Violet South Night
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Saintpaulia is somewhat different from ordinary violets, but growers often call these plants the same, paying attention only to the name of the variety. Violet Southern Night is exactly the saintpaulia or uzambar violet, bred by the Ukrainian breeder E. Lebetskaya relatively recently, but has already gained popularity among indoor plant lovers due to its unpretentiousness and undemanding care, as well as due to its excellent decorative qualities.
Violet Southern night: description of the variety and characteristics
Violet South night: photo
The violet variety Yuzhnaya noch amazes with its unusual blue inflorescences with a lighter shade of border and red dots on the petals. The color of the inflorescences gradually changes: when the flower is just beginning to bloom, the pink spot gradually spreads from the center and becomes red, and then loses its brightness. In addition to blue, flowers can be colored red or purple, spots on the petals can have different shapes. Thanks to these properties, the bloom of "Southern Night" always surprises its owner. The inflorescences are quite large, but at the same time they are able to maintain their shape for a long time and not lose their decorative effect. Violet leaves The southern night of rich green light stretches upward (if the leaves fall, then the plant is experiencing discomfort and more attention should be paid to caring for it).
Violet South Night: Cultivation
Violet South night: photo
In order for the LE South violet to bloom regularly and magnificently, the plant should be created comfortable conditions, this rule applies to any, even the most unpretentious plant.
When choosing a flower pot for violets, you should give preference to small containers, since a violet growing in a voluminous pot will direct all its forces to building up the root system, and this will happen to the detriment of flowering. For an adult plant, a flower pot with a height of 10 cm and a diameter of 11-13 cm will be most optimal. There are no clear recommendations regarding the material from which the container is made, since there are so many gardeners, there are so many opinions. Some people prefer to grow violets in plastic containers, while others prefer exclusively ceramic flower pots.
If we consider this issue from the point of view of environmental friendliness, then of course a breathable ceramic container is the best option for any indoor plant, perhaps with the exception of orchids, which feel more comfortable in plastic pots.
The second important factor on the road to success will be a soil suitable for violets. Now in large flower shops you can buy specially prepared soil for almost any plant, including Saintpaulias. Before planting, it is recommended to carry out preventive treatment and spill the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate or bake it in the oven to guarantee the destruction of all pathogenic bacteria, and then add fine expanded clay or vermiculite to the soil in order to achieve the best looseness and moisture permeability. As with any houseplants, before planting violets, be sure to lay a layer of drainage material on the bottom of the flower pot, which will prevent stagnation of water in the soil.
A violet needs a lot of light for well-being and flowering, this factor must be taken into account when choosing a place for a plant.But at the same time, it is important to remember that the direct rays of the sun will be destructive and leave burns on delicate leaves, therefore, you can place the violet on the windowsill only if the windows of your apartment face the north, east or west side, or if tall trees grow in front of the window that scatter light. In winter, it is better to remove the violet from the windowsill so that it does not suffer from the cold.
Violets of the Southern Night variety do not need a cool dormant period, the optimal room temperature throughout the year is from +18 to +22 degrees.
Violet Southern Night loves humid air, while it, like other violets, is not recommended to be sprayed from a spray bottle. To humidify the air, you can place a container with water next to the plants, gradually evaporating, it will humidify the air. Some florists recommend that in the warm season, once a month, give the violet a short warm shower, after which you should definitely blot the leaves with a soft cloth to remove the remaining moisture. It is believed that this procedure improves the decorative qualities of the plant. But since this contradicts the recommendations for spraying, each grower determines the need for this procedure for himself.
Violet Southern night: care
Violet South night: photo
It is possible to transplant an adult violet LE-South night less often than many other varieties. Instead of an annual transplant, it will be enough to carry out this procedure every 2 or 3 years. In the process of transplanting, try to remove most of the old soil from the roots as carefully as possible, you can also cut off part of the roots (only this should be done with a sharp and sterile instrument). And it is necessary to carry out a transplant before or after flowering.
During flowering, the Southern Night violet must be fertilized regularly using a special fertilizer for Saintpaulias. Top dressing is carried out every two weeks. During the dormant period, the plant does not need a large amount of nutrients, so it will be enough to feed it once every 5-6 weeks. Never fertilize plants with concentrate, be sure to dilute it in water for irrigation, strictly following the instructions.
Well, the most important part of caring for the Southern Night violet, which determines its well-being, is watering. The water should be pre-defended and, if necessary, slightly warmed up (to a state of room temperature). To prevent moisture from getting on the leaves and flower stalks, violets should be watered through a tray. Within 30-40 minutes, the plant will absorb as much moisture as it needs, and the residues should be drained to prevent waterlogging of the soil.
Reproduction
Violet South night: photo
Violets LE South night can be propagated not only by leaf cuttings, but also by seeds. When sowing seeds, the plant grows stronger and stronger, however, the process takes much longer, so this method is used quite rarely. But even a novice florist can cope with the reproduction of violets by cuttings, since this is a completely simple process that allows you to get a new plant rather quickly.
For rooting, you need to choose large, healthy and strong leaves without the slightest sign of damage, since the further health of the Southern Night violet variety depends on the quality of the planting material. With a sharp pre-disinfected knife, cut off a leaf with a petiole of at least 4 cm and put it in a container with water. You can add a charcoal tablet to the water, so it will stay clean longer, as soon as the water begins to cloud, it should be changed immediately. After about 2-3 weeks, the roots should appear, after which you can plant the cutting in a small container (a small plastic cup is suitable, in the bottom of which you need to make a hole and lay the drainage). At your discretion, you can cover the plant with a film on top to create a greenhouse, but then you should ventilate it daily and remove condensation, otherwise the stalk may simply rot.Over time, the plant will overgrow with daughter rosettes, the leaves of which will initially be very light, almost white. As soon as the leaves of the rosettes "turn green" they can be separated and transplanted into separate containers.
Diseases and pests of a violet variety South night
No matter how well you take care of the violet LE Southern night, there is always the possibility of encountering an unpleasant problem: a disease or the appearance of pests. If any of these problems are found, the affected plant must be immediately isolated to avoid contamination of the remaining indoor flowers, and not returned to its original place until complete recovery. In case of illness, the affected parts of the plant should be removed immediately.
Most often, violets South Night suffer from diseases such as:
- Powdery mildew, which can be identified by grayish-white spots on the leaves and petioles of the plant. To cope with the disease will help "Fundazol", which need to treat the plant twice with an interval of two weeks.
- Late blightwhich starts from the roots and then infects the aerial part of the plant. It will not be possible to cure this disease, but it can be prevented by preventing waterlogging of the soil and carefully controlling the temperature and humidity of the air.
- Gray rot manifests itself as a fluffy bloom on the leaves, similar to mold. The cause of this disease is a fungus, the disease can be avoided with the help of preventive soil treatment before planting a plant, and with a regulated irrigation regime, as a result of which waterlogging of the soil does not occur.
If we talk about harmful insects in relation to violets, then most often you can find aphids or spider mites on them. With a regular inspection of the plant, the appearance of pests can be detected at the very beginning, which means that it will be possible to cope with them quite quickly. The infected plant will need to be treated in two or three doses with an insecticide suitable for indoor use (for example, Mospilan).
Blooming violet Southern night helps to create coziness in the house. By paying a little attention to your plants on a regular basis, you will be able to admire the lush, colorful bloom for a long time.
Violet South night: video