Ampelous violets. Growing and caring for ampelous violets at home

Among a number of hanging plants, which differ in their growth form, most suitable for hanging pots and creating hanging flower beds and gardens, there are also hanging violets. These are plants with several growing points and elongated drooping stems, easily producing many side shoots. They are also called "trailers".

Trailers can be bush-growing or hanging. Accordingly, they can be formed during the growth process either in a clearing or in a cascade. There are now about half a thousand ampelous varieties of violets.

The history of the flower

It’s quite difficult to even name the homeland of violets.
It grows in Japan, North America, Australia and New Zealand. But it came to Europe from the shores of East Africa.

According to one of the stories about violets, the commandant of German East Africa, Adalbert von Saint-Paul, was walking in the Usambara Mountains with his bride.

She noticed an inconspicuous purple flower between the stones, which had an unsurpassed aroma.

By a lucky coincidence, the commandant’s father was the president of the German Dendrological Society, Ulrich Saint-Paul, to whom the seeds of a flower were sent, “which glows with pale blue fire,” as Adalbert wrote about him in his diaries.

The discoverer's father gave them to the botanist Hermann Wenland, who confirmed that it was a new flower and named it "Saintpaulia" in honor of Adalbert von Saint-Paul.

Violet conquered Europe already at the first exhibition, which was held in Belgium, and at the beginning of the twentieth century, the conquest of the United States began, where a specialized society was opened that was engaged in breeding new varieties of the flower.

Note! Violet growing wild was familiar back in ancient Greece, where myths and legends were composed about it. But it gained real popularity only in the 19th century.

To date, botanists have managed to develop several thousand varieties of color, despite the fact that initially about 20 species were known.

Features of care

Saintpaulia - care features

Water the plants very carefully after the top layer of soil has dried. For Saintpaulias, both flooding and drying out are equally dangerous.

To avoid stagnation of water when planting, place a drainage layer of at least 1 cm at the bottom of the pot. Water that is not absorbed after watering must be drained from the pan. During the flowering period, fertilizers for flowering plants are added to the water for irrigation once a week.

Saintpaulias will feel best at +20. +22°C. At temperatures below +16°C they may die. You need to especially carefully monitor the temperature on the windowsill in winter - drafts and hypothermia of the soil during this period can cause the loss of your collection.

The most unusual violets

It should be noted that this flower can be quite unusual, for which it is highly valued by flower growers, because you never know what the outcome will be. The most interesting varieties are the following:

“Chimera” is a variety resulting from the mutation of two plant species. The color of the petals varies from blue to crimson, but there is always a light dividing line in the middle.

Violet “Chimera”

An exotic variety called “Crimson Cloud Country” has a dark crimson color with an intricate pattern.

Violet “Land of Crimson Clouds”

“Gray Ocean” is a flower that has the ability to change color to suit the mood, turning from white to lilac. With each flowering it becomes darker, and the Gray Ocean variety turns into the Black Pearl.

Violet “Grey Ocean”

There are a lot of varieties of violets; every year breeders try to present something new and unique at exhibitions, so it is not possible to mention them all. But each of the varieties is unique and beautiful in its own way.

The article examined the main varieties of indoor violets. This is a beautiful flower that can decorate any space.

Exhibition varieties are more beautiful, but have a lot of nuances in breeding, which will turn a hobby into exhausting work.

However, regardless of the choice, the interior of the room, decorated with live violets, will be transformed beyond recognition.

Saintpaulia (Violet)

Gesneriaceae family. The birthplace of Saintpaulia is the Uzambara Mountains of Africa. This plant is a favorite of many gardeners. Natural Uzambara violets are distinguished by a variety of colors and shapes of flowers and leaves. But thanks to collecting and breeding, which has lasted for centuries, such diverse and numerous varieties of violets have been developed that entire catalogs have been created to describe them. We will try to present the most necessary information about these wonderful plants. Although many who start growing Saintpaulias wonder what variety bloomed on their windowsill.

A few words about ampelous violets and their features

This is an ideal flower option for hanging baskets, pots and containers. Each plant has several growing points, so they differ in the number of shoots or drooping stems. In addition, during the growing season a large number of lateral branches are formed, which is why violets are also called “trailer” violets.

Among the trailers there are bush and canopy types, so you can form both a bush and a canopy cascade from them. Believe me, when cascading violets bloom, you can’t take your eyes off them, it’s just an avalanche of flowers. And if you grow violets of several shades at once, then this is truly a fabulous sight.

Today, gardeners know about 500 different varieties of trailer violets, which allows you to purchase several of them at once and successfully decorate with them any space in the garden, at home, on a terrace, in a gazebo or in the entrance area of a house.

Growing ampel or trailer violets - care features

When I came to a flower center several years ago, I noticed very attractive flowers growing in pots. They had different colors and hung from hanging pots in numerous shoots. The flowers looked so impressive that I wanted to know what they are called, how they reproduce and how long they bloom.

Of course, later these hanging plants called violets became my favorites, and I successfully grew them myself using various methods. Today I want to talk about these cute flowers, their features and rules for growing them at home.

