck is insurance and protection against infection. Pieces of charcoal can be added to the soil mixture or drainage, this will also help fight fungal infection. After all, most plant diseases are caused by pathogenic fungi and bacteria.

Another requirement is the correct watering of the Usambar violet: the earthen ball should be moist, but not damp. Excess water is removed from the sump a few minutes after watering. Pour into the edge of the pot without touching the leaves, neck or middle of the outlet (the water temperature is several degrees higher than the soil temperature; you can keep a bottle of water by the central heating battery in autumn and winter, and in the summer in the sun).

A flower watering can of 1.5-2 liters with a long narrow spout, which does not allow a strong stream of water and allows you to reach each specimen without touching neighboring plants, is very convenient for watering. In winter, special difficulties arise. It happens that the earthen lump is wet, but the leaves of Saintpaulia have wilted, their petioles have lost their elasticity and hang over the edges of the pot. What happened? Most likely, the roots and even the root collar began to rot in the plant from excessive watering (in the latter case, the leaves are easily separated from the outlet, the place of separation is clearly affected by rot (fusarium, develops at low temperatures and high humidity).

To save the plant, first of all, the top layer of the soil is loosened, giving access to oxygen and drying the lump. Remove all leaves that separate from the outlet themselves. The best of them should be placed in water for rooting, making slices of the stalk 2-3 cm above the lesion site. Sometimes the rosette itself is easily removed from the pot, which means that the roots have already died, and it is necessary to determine how much the root collar has suffered. A sharp knife is used to make transverse sections of the root collar to healthy tissue.

If the healthy tissue of the now small rosette is preserved, the cut is powdered with crushed activated carbon and, after slightly drying, the rosette is placed in a wet, washed and calcined river sand for rooting in a warm place (temperature + 22-25 °, under a hood or a plastic bag) in the light. But if the infection has penetrated too deeply, rooting may not happen. Then all hope is for leafy cuttings that take root easily and give new young rosettes.

Sixth rule: for the prevention of fungal and bacterial infections, the substrate for violets can be ignited in the oven for 40-60 minutes over medium heat, or steamed in a sieve or colander over boiling water for about an hour. The easiest way is to rinse the substrate with a hot solution of dark pink potassium permanganate.

Closer to winter, when the absorption of moisture by the roots decreases, watering is noticeably reduced. Water only dried soil in a pot with all the precautions. It is worth adding washed river sand to the root collar in advance, without waiting for infectious lesions.

Transplant Saintpaulia

Young plants are transplanted as the outlets grow, preferably during the period of active growth (from spring to autumn), choosing a slightly larger dish so that the roots have time to absorb water from a suitable volume of soil. Another important condition: already with the first bright rays of the sun in February, it is necessary to shade the part of the window where the violets are on the southern windows. Tulle or gauze is pulled directly onto the glass (window frame) to a height of 50-60 cm. This shading remains on the windows until September, otherwise the delicate leaves of violets will suffer from sunburn (brown spots, leaf decay). Watering with cold water also causes ugly brown spots on the leaves.

Temperature regime Saintpaulia

And the last thing: for the summer, Saintpaulias, like other Gesneriaceae, remain in the rooms, they are not taken out on open balconies.

It must be remembered that Saintpaulias cannot stand drafts, sudden temperature changes. The minimum temperature that they can withstand for a short time without damage is + 12-15 ° C.

There are amateur flower growers who have devoted their leisure time to growing mainly Saintpaulias. For plants, they equip glazed cabinets and shelves with pre-lighting and heating, almost like for orchids. Large aquariums are often used, where it is convenient to maintain the desired humidity and air temperature, as well as additional lighting, and where violets against the background of miniature ferns feel good and are a decoration of the house. Having in the collection Saintpaulias of different forms, varieties (and there are more than 1000 of them in culture) and plants of different ages, providing them with the necessary conditions, you can admire their flowering all year round.