Indoor violet is considered one of the most popular plants among gardeners. Delicate flowers leave no one indifferent, and a huge number of varieties and hybrids force Saintpaulia fans to purchase new specimens. The violet, the history of the origin of the flower and its structure deserve special attention. No less interesting are some historical facts about the plant, as well as signs and superstitions associated with it.
History of the origin of violets
Violet is an annual or perennial plant with dense double leaves and small inflorescences. Breeders have obtained a large number of varieties and hybrids that differ in bud color and size. However, the main advantage of the plant is its ability to flower. Violet blooms for a long period - up to 9 months, and the time of year does not affect this process.
Legends associated with violets
There are many legends and beliefs associated with Saintpaulia that explain its origin. Ancient Greek myths tell the story of the violet flower. Once Apollo incinerated a gentle nymph with his hot rays. The girl had to ask for protection from the powerful Zeus. He took pity and turned her into a beautiful violet, hiding her from the sun's rays in the thickets of the forest. He hid the beauty so that no one could see or admire her.
This continued until Persephone discovered the flower. She picked the bouquet. On the way back, Hades stole her. Persephone got scared and dropped the flowers. They woke up from Olympus to earth.
History of appearance in Russia
The history of the appearance of indoor violets in our country began with the appearance of the flower in Europe. In 1893 it was first introduced in Germany. In Russia, people learned about this unique flower in the middle of the 20th century. The largest collection of wild and selected specimens was collected by employees of Leningrad State University. Later, in 1962, the Makuni family began breeding and collecting violets. The couple has been breeding Saintpaulias for more than 30 years. During this period, they were able to breed over a hundred species.
Homeland of the flower
Saintpaulia's homeland is Africa, but it is difficult to name the exact place. It was first found in Tanzania. More often the flower can be found in Japan, the Andes, and northern America. Some species inhabit the subtropical regions of Brazil and South Africa. Saintpaulia also grows in New Zealand, in Europe, and in Russia it is found in the southern regions of Siberia. Any species in its natural habitat prefers open, slightly shaded areas of a temperate climate. For proper growth and development of the plant, a humid climate is required.
Biological classification
Species are combined into a separate genus. They belong to the herbaceous plants of the Gesneriaceae family. Based on the structure of the plant, violet is classified as follows:
- kingdom - plants;
- department – flowering;
- class – double-field;
- order – clear-flowered;
- family - Gesneriaceae;
- genus - Saintpaulia.
Other types of classification include characteristics based on the size of the rosette, the shape of the flower, the shades of the buds, the color and shape of the leaf blade.
The beginning of large-scale selection
The most large-scale selections began after 1930 and they became the basis for the English and German branches of varieties. Of those varieties that bloomed, only the best species were selected and left. And after 1936, Saintpaulias began to be selected and bred not only in Europe, but throughout the world.
History has preserved the dates of breeding of the most important, according to biologists, varieties:
- The first blue terry - 1939;
- The first variety with unusual leaves - 1941;
- Pure pink and white - 1942;
- Terry purple – 1948;
- The first variety is “fantasy”, the number of items is 5000, and the varieties are about 100 – 1949;
The first fantasy varieties appeared only in 1949.
- The first varieties with a bordered flower, the first variety had a white border - 1951;
- The first flowers of the star - 1953;
- A variety with double pink flowers was developed, it was sold for $1000 - 1954;
- The first yellow flower was in 1989.
The first yellow violet "Majesty".
Nowadays, breeders do not stop. Every day more and more new varieties appear. There are already ampelous, variegated, mini, semi-mini and other subspecies of Saintpaulia.
Structure
Saintpaulia has a completely recognizable appearance. It cannot be confused with another indoor plant. The size is small, elastic leaves tightly cover the pot. The buds of the plant are small, growing above the leaf blade.
Saintpaulia has a tap root system. The roots are thin and easily damaged by careless manipulation. Flower growers should be aware that the root system of the plant develops quickly and deprives the soil of useful components. It is for this reason that Saintpaulia must be replanted annually. In addition to the root system, the parts of the violet plant include the stem, shoot, and flower.