Classification of varieties of indoor violets

There are many varieties of violets, varying in size, flower shape, number and color of petals. Moreover, the same variety can belong to several groups. Now we will try to understand the classification of indoor violets.

According to socket size

Micromini. They have a rosette diameter of up to 8 cm. Against their background, ordinary Saintpaulias with a diameter of 20-40 cm look like giants. They are grown only in compact pots with wick watering. Otherwise, the risk of them drying out is too high - if left without moisture, they dry out and die quite quickly.

Mini. The diameter of the rosette of such a violet does not exceed 12-15 cm. Just like microminis, they are grown, most often, with wick irrigation. They tolerate propagation well and therefore take root faster than larger varieties. During flowering, they form many attractive, bright and original inflorescences.

Half mini. They have a rosette diameter of up to 20 cm. Most of these varieties were bred with the participation of the domestic botanist Igor Milekhin. It is important to know that excess light is harmful for semi-mini violets! In a short time, all the foliage may turn yellow, and the rosette becomes flat in shape.

Standard - rosette 20-40 cm in diameter.

By flower size

Based on flower size, violets are divided into the following groups:

small-flowered - up to 2 cm;
medium-flowered - from 2 to 4 cm;
large-flowered - from 4 to 6 cm;
especially large-flowered - more than 6 cm.

Types by flower shape

Depending on the size and location of the petals, there are 5 types of indoor violets:

Pansies;
Star;
Bell;
Bowl;
Wasp.

By degree of terry

Also, varieties of violets can be divided according to the degree of terryness or the number of petals. On this basis, all violets are divided into the following groups:

Simple (5 petals).
Comb type is a type of semi-double Saintpaulia, in which, in addition to five petals, there are 1 - 3 additional underdeveloped ones.
Semi-double is when the peduncle has more than 5 but less than 10 petals, most often 7-8. In this case, the stamens are clearly visible.
Terry is a type of violet in which the number of petals exceeds 10. There are so many of them that they cover the stamens.
“Carnations” are Saintpaulias, the flowers of which are similar to double ones, but larger, with more petals on the peduncle. In appearance, such Saintpaulias really resemble carnations, hence the name.

Along the edge of the petal

The petals of Saintpaulia are wavy, notched and fringed.

By color

Indoor violets, based on the color of the petals, are divided into plain and painted in two or more colors.

Ampelous

We can also distinguish a group of currently very fashionable hanging varieties of indoor violets, which have a long stem (up to 50 cm) with several growth points. These Saintpaulias are distinguished by their lush flowering. Their stems are quite flexible, so you can try to create a variety of compositions from them. The characteristic color of the leaves is variegated. The flowers are miniature but attractive. Let us introduce you to some varieties of ampelous violets:

Ramblin' Dots. Breeder S. Sorano.

Ramblin Dots is a beautiful variety of indoor violet. The rosette consists of light green leaves with golden-white streaks. Its double star flowers are light lavender in color and decorated with a mesmerizing light purple fantasy pattern.

Falling Snow. Breeder P. Tracey.

Folin snow is a violet with light green, slightly pointed leaves. It has numerous small snow-white wasp flowers.

Variegated

Violets from the variegated group have elegant, brightly colored foliage with many different shades and contrasting spots throughout the green field. They can have yellow or white edges, a lavender or pink border at the same time. These violets have large double flowers with petals of various colors, often with a prominent border along the edge.

Pauline Viardot

This violet has a compact variegated rosette, very elegant due to the light border along the edge of the leaves. Its large, single or semi-double flowers have wine-colored petals. The edges of the petals are decorated with a thin white ruffle. Pauline Viardot's flowers grow vertically.

How to replant a violet

To grow violets, use fairly wide pots of small height; the size of the pot should correspond to the size of the plant. Young plants with only a few leaves (propagation in spring) are planted in small pots, 5-7 cm in diameter. Then (in the summer), they are transplanted into large pots about 9 cm in diameter. Miniature varieties of violets are grown in pots 3-4 cm in diameter (these are sold as cacti in flower shops). The best pot for Saintpaulia is one whose height matches its width, since these plants do not have deep roots.

If you can’t decide on the size, we’ll give you a hint - you need a pot of such a diameter that the leaves of the violet bush placed in it extend beyond its limits by half the length of the leaf or a little more. If Saintpaulias are planted in pots that are too large, there is a very high chance that the soil will become waterlogged. The soil takes a long time to dry out, the roots rot, and soil pests (springtails, springtails, or fungus gnats) appear.

The soil for violets should have an acidity pH of 5.5-6.5 - this is a slightly acidic reaction. There are many soil options for Saintpaulia, here are some examples:

2 parts leaf soil, 1 part turf, 1 part coniferous soil, 1 part river sand, 1 part vermiculite.
2 parts leaf soil, 1 part coconut substrate (from briquettes), 1 part well-rotted humus flour, 0.5 parts chopped pine bark,
1 part turf soil, 1 part coniferous soil, 1 part vermiculite, 0.5 parts coarse river sand.
5 parts store-bought violet soil (or all-purpose), 1 part vermiculite, 1 part chopped sphagnum moss or chopped pine bark.

