How to share a violet: terms, a complete description of the process

The article tells about how to divide the violet correctly: the choice of timing, preparation of the plant and substrate, a detailed description of the process.

Violets are among the rapidly developing plants. Moreover, as you know, these flowers prefer small containers. Active growth, accompanied by the appearance of young rosettes, as well as lush and prolonged flowering, entail a rather rapid depletion of a small volume of soil mixture. Experts do not recommend delaying the transplant of violets, since the lack of nutrients will quickly affect the decorative qualities of the plant - the leaves will become faded and lethargic, the flowers will begin to shrink. In addition, with the growth of newly formed rosettes, the mother plant will weaken, stop developing and, over time, may die.

Mistakes made in the process of dividing and transplanting violets can cause disease, and sometimes even death of the plant. To avoid such consequences, we will take a closer look at the features of these procedures.

How to share a violet: determining the timing of the transplant

How to split a violet

The most obvious sign indicating the need for a violet transplant is the appearance of young rosettes - "babies". As a rule, up to several of them are formed at the same time, which becomes the reason for the competition for food and lighting. As a result, the most developed and strongest sockets remain, and the weak ones perish. The leaf on which the babies are formed also dies, giving all the nutrition to the growing young outlets. With a large number of formed children and dead leaves, the condition of the plant itself worsens.

At the time of separation and transplantation, new rosettes must have at least 2 pairs of developed leaves. This recommendation is relevant for most varieties, with the exception of variegated violets. In the case of these varieties, children should have at least twice as many well-developed leaves. It should be remembered that the process of development of children is much more active with good illumination of the plant. In addition, it must be borne in mind that young rosettes of variegated varieties are often white in color, their leaves are completely devoid of chlorophyll. Experts recommend planting such outlets only after their foliage acquires the appropriate color. Until this moment, children are not able to develop independently, they are completely dependent on the mother plant, and premature separation is most likely the cause of their death. Also, you can focus on the height of the new sockets, it should be at least 3 - 6 cm.

Spring is best suited for planting violets. In autumn and winter, with a constant lack of lighting and too dry air, it is difficult to provide conditions conducive to easy adaptation and rooting of transplanted plants. And in the summer, you will have to constantly maintain the level of humidity in the air and make sure that direct sunlight does not fall on the plants.

How to divide a violet when transplanting: choosing a planting capacity

How to split a violet

When deciding on a container for planting children, you should give preference to disposable plastic cups. Firstly, this is a less costly option, and secondly, their large assortment allows you to select the capacity that is optimal in terms of volume.And, finally, by choosing cups with transparent walls, you can always control the condition of the plant roots, reacting in a timely manner to the appearance of signs of locking, diseases or infestation by insect pests. Florists note that cups with a volume of only 100 ml are excellent for these purposes.

Also, recall what problems planting plants in large containers is fraught with.
The soil in a large pot does not dry out evenly. As a rule, the surface layer dries out faster, while the bulk of the soil remains moist. Forgetting about this, focusing on a sufficiently dried top layer, you can quickly fill in a young plant, since thin and weak roots are not yet able to master the entire volume of introduced moisture.

In addition, the peculiarity of the development of the violet is such that, first of all, it grows roots, and after that the aerial part. Accordingly, the root system of a young plant planted in a large pot, which can hardly overcome the high moisture content of the soil, will lead to the fact that rooting and development of the rosette will be very slow.

It is worth replanting the violet into a more spacious container only when the roots of the plant have completely mastered the earthen lump.

Well, and, of course, one should remember the well-known statement among violet growers that the diameter of the planting container should be half the diameter of the flower rosette.

Having dealt with the size of the pot, consider another question that occupies novice growers - which pot is better - plastic or clay?

Florists who have more than one hundred violets in their collection, of course, prefer plastic pots. Such containers are less bulky, any shelves, stands and pots can withstand them. It is easier in them, if necessary, to make the required number of drainage holes. Well, and among other things, a plastic pot is, nevertheless, a less expensive option.

Clay pots, first of all, are attractive because they are made from natural, breathable material that provides better air flow to the roots. Also, flower growers note the high decorativeness of ceramic containers. However, it should be noted that the capabilities of modern production are such that a plastic pot, sometimes, only on closer inspection, can be distinguished from ceramics. In addition, a number of properties that clay containers have can harm the plant. So, for example, clay pots, under the influence of sunlight, heat up quite quickly and strongly, retaining heat for a long time and slowly cooling down. For violets, such overheating is not desirable. Also, over time, salts accumulate in the pores of the clay pot, which, getting into the soil, have a negative effect on the violet.

The same flower growers who think that the only drawback of a plastic container is that it is not presentable can be advised to "hide" plastic pots in clay containers.