Stem structure
The structure of the violet stem is unique. The plant is characterized by a low stem with a lush rosette of leaves in the root area. The leaf blades are rich green in color with abundant pubescence on the surface. They are quite wide and shaped like hearts. The edges of the leaf blade may be wavy. It is noteworthy that the shade of the leaf depends on gender. The structure of the violet leaf is characterized by the presence of short petioles and stipules.
Escape structure
The structure of the violet shoot does not have any special features. There are one to several flowers on the shoot. In addition to flowers, the peduncle has bracts. The process of reproduction directly depends on them. The more developed they are, the more suitable this peduncle is for reproduction.
Flower structure
The structure of a violet flower is classic: petals, pistil and stamens. In this case, the petals play a more decorative role. In natural wild conditions, they attract large numbers of insects for the pollination procedure. The pistil and stamens are involved in the fertilization process during breeding work. In turn, stamens have anthers and filaments.
What are the popular representatives called?
Medicinal properties of the tricolor violet flower - description of the plant
This beautiful flower is especially popular among gardeners. They can be found both in gardens and on the windowsills of many apartments.
There are three popular types of indoor violets:
- Gronte. The leaves are purple or bright green. The height of the bush reaches 6 cm, and the width is 5 cm. The shade of the buds is blue-lilac;
- velvet saintpaulia. Its leaves are dark green and its flowers are blue-violet. Their size is about 5 cm;
- violet flower. The color of the flowers is blue-violet. The leaves are dark green.
Violetflower
Soil preparation for Saintpaulia and watering features
Perennial violet is planted in plastic pots with a diameter of 5 to 9 cm. Due to the root system of a superficial type, it is recommended to give preference to flat pots. Loose soil that absorbs water well and allows air to pass through is suitable. The store sells a ready-made base, although you can prepare it yourself. In order for the horned chrysalis violet and the Rococo variety to grow well, it must consist of 2 parts of humus and 2 parts of turf soil, 4 parts of half-rotten foliage, pine soil, sand and charcoal (1 part each). A bucket of this mixture is mixed with half a glass of ash and superphosphate (2 tablespoons).
Be sure to run hot water over the pot before filling it with soil. This will destroy harmful microbes.
In order for the night violet to bloom profusely, as in the photo, it needs to be periodically fed with fertilizers. You can mix them directly into the soil or dilute them with water for complex watering. In the second case, the concentration decreases by 6-7 times. This will prevent the plant from burning.
Also make sure that the vetch and garden violet are not covered with white dust. This deprives the flower of its aesthetics and prevents it from developing and breathing normally.
To prevent white dust from appearing, night violet and viola are watered with warm water twice a month. It is advisable to immediately cover the soil with paper or polyethylene. It is recommended to carry out water procedures in the evening or early in the morning. The plant will be able to dry out before the first rays of the sun touch it.
For watering, use tap water, previously brought to a boil and cooled.
Names of similar plants that are often confused with
Violet Shining bell - description of the variety
There are plants that are sometimes confused with violets. These are flowers such as:
- gloxinia. Has a short stem. The leaves are wide and feel like velvet. The height of such a flower is from 10 to 25 cm. The color of the petals is red, purple, white. Gloxinia and violet have similar leaves;
- Primrose is a perennial flower. The shade of flowers is blue, pink, lilac;
- Achimenes. They bloom 2-3 times a year;
- Turkish carnation is a bright and unpretentious representative of the flora;
- pansies. The flowers are very similar to violets, but larger in size;
- Petunia is a large growing bush. Has more than 20 different shades;
- Centopoly. It has flowers ranging from light pink to dark purple;
- deikun. It has small flowers up to 4 cm in size. Does not like drafts and bright sun;
- Streptocarpus. Reaches a height of 30 cm. The flowers are umbrella-shaped;
- Lyubka bifolia. Mainly grows in forests and requires good lighting;
- garden viola. Grows up to 30 cm in height. Loves shade more than sun.
Note! All these plants are very similar to violets, but still they are different from it.
Why doesn't it bloom?
Some viola pleases with flowering all year round, while others are only pleased with green foliage . The main reason is non-compliance with plant care rules.