Leaf soil is harvested in early spring; in a birch forest, as soon as the snow melts, remove last year's leaf litter and scrape up the soil. Turf soil can be dug up in a meadow by removing the top layer of turf. Coniferous soil, respectively, in the coniferous undergrowth. All soil must be removed from branches and leaves and be sure to sterilize in the oven (40-60 minutes) or in the microwave at full power (10-15 minutes). Only coarse, washed sand should be used, ideally very small pebbles 1-2 mm. Sand and vermiculite have a neutral reaction and act as a leavening agent.

You can also use purchased mixtures “Violet” and similar ones - more about soil for violets

Ampelous violets: varieties with names

Ampelous violet Robs Vanilla trail: photo of the variety

Breeders from many countries are working on developing new plants. To date, the number of ampel varieties has already exceeded five hundred. Below we give examples of several varieties classified by gardeners as among the most decorative.

The ampelous violet variety “Lituanika” is the result of the work of Lithuanian breeders. This plant is distinguished by its highly dense inflorescences and slightly elongated leaf blades. The flowers have a soft pink color with a barely noticeable peach tint. In combination with dark green leaves, a rosette of blooming violet looks very elegant. Another reason for the popularity of this violet is its abundant and long-lasting flowering. The plant received its name in memory of two American pilots of Lithuanian origin who attempted to fly from the capital of Lithuania to New York in 1933. Lituanik's plane successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean, but never reached its destination, crashing under unclear circumstances.
The next variety of ampelous violet is “Robs Vanilla Trail”. This violet is one of the semi-miniature trailers, the size of the leaf plate of which is 2.4-3.8 cm. The name of the variety corresponds to the color of the flowers, which have a slightly creamy, milky tint. The flowers are double, and the foliage is very prominent with a jagged edge. This variety was bred by American breeder Ralph Robinson. By the way, all the varieties he received have the prefix Robˊs.
The Milky Way Trail variety is also a representative of semi-miniature plants. The flowers are semi-double, very small in size, white in color, which harmoniously combines with the green leaves. Flowering is abundant and long lasting.
The “Dancing Trail” ampelous violet is distinguished by rather long peduncles, which, over time, form a real cascade. The flowers are double, red-crimson in color. The leaves are rich green with a slight sheen. The shape of the leaf plates is slightly elongated with a pointed edge.
The “Trail Along” variety is one of the miniature violets, with a leaf blade up to 2.5 cm. Many elongated drooping peduncles are decorated with soft pink flowers. Double inflorescences with deeply separated petals give the plant a special decorative appearance. The flowering of violets of this variety seems endless.
The ampelous violet "Rondita" is a semi-miniature trailer. The shape of the flowers resembles the opened buds of very small roses. Flowers that have just bloomed have a soft pink color, while those that have already faded have a barely noticeable pink tint. The leaf blades are round, with a pointed edge, and look like hearts. Violet blooms very profusely, but not for long, since the variety is industrial. That is, after a certain time, flowering ends and the plant will not bloom again. Attempts to propagate this variety are useless.

Ampelous varieties of Williams violets

Williams violet (V. x williamsii)

Synonyms. Pansies.

Distribution area. Everywhere in culture.

Botanical characteristics. A perennial of hybrid origin, similar to Wittrock's violet (U. x wittrockiana). It differs from the latter in having stronger branching, a greater abundance of flowering, but smaller flowers (diameter, depending on the variety, from 2 to 5 cm).

The colors of the flower, like those of the Wittrock violet, are very diverse, with spots and shading of other colors. The flowering of this variety of violets begins at the end of April and continues throughout the warm season.

Growing conditions. Prefers nutritious, moist and loose soils, sunny or semi-shaded places. Very cold-resistant, neutral to day length.

Usage. An excellent plant for pots and hanging baskets in which it can form flowering cascades, these varieties of violets can also be widely used as bedding plants.

Varieties. Series F1 Angel (F1 Angel) - plant height 12-15 cm, flower diameter 3-4 cm. Consists of 16 varieties with different flower colors, including 'F1 Angel Tiger Eye' - with orange-yellow flowers with bright brown veins. Used for decorating containers.

Cottage series - plant height 10-12 cm, flower diameter 2 cm. Consists of 4 varieties of violets with yellow-blue, purple-white, red-yellow, violet-cream coloring of flowers. Used to decorate containers.

Series F1 Sparkler (F1 Sparkler) - plant height 7-10 cm, flower diameter 4-5 cm. Consists of 4 varieties with bright, two- and three-color flower colors. An ideal group for hanging planters and baskets.

Propagation of violets

Usually leaf cuttings, part of a leaf and daughter rosettes.

The most common method of propagation is by leaf cuttings. To do this, you need a healthy, formed leaf (whether the mother plant blooms or not does not matter). The length of the petiole should be 3-4 cm, with an oblique cut. It is better to place the cuttings in water until roots form. If the cutting is immediately planted in the ground, then, firstly, the soil should be loose, not compacted, and secondly, the cutting is placed in the soil to a depth of 1.5 - 2 cm, no more.