It is worth paying attention to the issue of repeated use of planting containers. Of course, their reuse takes place. However, each time before use, the container must be thoroughly rinsed and disinfected.

How to divide a violet at home: preparing the substrate

How to split a violet

In order for the violet to develop in a timely manner, magnificently and for a long time, it needs a special soil mixture - very light, moisture-absorbing and breathable. This state of the soil can be achieved by adding coconut fiber, sphagnum, perlite, peat or river sand to the substrate. In large quantities, these components do not need to be added, otherwise, you can harm the plant. So, it is known that moss and peat are capable of acidifying the soil, while violets are suitable for soil with a slightly acidic reaction. In addition, novice flower growers often use vermiculite as a baking powder.However, unlike perlite, this mineral retains moisture for a long time, and this is fraught with waterlogging of the soil, which is completely unacceptable for violets.

To provide the plant with useful substances and elements, ready-made complexes of mineral fertilizers can be added to the soil mixture. If at the time of preparation of the substrate, fertilizers were not at hand, then feeding is carried out after transplanting the plant, by introducing a liquid nutrient solution under the root. Before fertilizing, experts recommend watering the plant.

A drainage layer must be present in the planting tank, which will prevent soil from locking and moisture stagnation. Small expanded clay, fragments of clay pots, pebbles, fine crushed stone or broken brick can be used as drainage. By the way, more and more flower growers use a regular synthetic winterizer for the same purposes. In addition to the fact that this material is perfectly permeable to moisture, it also does not allow the soil to spill out through the drainage containers and the trays under the pots will always be clean.

Today, specialized stores offer a large assortment of ready-made soils for violets, which contain both the minimum required number of components and various additives, including complex fertilizers.

However, growers who grow violets on an ongoing basis still advise, if possible, to compose the substrate on their own, especially since all its components can be purchased at the same garden centers.
In order to prepare the soil mixture that is optimal in composition, leaf or sod soil is taken as a basis and sand, peat and perlite are added. After the components are well mixed, the finished substrate is disinfected by calcining it in the oven, or by steam treatment.

How to split a violet: the process of separating outlets

The process of separating young rosettes from the mother plant is not difficult, but requires caution and accuracy.

The bush, along with a lump of earth, is taken out of the container. Then, with a sharp knife, the leaves are cut off, on which the rosettes have formed. Then, slightly turning the sockets, separate them from the sheet itself. Further, the sockets are already disassembled, carefully unweaving the roots and leaves. Haste in this case is useless.

Drainage and a little substrate are poured at the bottom of the planting container. After, the plant is placed, while straightening the roots. Then they begin to gradually fill up the soil, slightly compacting it. Water the transplanted violet with well-settled water. It is important that after planting and watering the plant, the rosette leaves only lightly touch the soil.
The next time the plant is watered no earlier than 7-9 days later. However, during this period, it is necessary to provide the plant with the necessary level of air humidity. To prevent excessive evaporation of moisture and create comfortable conditions for the plant for rapid rooting, the violet is covered with a glass or plastic container or a regular plastic bag. In this case, it is necessary to regularly ventilate the plant, removing the shelter for a while.

How many years do violets live

As a room culture, violets have been grown for over a century. With proper care and regular rejuvenation, plants can live for decades.

Over time, the decorativeness of the violet decreases, this is manifested in the exposure of the stem, rare flowering, and shrinking of flowers and leaves. In fact, the violet stops growing. However, this is one of those plants that is very easy to rejuvenate, after which the violet will bloom no less luxuriantly and lastingly than before.

If the stem is barely bare - by 2 - 4 cm and, at the same time, remains green, the plant is simply transplanted into a fresh substrate, deepening the bare stem, removing previously damaged and dried leaves.

In the case when the stem is very bare and noticeably coarse, proceed as follows.With a sharp, disinfected knife, the stem is cut off at the level with the ground. You should try to cut the stem in one go. Then, carefully peel off the coarse tissue from the stem. It is also necessary to cut off the leaves, leaving only a portion at the top of the plant. The substrate poured into the planting container must be pre-moistened, a small hole must be made in the middle and the plant must be placed in it.

Further, the soil around the stem is slightly compacted and watered. In order for the plant to take root faster, it needs to create greenhouse conditions, for which the violet is covered with a glass or plastic container. After a couple of weeks, the plant should take root. During this time, you need to maintain the required moisture level and regularly ventilate the plant.

Experts advise against planting a blooming violet. However, it happens that young rosettes have reached the optimal size for transplanting, and the mother bush does not "think" to end flowering. In this case, the violet is planted in accordance with the previously described order. It is only necessary to remove all peduncles so that the violet can more actively restore the root system. After all, the sooner this happens, the earlier it will begin to bloom.

How to split a violet