African violets – the beautiful house flowers with velvety leaflets and delicate flowers delivered from east Africa. The scientific name of plant – saintpaulia, has happened it on behalf of the pioneer of violets – the French botanist Saint Paul Iller. The correct care for violets guarantees to plant long life and abundant blossoming.
Subtleties of care for violets
Homeland of violets - Uzumbarsky mountains. For the first time the flower has got to Europe in the 19th century where at once has found the mass of admirers. For today in the world nearly 1500 grades of saintpaulias of the most various color are removed – from snow-white to dark lilac. There is also set of grades with fantasy colourings, their flowers are decorated with strokes, dabs and asterisks of contrast coloring.
The saintpaulia grows in the nature on the boggy soil, surrounded with moss pillow. Therefore the humidity is one of the factors, major for violet. For increase in air humidity pour a little water into pallet or put humidifier near flowers.
It is necessary to water violet with the soft settled water which temperature is not lower than 20 wasps. Roast daily watering, in the winter – once in 3-4 days is admissible. Be guided by condition of the soil: do not allow stagnation of water in pots and you watch that the earth did not shrink. When watering try not to wet fluffy leaves – from water droplets on them there will be spots. Light of violet is preferred disseminated – best of all to put this flower on the western or east windows. From hit on leaves of direct sunlight the violet can turn yellow therefore at the southern window the saintpaulia needs to be shaded: in the spring – by means of mosquito grids, in the summer – dense curtains. At northern window the flower needs additional lighting. Two times a week turn violet to light other party – then the flower will grow beautiful and symmetric. The recommended temperature condition of violet – not lower than 18 and not higher than 26 wasps. You watch that your saintpaulias did not stand on draft and did not adjoin to cold glass in the winter – gentle plants can ache and die.
Reproduction, change and fertilizing of violets
House violets most often make multiple copies shanks. Separate from maternal plant leaf with long shank, place it in damp sand and cover with the cut-off plastic bottle or glass jar. Approximately in month at young plant small leaflets will begin to appear. When the small violet a little gets stronger, replace it in small with a diameter about 6 cm. It is necessary to replace plants not more often than once a year, right after blossoming. The earth for violets has to be friable, well passing water and air – it is the best of all to buy special mix for saintpaulias. for adult plant has to be about 10 cm in height and 12-15 cm in dimeter. Half fill it with haydite, then fill up ready earth mix and plant violet. It is necessary to feed up violets accurately – they transfer lack of fertilizers, than their surplus more safely. If you have planted violets in special mix, it is necessary to fertilize plant only in case of visible exhaustion. Fertilizers need to be bought special, intended for saintpaulias. During blossoming choose mixes with the increased phosphorus content, during the active growth of plant – with high content of nitrogen.