The pot with the cuttings is watered with warm water and covered with a plastic bag to maintain moisture, or placed in an indoor greenhouse. The temperature should not be lower than 20-21°C. The formation of roots and the development of children lasts 1-2 months. It is convenient to place babies in yogurt cups - they are easily dented, and when replanting, it is easy to squeeze out and remove the small rosette without damaging the roots.

In each pot with rooted cuttings you need to place a tag on which to indicate the type of violet and the date when it was set to take root. A plastic cake box can successfully play the role of an indoor greenhouse.

Do not forget that violets need additional lighting if there is not enough natural light.

Caring for Saintpaulia

The window sill of the western window, it is very hot in summer, burns may remain on the leaves, so on sunny days, from 16:00, a curtain made of white fabric is lowered on the window. But it’s already autumn, there is less and less sun, so shading is not needed - additional lighting is needed.

How to properly transplant ampelous violets

Many gardeners find it difficult to answer the question: how often should plants be replanted? I will say right away that this is determined by the age and size of the plant. For small bush species, replanting can occur twice a year without damage.

For specimens that look like a real clearing, the replanting process in a container can be carried out every two or even three years. Firstly, it is quite difficult to plant such a plant; secondly, you can use the method of adding fresh nutrient soil directly into the pot, thus, partial renewal of the surface soil will occur without loss. In addition, the accumulation of minerals on the soil surface will be partially removed.

For different varieties of violets, pots of different shapes should be selected. So, for flowers in the form of a clearing, low and wide containers are suitable, and for bush species, narrower and deeper ones. But, it must be said that most violets do not like containers that are too deep, since the roots are on the surface of the soil. But the drainage layer will not interfere at all in any case and with any varietal preferences.

Trailer or ampel violets produce hanging lashes, so to increase the length, you need to plant the plant in a hanging pot or place it on a stand. Some types of trailers are formed by magnificent cascades strewn with flowers and look very impressive, not inferior in beauty to hanging petunias and many other crops of a similar structure.

Among the parasitic insects that like to attack the ampelous violet are mites, aphids, and whiteflies. The fight against them is carried out with the help of chemicals that are widely represented on today's market. Spraying is carried out several times a year, especially if your violets grow in the garden.

How to propagate ampelous violet

The most common method is leaf propagation. This is done quite simply:

Several leaves are carefully cut off from the mother plant.
To be effective, cuttings are treated with a root formation stimulator, for example, Kornevin.
After this, the leaves can be placed in sphagnum moss, peat tablet or soil.
The top of the planting should be covered with a plastic cover or glass, such as a jar.

After a month, roots should appear on the cuttings. This means that it can be planted as an independent plant in a separate pot.

Some gardeners propagate violets by rooting side shoots, but this method is less effective, and the overall appearance of the main plant is disrupted. However, if you really want it, then this method is completely justified.

Of course, the seed planting method is not excluded, but it will require patience and skill from you. You can grow the variety you like yourself, with planting material, loose soil and a strong desire to win!

Violet seeds have a fairly high germination rate, so if you want to experiment, be sure to plant them. The seeds are too small, so they are laid out on damp soil and covered with film. After about 20 days you will see how they have sprouted. Next, the seedlings are grown as ordinary seedlings.

Ampelous or trailing violets are amazing plants, striking with their tenderness, beauty and magnificent shape. They are able to evoke the deepest feelings, especially when the entire cascade is strewn with their flowers. Try to plant flowers on your site, and you will forever be fascinated by their unique, exquisite appearance, especially when it comes to double varieties.

Lighting

Violets are big lovers of sunlight, so the most preferred directions of light for them will be the western and eastern sides. Despite.

Because they adore the sun, they should be protected from direct rays, as radiation can significantly damage plants, cause burns and leaf disease.

Therefore, make sure that the containers with flowers are somewhat removed from the direct rays of the light.

This is one of the few plants that can delight you with flowering almost all year round. The main condition for this is illumination; violets need a long daylight hours, at least 10-12 hours.

When the day outside becomes significantly shorter, you should give them an additional light source, such as a fluorescent lamp.

Depending on the different shapes, the lighting also varies; some varieties require side lighting, others simply need lighting from above.

Temperature

The main thing in growing ampelous violets is to avoid drafts and sudden changes in air temperature. However, there is one trick or, so to speak, whim: the fact is that these cute beauties love a slight discrepancy in day and night temperature readings. In other words, the conditions of their maintenance should be close to the natural environment.

The optimal temperature regime will be air heated to 20-21 degrees; for young animals the heat should be raised by two to three degrees.

Air humidity

Saintpaulias love humid air (about 50-60%). But it is not advisable to spray them - only during extreme heat, not the bushes themselves, but the air around them with a very fine spray. And to moisten, it is worth placing pots with plants on a tray with wet pebbles or damp moss so that moisture does not get into the pot. If there are central heating radiators nearby, hang them with damp towels - this becomes necessary on very cold days in winter, when the heating is at full blast, and even hair and clothes begin to become electrified from dryness.

Priming.

Since trailer violets are characterized by rapid growth and frequent flowering, the soil must be selected accordingly. In general, its composition does not differ from the compositions for standard violets (at least for me), except for the ratio. I use one of the types of peat (Baltic Peat, Klasmann TS1, Kekkilä Professional) and foam chips in a ratio of 60:40. Polystyrene foam can be replaced with perlite.

