Violet "Southern Night"

Saintpaulia or the Usambara violet has nothing to do with ordinary violets, but this name is familiar, it is this name that is often used by gardeners. Violet is liked by many lovers of indoor crops, mainly due to the fact that it blooms for quite a long time, almost all year round. The miniature size of this plant makes it possible to place a large number of pots on the windowsills. One of the recently developed varieties is the Southern Night violet. It has bright saturated colors and a star-like flower shape.

This flower was obtained in Ukraine, by the breeder Elena Lebetskaya.

The official name of the variety is "LE-Yuzhnaya noch". It is a truly fancy violet, characterized by a variety of spots on the petals. The color is blue with a light border, and the dots on the petals are saturated red, which makes the flower resemble a starry sky.

It is very interesting to observe the flowering of violets when the color of their buds changes. A spot of pink tint spreads in the center and becomes red, but later the brightness is lost. The flowers on the peduncles will not be of the same color, some are red, others are purple, the spots on them are of different shapes.

The leaves of this variety are medium-sized, trying to stretch upward. The inflorescences are massive, but keep their shape well. Description of the variety and its features, comes down to the fact that this type of Saintpaulia is an undemanding variety for special care.

The flowering intensity of a violet depends on the characteristics of the environment in which it is contained. First you need to buy a special substrate, which is a light mixture saturated with useful substances. Some gardeners advise mixing such a substrate with ordinary soil, previously calcined in the oven, in order to disinfect and so that moisture is better kept in the ground. At the bottom of the container, drainage must be laid so that there is no stagnation of water.

The selection of containers for planting a flower plays an important role. An oversized container for violets will not work, because then it will throw all its forces on the formation of the root system, and not on the formation of flowers. In a small container, the flower will be cramped, so it can be difficult to guess the size of the container. But if you follow the advice of experienced gardeners, the container should have a height of 9-11 cm and a width of 12-14 cm.

Saintpaulia is very fond of the abundance of diffused light, but one should not allow direct sunlight to fall - this is destructive for her, because it causes burns and various diseases. It is recommended for violets to choose such an arrangement so that they are light, warm and where the sun's rays would not fall on them. The best place for violets is the windows on the north side of the house., but if it is problematic to place the plants in such a place, then you can arrange them from the south and hang thick curtains on the window to protect the culture from the sun's rays, but at the same time do not block the light.

The optimum temperature for plant growth and development is + 17-21 ° C. Daytime and nighttime temperatures should differ by several degrees.

"Southern Night" is very fond of humid air, but it cannot be sprayed, as this leads to the formation of spots on the leaves. To increase the humidity of the air, it is necessary to put dishes with water next to the container where the violet grows.

The violet is usually propagated in two ways: by leaf cuttings and by seed. The easiest way is to propagate with cuttings.

• A leaf is cut off from the plant without damage or signs of disease and placed in a small container with liquid. The leaf needs to be cut off with a sharp object, scissors will not work for this, so it is better to use a knife. The leg size must be at least 4 cm.
• After half a month, roots will appear on the cut. It's time to root the cuttings in the soil. You need to take a small container filled with light and moist soil and place the stalk in it. Seal the soil around it so that the stalk does not stagger, cover the top with a container that allows light to pass through.
• Further, it is necessary to observe that condensation does not form, because this can lead to the death of the cutting. After the plant is accepted, the container on top can be removed.

Subsequently, when the flower begins to grow and develop, offshoots begin to form in it. The speed of their growth depends on the created environment. They are separated from the main plant, but only when their leaves acquire an intense green color. This will mean that they have taken on a lot of pigment and are already quite strong.

The violet is also propagated by seeds. This method of propagation makes it possible for the plant to grow stronger than with cuttings.

The most important condition for the healthy development of violets is watering. It is carried out with water at room temperature, while trying not to get on the leaves. Long-term flower practitioners advise do not water the plants, but put them in trays with water. It turns out a kind of moistening of the soil from below.

Violets are transplanted every three years. In this case, it is very important to replace the old soil with a new one. It is not recommended to replant the plant during flowering.

For better growth and development, the flower must be fed. Top dressing is applied once a month when the violet is not blooming and 2 times a month during the flowering period.

To the problems that violets are prone to include the following diseases.

1. Powdery mildew. It is characterized by the appearance of white spots on the leaves and stems of the culture; it is formed due to the improper content of violets. Treatment with foundation will help here. If necessary, after 14 days, the treatment is repeated.
2. Late blight. This disease is caused by the penetration of the fungus through the root system into the plant. In this case, only removing the flower and sterilizing the container where it was will help. However, this disease can be prevented. To do this, you need to monitor the level of humidity in the room and avoid exceeding it. In addition, it is advisable to fertilize the soil with superphosphate.
3. Gray rot. It is a fluffy bloom on the leaves and stems of violets caused by the fungus Botrytis. It can get into the soil from the environment, therefore it is advised to ignite or freeze the soil before planting the plants. A preventive measure to prevent fungus is not to get carried away with watering and maintain an optimal temperature regime in the room.

The most common pests of indoor violets.

1. Aphid. It penetrates into the house with other plants, and in most cases on cut flowers. The insect feeds on Saintpaulia juice, which is why the indoor flower stops developing and blooms poorly. To combat this harmful insect, crop protection chemicals are used. For example, Mospilan.
2. Ticks. They are microscopic and difficult to detect on a plant. A plant affected by a tick stops developing. Regular inspection of the plant is a preventive measure.Since moisture is destructive for this insect, the air around the plant must be constantly humidified. Wipe and wash the leaves regularly under the shower.

Reviews for this plant are mostly positive, many people liked this beautiful flower that does not require any special care. If you properly care for violets, adhere to the rules of caring for them, then they will delight you with their beautiful flowers for a long time.

You can find out how to water violets in winter below.