Main violations:
- lack of heat and light;
- the burning rays of the sun;
- unsuitable potty;
- dry indoor air;
- improper watering.
Various violet diseases and parasite damage should not be ruled out.
Diseases, problems, pests and treatment
Saintpaulia is a very sensitive plant, and if it is infected or damaged by insects, then treatment is useless. You will have to get rid of the flower.
Incorrect care, especially in terms of violating the rules of watering and humidity, leads to the death of Saintpaulia.
Uzambara violets are often affected by fungal infections - powdery mildew, rust, spotting, smut, black leg, gray rot, fusarium.
Of the infectious diseases, Saintpaulia can be destroyed by variegation, cucumber mosaic and tobacco ringspot virus.
Pests also cause plant death. Of particular danger to Saintpaulia are thrips, spider mites, strawberry nematodes, aphids, violet pearlworm, root-knot nematode, paralongidorus major and clover cutworm.
Transfer
Over time, the soil in which the plant blooms is depleted and its replacement is simply necessary. The easiest way to transplant a violet is transshipment . Without violating the integrity, the flower, along with a lump of earth, is moved to another pot. The same method is suitable for replanting garden viola.
The most unfavorable time for transplantation is winter. Due to lack of sunlight, Saintpaulia takes root less well.
We recommend watching a video about how to properly transplant violets into new soil:
Medicinal properties
Amazing violets are not only incredibly beautiful, but also very useful. The plant has a rich chemical composition, which includes tannins, organic acids, essential oils and many other important trace elements needed by the body. The flower has an antiseptic, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, choleretic and soothing effect.
Only garden and wild violets (pansies, Wittrock violets) have healing properties . Indoor beauties are not suitable for the treatment and prevention of illnesses.
In folk medicine, the plant is popular as an excellent cough remedy. Decoctions and tinctures are made from the dried upper part of the violet, which facilitate the removal of mucus and gently soothe a sore throat.
A simple recipe for cough decoction: pour a spoonful of dried raw material into a glass of hot water and leave for an hour. The optimal dosage is 100 ml 4 times a day.
We must not forget that even natural healers have their side effects and contraindications . Tinctures and decoctions are not recommended for use:
- pregnant and breastfeeding women;
- children under 2 years old;
- with hepatitis.
Important : You cannot take the healing plant for more than a month. In case of overdose, nausea and vomiting, as well as various rashes on the body, are possible.
Tips for choosing indoor violets and adapting them
When buying Saintpaulia you need to adhere to the following recommendations:
- The plant must be grown in the local climate and no more than a year old.
- The stem is elastic, the leaves are rich in color, without yellowing or signs of falling.
- The symmetry and density of the rosette is important.
- Soil without whitish deposits.
For better acclimatization of plants in the apartment, follow the following rules:
- Treated with fungicide (Maxim). Spray, leave for 20 minutes and then carefully wipe off with a damp sponge. The substrate is watered with an insecticide (Aktara).
- Place it in a place remote from other plants for half a month. The best location is an empty aquarium, which is covered with transparent material (glass, film). Accumulating condensation is wiped off daily.
- After quarantine, replant the plant.
Life cycles
When buying a little baby, you always wonder how long such flowers grow. Violets grow quite quickly, from a small baby to an adult blooming violet in just six months to a year, depending on the variety.
It takes no more than a year from cutting to adult plant.
Violets are propagated by leaves, shoots and peduncles. Children from stepchildren bloom the fastest, and later than all from peduncles.
The stages of violet growth can be divided:
- A cutting from a leaf or peduncle (leaves are taken from the second or third row and rooted in a convenient way);
- A baby from a cutting or a stepson (children are separated from the cuttings when they reach a height that allows them to exist independently; stepchildren are separated from the mother at approximately the same size, preferably with several roots);
- Starter or teenager (a violet that is ready to bloom, and often is already blooming, but has not yet reached its adult height);
- Adult.
Shoots or stepsons are formed in the axils of the leaves. They grow quite quickly and when they reach the size of a large baby, they are removed.
Important! Knowing how violets grow in nature, growing them at home will not cause much difficulty.