I use the same type of pots for trailers, but different sizes.

When choosing the appropriate size, be guided by your “planned” shape of the future plant.

for mini trailers I use a pot diameter of 12cm, height 6cm, volume 0.3l
for small standards, pot diameter 16cm, height 7.5cm, volume 0.7l
for standards, pot diameter 20cm, height 8.5cm, volume 1.3l

These pots are very convenient; if you remove the tray (it is secured with latches), you will get an excellent bottom of the pot with many holes. This way you can easily stretch the wick, and it’s convenient for regular watering.

For the aesthetics of hanging varieties, such a pot can easily be placed in a beautiful decorative high pot.

23-River Tarusa (Yan Zubo) 23-River Tarusa (Yan Zubo)

Watering

The amount of water used during irrigation depends on the size of the container in which the violets grow, as well as on the composition of the substrate. Flowers love moisture, but too frequent watering can cause rotting of the root system, and this in most cases leads to the death of the plant.

In small pots, the soil always dries out faster than in large containers; given this fact, it is worth checking the condition of the soil more often and adding moisture if it dries out. If you suspect something is wrong and you have an idea about the initial rotting of the roots, you should immediately remove the plants from the container and inspect it.

If upon inspection you can see brown roots, then you were right and the plant is in danger. In this case, the delay in death is similar, emergency measures should be taken, which boil down to removing rotten roots and even the lower parts of the shoots. After the operation, the plant is placed for rehabilitation in a special substrate, in the form of moss - sphagnum or light soil.

Violets are also very sensitive to dry soil; their leaves begin to dry out and flowers fall off. The color of the leaves becomes pale.

Fertilizers.

When using the traditional method of watering violets, trailers are fertilized frequently, with almost every watering, alternating types of fertilizers depending on the stage of plant development.

When using wick irrigation, fertilizers are added each time when filling containers with water, in a concentration that is half that specified in the instructions for it.

I think it is a mistaken opinion that trailer violets need an increased dose of fertilizer. After all, in essence, what difference does it make how many plants are planted in a pot? Each stepson will “drink” the solution that you poured. And there is no way he will be able to “pull out” some more elements and not give it to the “neighbor.” And if we increase the concentration of fertilizer, we can easily get an “overdose” and burn the roots.

It is better to use the minimum dosage but constantly, also alternating the compositions depending on the need.

Such fertilizers as Fertika Lux, Fertika flower, Peters Professional and various microbiological fertilizers (Kaliyvit, Phosphatovit, Azotovit) have proven themselves well.

With each watering I also add Fitosporin paste concentrate. It interacts well with fertilizers and protects the plant from various putrefactive processes.

NE-City of SevastopolNE-City of Sevastopol

Trimming

Caring for Saintpaulia at home includes regular preventive inspections of the above-ground parts. Dried or mechanically damaged leaves are immediately cut off with a sharp, disinfected instrument.

Some gardeners remove “extra” plates to make the plant look symmetrical. In other cases, Saintpaulia does not need pruning.

Formation of a flower bush

Many varieties of trailer violets require the formation of a bush outline, otherwise they can grow into a shaggy and awkward plant. There are several ways to create a beautiful specimen, and each gardener chooses the one that suits him:

You can get the right trailer violet bush from a single child with about 10 leaves. The growth point of such a plant is pinched, due to this the axillary shoots begin to grow. After they are sufficiently decorated, the lower leaves of the plant are removed, and at the same time, damaged or non-standard leaf plates are cleaned. For a beautiful volume of the trailer violet bush, only a few of all the axillary children are left (ideally 5);

Children of the trailer violet.

when planting several plant children in a circle in one pot, they eventually form a clearing, which requires formation by removing excess leaves and directing shoots to empty spaces;
It is ideal to form ampelous varieties of trailer violets in a flowerpot on a high leg or in a hanging pot. In this case, part of the plant’s stems are directed downwards, and the remaining stems growing next to them are pinched to create volume in the flowerpot itself;
Another way of forming ampelous varieties of trailer violets involves laying out the stems of the plant on the substrate - gradually, with the help of new children, an even carpet will be obtained.

ATTENTION! For all methods of forming the outline of a violet trailer, it is necessary to thin out the leaves, control the uniform elongation of the main stems of the plant, and fill the bare areas with newly formed shoots. When these rules are followed, trailer violets turn out to be even, symmetrical plants with evenly filled space with leaf blades and buds.

Rest period

Uzambara violet is an evergreen perennial. It never sheds its leaves, so it does not have a pronounced dormant period. In Saintpaulia there are only short breaks between flowering phases. At such moments, you can provide the crop with shade and slightly reduce watering: thanks to this, more buds will subsequently form.

Main diseases and pests

Root nematodes (Root nematodes) are one of the most dangerous pests for Saintpaulias. o round microscopic worms that penetrate living tissue, sucking out cell sap and releasing harmful substances. In affected Saintpaulias, swellings form on the roots - galls that look like beads.

