Description of the variety of violets "Dandy"

Saintpaulia is a herbaceous plant of the Gesneriev family that grows in the eastern part of the African continent. For the first time it was discovered and brought to our mainland by the French military commandant Saint Paul Walther, who discovered it in the Uzambar mountains. It was in honor of these mountains that the flower got its name - the uzambar violet. Many growers call the plant just a violet, although this is not entirely true.

A small flower can often be found among lovers of home flower beds, as it has a wide variety of colors and shapes. At the same time, the African thermophilic flower takes root well on window sills and heated balconies even in the most northern regions of the country. One of the brightest and most popular varieties is the Dandy violet.

The description of the violet LE-Dandy indicates the features that distinguish it from other varieties. It has flowers of white and pink shades that are quite large for such a plant. The central part of the petal has a more saturated tone, and at its edges you can see a greenish small fringe. In the center are stamens with yellow pollen.

The bright green leaves are soft and very fragile at first, becoming stronger and tougher with age. At the edges, they are bent in waves, resembling lace. The rosette is medium in size and has an even structure. In general, the plant looks very delicate and airy.

Saintpaulia lovers are often divided into two camps. The first ones believe that it is easy and pleasant to grow it. They argue that it doesn't take long. The latter call this process very troublesome, and the violet itself is very capricious. In fact, in order not to destroy the plant, it is enough to adhere to a few basic rules for growing and caring for an African guest.

You shouldn't pay too much attention to the quality of the container or pot. "Dandy" grows well both in a plastic bucket and in a ceramic bowl. The main thing is that the container has holes at the bottom and stands in a shallow saucer. Small shoots are conveniently kept in special violet "manger", which is a small rack with many small pots. For an adult flower, a container with a diameter of 10 cm and the same depth is enough.

As for the soil, its preparation also does not take too long. You can simply take a small amount of soil from any deciduous forest. Anyone who prefers to purchase soil in a store can choose a special composition, which includes:

• turf;
• humus;
• sand;
• sphagnum moss.

The violet "Dandy", accustomed to the heat, requires a lot of light even in home conditions. It is on the illumination that the growth rate and the duration of the flowering of the violet depend. There is only one way to ensure this under the roof of a house or apartment - to put a flower on a windowsill. However, there are also some nuances here.

• It is better to choose an east or west window so that the light is diffused, otherwise it will easily burn the delicate leaves and petals.
• If all windows of the apartment face south, the glass should be slightly shaded.
• The kitchen is the best room for "Dandy", as it is always warm in it due to the preparation of dishes and the operation of appliances.
• A signal of an overabundance of direct sunlight will be withered and discolored leaves, which will begin to stretch upward, breaking the outlet.

The main condition for the growth and development of violets is timely and correct watering. The procedure depends primarily on the season. So, in the summer, the plant should be watered 1-2 times a week, depending on the weather outside the window. In winter, it is best to limit watering by adding water as the potted soil dries.

There are several ways to properly water Saintpaulia.

• Above... In this case, you need to use a watering can or a kettle with a narrow spout and pour water on the ground, under the roots of the plant.
• From below... With this watering, water is poured into the lower saucer-stand, in which the pot stands. The plant itself will absorb the amount of water that it needs in 20-30 minutes. After half an hour, the water remaining in the saucer is simply poured into the sink. If you leave it, then the roots of the violet will begin to rot, and soon the flower will die.

Excess moisture, which parts of the violet will not have time to absorb during the procedure, is best removed with ordinary paper napkins. The water droplets remaining on the trunk and leaves of Saintpaulia will serve as strong magnifiers for sunlight and leave burns on the velvet skin. The humidity of the room itself should also be considerable, so a container of water can be placed next to the flower pot. As the liquid dries, it must be added.

In spring and summer, violet requires the introduction of mineral fertilizers with phosphorus and potassium. They promote the appearance of fresh buds and color the flowers in a brighter pink color. During the growth of young violets, nitrogen fertilization can be applied to the soil, it contributes to the development of the flower. In these cases, it is best to use ready-made liquid preparations, which are sold at any gardening store. Two hours before feeding, you need to water abundantly so that the chemicals do not burn the small roots.

It is always better to underfeed the African Saintpaulia than to overfeed. If the plant looks healthy on the outside, it is best not to add anything to it at all. In the case of an overabundance of minerals, flowering may not occur or may be very delayed.

You can propagate an adult plant two ways:

• cuttings;
• cut off the top of the head.

In both cases, the cut part is placed in plain water or nutrient soil to give roots. After their appearance, you can transplant the process to a permanent place. Until the saintpaulia takes root in the soil, the pot should be tightened with polyethylene, which will create the effect of a greenhouse. This technique will accelerate the growth and development of the green baby.

The grown bushes are transplanted 1 time in 3-4 years, completely changing the soil in the pot. After the transplant, the violet is given a warm shower. Then she is placed in the warmest and most well-lit place in the apartment. You should not transplant Saintpaulia during flowering, otherwise this process can be disrupted.

If the summer in the middle zone at least a little resembles the African climate, then the winter is radically different. Short daylight hours, drafts, dry heat coming from batteries - all this damages the home violet. In order not to destroy a delicate plant, it is enough to adhere to certain rules of winter care for it:

• remove the flower from a cold windowsill to a warm place;
• put the pot in a container with wet sawdust or hydro-soil to humidify the air, which is dry due to heating appliances;
• try to get rid of drafts;
• when airing the room, take the flower to another room;
• produce very accurate watering exclusively with the upper method;
• when rot appears, remove the affected areas without regret and treat the sections with charcoal.

Video review of violets of the Le-Dandy variety, see below