The Wenatchee World/McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX, January 15, 2009
Looking for low-maintenance winter blooms? African violets, according to Carole Latimer, help her.
When she received her first one as a present as a young child, she became enamored with its beauty. She has 15 plants resting on the windowsills of her Sleepy Hollow home right now, with blooms that range from solid to multicolored. She claims they help her stay motivated to cultivate over the long winter months.
Growing up, Latimer lived in Indiana before relocating to Wisconsin, Wyoming, and New York. She relocated to Wenatchee in 1979, and there she later completed the Master Gardener program.
She replies when asked why she enjoys violets: “I adore all kinds of flowers. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a dandelion; it’s still beautiful.”
1. Variety is plenty
“All the variations, including those with smaller and larger blossoms, flat and curly leaves, single and multiple-colored flowers, and red and white stripes, can become addictive. You can even find ones that trail.” Baron Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire, a German officer posted in Tanzania, first brought African violets, which naturally grow in eastern Africa, to the world in 1892. There are roughly 20 species of violets in the genus Saintpaulia, which belongs to the botanical family Gesneriaceae. Local department, hardware, supermarket, and nursery stores all sell plants. Depending on the size of the plants and how uncommon or new they are, prices vary, but the majority of plants only cost a few dollars.
2. Water drained from the pot’s bottom
Because African violet leaves are prone to decay, it’s vital to prevent water from collecting there. Put a violet in a pot that has a bottom aperture that resembles a spout. Where you pour the water is there. The plant will absorb whatever moisture it requires after being watered. Once a week or so, water. Just enough water should be poured in to completely fill the bottom reservoir to avoid rot issues. Every time you water a plant, check the water level in the bottom to keep an eye on its health. The plant is in trouble if the bottom is still full from watering last week. Drain the water and skip watering for one week. Next week, recheck. Additionally, keep an eye out for mold in the topsoil. Simply touch the tip of an ear swab dipped in hydrogen peroxide to the mold if any areas are discovered. It will very instantly vanish.
3. Best lighting is indirect
For optimum blossoms, place African violets in a window with indirect light. They will only thrive in direct sunlight throughout the winter when the sun is at its lowest angle. The leaves will turn brown the rest of the year due to the intense sunlight. “I’ve found that keeping the temperature between 65 and 85 degrees helps my violets bloom the best.”
4. Regularly fertilize and clean.
Give each plant a dose of fertilizer, such as Miracle-Gro, once each week. One gallon of room-temperature water should contain 1/2 teaspoon. African violets become dusty, just like all indoor plants. “They take a warm bath in the spring once a year. I put some dish detergent and warm water in the sink and gently swish the plant back and forth while holding the dirt and roots in the pot and the plant upside down.”
5. When it gets too congested, divide and repot.
When a plant becomes too big for its pot, divide the plant’s separate-looking leaf heads because violets need to feel crowded to bloom. Tease the roots apart and plant in potting soil that has been left out in the open during repotting. Violets are wonderful gifts after being re-potted. African violets can also be produced by removing a leaf and putting the stem in water. You’ll first notice roots growing, followed by little leaves. After the roots and leaves have developed fully, plant in potting soil.
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Can you combine many African violets?
I have a beautiful decorative pot that I would want to place three small violets into. The pot includes drainage holes and is around 10 wide. Is this possible?
both yes and no. The violets can be placed in the same pot as long as they are otherwise taken care of appropriately. Watering should be done with caution because these violets will be grossly overpotted. Even while three miniature violets’ leaves could readily fill a container with 10 gallons of surface area, their root systems couldn’t. The amount of soil in this pot is significantly greater than the sum of the soil volumes in the three minis’ individual pots. Additionally, keep in mind that violets develop best when they are not forced to compete for space and are not crowded together. Plants must compete with one another for light, water, and nutrients when they are packed together, which can prevent leaves from growing fully or correctly.
If you still want to combine three violets into one pot, we advise keeping each one separate first before adding it to the larger container. Given that the individual plants’ root systems would remain in their appropriate size pots, at the very least, this will lessen the chance of overwatering. Additionally, doing so would make it simple for you to switch out one plant for another in the future, ensuring that the arrangement always looks its best. If you decide to plant a violet in the large container, using a trailing variety would probably be the best option. Trailing kinds can more easily fill a container with such a huge diameter because they are spreading plants by nature. However, they still develop thin root systems, thus the depth of the container can be a problem. Fill the bottom of the container with very porous, well-draining material, such as perlite, if it is deeper than a few inches. This size container would be filled the fastest and most easily by a standard-size trailing variety, which is also the easiest to produce. Although it would take much longer, micro and semiminiature trailers would also expand to fit the container.
When should you repotted an African violet?
Mold potting is one of the most used techniques for potting up plants. The technique is fairly straightforward, but it also reduces the risk of shock.
drainage. If you are watering from the top, this is crucial. In the event that a bottom-watering
employing a self-watering system, grouping your plants together, or misting around the plants
You should be aware that many of them are created with the intention of accommodating