At the initial stage, the disease does not affect the appearance of the plant in any way, but later the stem becomes deformed, many stepsons appear on it, the leaves become limp, the affected areas of the stem rot and the plant dies.

It is impossible to save the violet, but to preserve the variety, you need to cut off a still healthy leaf, root it and grow the Saintpaulia again. A preventive measure is the selection of initial soil components. Do not take soil from greenhouses, greenhouses, or flower farms.

The nematode does not take root in soil containing manure, and if possible, add well-rotted manure to your soil at the rate of 1 liter per 1 bucket.

Thrips are microscopic light-colored insects, no more than 1.5 mm long, visible on dark flowers, mainly affecting buds, and contributing to the appearance of powdery mildew. When infected with thrips, flowers bloom underdeveloped, with open anthers, the flowers are pollinated and wither earlier than usual.

Thrips can be recognized by the pollen scattered on the petals. At the first signs of damage in all plants, it is necessary to remove flowers and buds, thereby depriving thrips of food. After this, spray the plants and the top layer of soil with an insecticide (actellik, actara, spintor).

Treatments are carried out 2-3 times with an interval of 7-10 days.

Strawberry (cyclamen) mite is not visible to the naked eye, but its presence is indicated by the following signs. In the center of the rosette, wrinkled, more pubescent leaves of a gray or brown color appear, as if the plant was sprinkled with ash; in this case, the stem is shortened, the leaves and petioles become brittle.

The buds fall off; if the flowers bloom, they are ugly or underdeveloped. Infected plants are treated with actellik or actara, as indicated in the instructions. If you don’t waste time, the plant can be saved.

Fungal diseases are caused by fungal spores that enter the plant with dust through contaminated planting equipment.

Powdery mildew is a white coating on the leaves, which, when washed off, reveals a leaf surface covered with ulcers. Severe damage leads to the death of leaves and death of the entire plant. For treatment, one treatment with a fungicide (Topaz) is sufficient, at the rate of 1 ampoule per 10 liters of water.

Late blight is a fungal disease that leads to the sudden death of a plant. The disease begins with slight wilting, as if the plant has dried out, but after watering it becomes limp even more, the base of the stem rots, trapping the leaves.

Another common fungal disease is gray rot. Excessive humidity contributes to the spread of the disease. If a disease is detected, all affected leaves and peduncles should be removed, the plant should be treated with a fungicide and the air humidity should be reduced.

Rotting of the stem and roots is the first sign, withering of the lower leaves, as happens with a dried out plant.

There are many reasons for this - watering with cold water and excessive waterlogging, too heavy soil, a sharp change in temperature, too large a pot, excessive depth of the plant, stagnation of water in the center of the outlet.

You can save the plant by cutting off the top and re-rooting it. Usually some varieties are more susceptible to this, some less.

Rotting of leaf petioles - the root and stem remain healthy, sometimes the leaf blade can be affected, and brown spots appear. When treating, remove all diseased leaves and treat the plants with a fungicide.

Ampelous violets: cultivation and care

Ampelous violets: photo

Ampelous violets are among the light-loving plants. The optimal length of daylight for proper growth and development should be at least 10 hours. Therefore, in winter, if possible, plants should be illuminated using fluorescent lamps. It is better to avoid direct sunlight on the plant.

The most suitable temperature for growing trailer-mounted violets is +19…+22 degrees. The plant reacts negatively to drafts and sudden temperature changes. But small temperature fluctuations, by one or two degrees, on the contrary, will stimulate violet flowering.

In order to determine the quantity and volume of watering, you will need to observe the plant for some time. However, in any case, it is important to prevent the soil from becoming waterlogged, which can lead to root rot. It should be remembered that high soil moisture is promoted by a large volume of container, because the more soil mixture, the slower it dries. The same result will occur in the case of high soil density, as well as the absence of a drainage layer.

When applying fertilizing, it is necessary to focus on the characteristics of a particular variety. It is important that the fertilization scheme involves regular feeding, since too long breaks negatively affect the proper development of the plant.

When growing ampelous violets, you may encounter plant damage by insect pests, as well as some diseases.

Ampelous violets: photo

Root nematodes are among the most dangerous pests of ampelous violets. This insect penetrates the plant tissue, sucks out the sap and releases toxic substances. It is almost impossible to immediately detect the presence of nematodes, and this is their danger. Violets attacked by the pest eventually wither, begin to rot and die. It is impossible to cure a plant affected by root nematode. To reduce the likelihood of its occurrence, it is necessary to correctly select the soil, excluding the addition of soil from greenhouses and greenhouses to the soil mixture.

Another fairly common flower parasite is thrips. Unlike nematodes, it is clearly visible on the plant. This pest does not allow flower buds to develop, as a result, the decorative value of violets is noticeably reduced. In the fight against thrips, removing all flowers and buds, replanting the plant in new soil and treating it twice with an insecticide solution will help.

If you notice deformation of the buds and their dropping, the violet may have been attacked by a strawberry mite. Drugs such as Actellik or Aktara will help rid the plant of its presence. The drugs should be used exactly according to the instructions.

In addition to insect pests, the plant can also be affected by fungal diseases, such as gray rot or powdery mildew. If signs of disease appear, it is necessary to treat violets with insecticides as quickly as possible.

Picking and landing in the ground

Picking of seedlings is carried out after the formation of 2 leaves on the seedlings. For transplantation, use containers with a diameter of 10 cm or large boxes, maintaining a distance of 6 cm between sprouts. An important condition for the correct further development of the plant is maintaining the level of its recess, which will prevent the seedlings from collapsing. When 3 pairs of leaves are formed, pinching is carried out to promote tillering of the ampelous viola.

Young plants are transplanted to a permanent location in May or June, when the soil has warmed up sufficiently and the threat of frost has passed. A sunny location with soil that has good breathability is suitable. The procedure takes place in several stages:

dig holes 6-7 cm deep for each bush at a distance of 15 cm from each other;
drainage in the form of small pebbles is placed at the bottom;
transfer the pansy bushes with a lump of earth into the prepared holes;
sprinkle the seedlings with soil, providing abundant watering.

Important! The soil does not need to be compacted, which will eliminate the lack of oxygen access to the root system; water is poured under the root.

Trailer violets

I already wrote that I don’t really like the minis, but I was seriously carried away by the trailers.

These are miracle violets! They are interesting even without flowers!

And when a lot of flowers bloom, it’s absolutely amazing!

But they don’t bloom often for me yet.

Trailers are also very interesting to create.

Bush plants can be planted several in one bowl; they take root very quickly and easily in a greenhouse.

Ampelous (hanging with a stem) can be laid with a snake and pinned to the ground in the same bowl or planted in a flowerpot on a leg so that the lashes hang down.

I bought the first trailer as a plant. This was Edee's Rosebud Trail. The plant was in a small bowl. I immediately seated him less frequently.

It develops very quickly, quickly growing both foliage and shoots. I don’t remove any stepsons from it, I just thin out the leaves so that the middles of the stepsons are not obscured, and sometimes I pinch the tops so that the stem does not stretch too much.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get the variegation of the leaves yet, but it’s a variegated one.

I have wanted to have a Lituanika for a very long time. This is a retro variety from Lithuanian breeder F. Butene.

I recently read that Boutene actually didn’t show trailers; they weren’t featured at all before. She created standards. But this standard turned out to be stepson, so many people use it as a trailer.

It can be grown with one head, removing the stepsons. You can plant several in one bowl. You can let 3-5 stepsons grow and remove the rest. You can try all the methods and then settle on just one.

First I bought this baby. She was weak and yellow.

I found an approach to it: it should not be allowed to run its course, unlike other trailers. I grew a plant with four stepsons, separated them, planted 3 or 4 in one pot, and did not let them shoot. And then it bloomed quickly and profusely.

He doesn’t really like to give birth to stepchildren, so it’s better to put two or three children in one bowl.

I remove leaves that climb on top of each other.

About once every year or a year and a half it is necessary to rejuvenate the plant, as the stem becomes exposed.

This is a canopy trailer that does not grow in a clearing, but hangs vines from a flowerpot. It is variegated, but variegation appears in cool conditions and good light.

The flowers are ordinary, but when there are a lot of them, it’s something! And it blooms, as a rule, very profusely.

It is better to plant many children in one pot to immediately achieve good results.

It has a lot of stepsons, so excess stepsons need to be removed. I also often remove whole armfuls of leaves. At first it seems that the trailer is bare, but a week later you look: it’s thick again.

Great trailer - Rob's Vanilla Trail. It is better to take it as a leaf, grow several babies and plant them in one bowl. I have a baby. It has turned into a young plant, constantly blooming, but not wanting to take off and become a neat bush.

Another newcomer to my collection is Dancin' Trail. Look at his photos on the Internet. This is something!

The downside of this trailer is that it does not bloom quickly or very abundantly.

I bought 2 babies at once and decided to shape them differently. I removed the top of the first one and began to grow stepsons, gradually removing the leaves from under them. The second one was left to grow. But he gradually began to turn into a Christmas tree, so I did the same with him as with the first one. Focus failed.

Useful videos

Watch a video about what a trailer violet is: Detailed video on how to form trailer violets:

From this video you will learn how to plant trailer violets: Video review of trailer violets:

Sources

https://ss-p.ru/remont/ampelnie-sorta-fialok-senpolii-osobennosti-i-virashchivanie.html
https://TaoBerry.ru/sadovye/ampelnaya-fialka-foto.html
https://ss-p.ru/dizajn-i-planirovka/voshititel-nye-ampel-nye-fialki-sorta-i-foto.html
https://ogorodnash.ru/ampelnye-fialki/
https://cvetoshki.ru/mnogoletniki/vidy-i-sorta-fialok-botanicheskaya-harakteristika.html
https://lux-pole.ru/domashnie/ampelnaya-fialka-foto.html
https://cvetokmir.ru/ampelnye-fialki.html
https://komnatnie.com/fialki/uhod-fialki/raznoe-f/trejlery.html
https://zen.yandex.ru/media/id/5d4dc50e35c8d800ac8483bc/fialki-treilery-ot-a-do-ia-poshagovyi-masterklass-602680ebb498705a810b02cc
https://zabor22.ru/komnatnye/ampelnye-fialki-sorta.html

How to choose

You should choose your first violet depending on how easy it is to care for it. Large exhibition flowers are more difficult to care for, but hanging or miniature Saintpaulias are just the thing.

If there are already several plants in the collection, then you can select those that are similar in care, so that there are no problems with differences in lighting, and you can arrange wick watering or tray watering for everyone.

If we are not talking about the ease of courtship, but about the beauty and originality of indoor pets, then no other can compare with fantasy violets in terms of uniqueness. But, again, it is important before growing to find out in detail all the features of the rules for caring for a particular variety: some like coolness, while others wither very quickly, etc.

Choosing a flower for propagation is a separate topic. The situation is most difficult with fancy varieties - they often do not transfer their shade and pattern to the children (almost never when propagated by leaves). And if you start to engage in breeding, then this is a completely deep question, not for amateurs: independent pollination, growing a queen, drying and waiting for new varieties from seeds is a fascinating, but long and difficult task.

Another classification of violets involves the division into edged, star-shaped (pointed), chimera (with stripes), five-petaled classic and fantasy. These groups are distinguished depending solely on the shape and type of the flowers themselves.

An original and unusual variety. The “Jan Caprice” violet is distinguished by its magnificent, not very large double flowers with an openwork ruffle. "Jan Caprice" produces long, strong peduncles with up to five flowers on them, forming a pretty bouquet. An adult plant blooms frequently, the flowers last up to two months.

The rosette is smooth and compact, consisting of beautiful dark green leaves with a white, sometimes pale pink border on the wavy edge of the leaf. The leaf blade is glossy, and the wavy white edges appear velvety.

Reasons for lack of flowering

Their flowering causes surprise and admiration. But without flowering, a violet is not a violet . And you already have different emotions. Concern and disappointment. When did you purchase it, how many pictures and stories were there?

Identifying the reasons and circumstances that do not contribute to flowering will not take much time.

But eliminating them may require more of it:

How long does it take for it not to bloom? It is important to know more about your flowers. Their varietal characteristics. There are varieties of Saintpaulia with a small number of buds and inflorescences . Maybe you have these too?
With proper care, many specimens bloom for up to 8-9 months . Some varieties may not bloom. And the entire window sill with violets is strewn with flowers. Or are there problems with the entire window sill?

So let’s see what needs to be done with the violet so that it blooms and pleases you.

Deficiency or excess of fertilizers

Fertilizer feeding for some beginning gardeners becomes the main path to flowering. In their misconception. How so. After all, I used what they advised? Maybe not enough?

Too much fertilizer is even more dangerous than too little fertilizer.:

Lack of nitrogen - old leaves turn yellow and die. If there is a lot of nitrogen, then all the plant’s efforts are aimed at growing. Including stepchildren. And not for flowering;
Lack of phosphorus does not allow the formation of inflorescences and buds;
Not enough potassium - weak flowering. Flowers turn yellow and become spotted. And the leaves curl.

Large pot sizes

Evaluate the suitability of the pot and flower. A large pot size will not allow it to bloom well . It will allow roots and leaves to grow. But the buds will not appear.

Wrong soil

In nature, violets can also be seen next to stones.
Where there is suitable soil. You won't find them on the wrong soil. In indoor conditions, the presence of high-quality soil is of particular importance :

It must be fertilized within a month or two after planting;
And completely change it after 7-9 months.

For the benefit of the plant. And to see full bloom.

Low light

Beginner (without experience) flower growers are quite often under the influence and pressure of not entirely true information. Or not complete. And they placed it on dark window sills or in a room without light. After all, they explained that it is forbidden to be under the sun ! As they say, I didn’t hear something...

And violets love light . They need him for at least half a day. There won’t be so many - and you won’t see good blooms from your flowers! Only thin leaves will stretch upward.

Uncontrolled watering

It is difficult to imagine “uncontrolled watering” of violets. Put the hose down and forgot? It is more correct to talk about an erroneously chosen watering mode . And the methods used for this.

Moisture is the source of life. Excessive amounts of it can cause misfortune. And even death. There are enough examples.

What not to do:

Water every day;
Water the leaves and buds;
Use cold water;
Leave the water in the pan for a long time.

Failure to comply with temperature conditions

Comfort and temperature. It’s not for nothing that we are interested in the temperature for the day. This is also important for plants to know. At what temperature do they grow and bloom best? And what fluctuations are dangerous and harmful for them? And create suitable ones.

Circumstances may vary. And situations. But too low and high temperatures do not contribute to the flowering of Saintpaulia . They are hardy. But below 14-15, and above 27-28 will already affect their condition.

general description

The types of Saintpaulia are very similar; often only a specialist can tell them apart.
All of them are low-growing evergreens with short stems. Dense succulent leaves on long petioles are collected in a basal rosette. They have a heart-shaped base, a slightly pointed tip and are covered with soft, dense hairs. Natural species have monochromatic leaves and five-petaled flowers, usually blue or purple, collected in clusters of several pieces. The fruit is a multi-seeded capsule.