How to water violets correctly and how often?

Violets

For beautiful, long-lasting flowering of indoor plants violets need good care, appropriate lighting, and temperature conditions. But the most important requirement is proper watering. Dry soil in the pot or excessive, frequent watering can cause diseases and stop flowering. The frequency and method of watering are selected according to the season and the plant's growing season.

Signs that watering is needed

Indoor Saintpaulias become unhealthy due to lack of moisture. Their buds quickly drop. Open flowers turn yellow, dry up, and curl. Violet leaves also gradually lose their turgor, turning brown and dying. The need for watering is determined by the overall condition of the plant. Standard advice to water indoor plants once a week may not work for violets.

Saintpaulias tolerate excess moisture much worse than dry soil. Often, the soil will dry out at the top layer, but remain moist at the bottom. Therefore, to determine the need for watering, carefully pierce the soil in the pot to the bottom with a wooden stick, being careful not to damage the root system. If the soil is moist, you can wait with watering.

The following criteria are used to determine the frequency of watering:

The more light a plant receives, the greater its water requirements. With short daylight hours, all processes slow down and less water is needed.
The higher the air temperature in the room, the more often the violet should be watered.
Maintain air humidity at 50%. If the air is drier, the plant needs frequent watering.
Young violets require frequent watering. As they mature, reduce the frequency of watering.
During flowering, violets need more moisture.
The size and material of the pot also influence the frequency of watering. Plastic containers retain moisture longer. Clay pots allow additional evaporation through the microscopic pores in the walls. Soil in a small container loses moisture quickly and requires more frequent watering.
If the soil in the pot is dense, moisture is retained longer than in loose soil.
With a well-developed root system that completely occupies the volume of the container, evaporation occurs faster.

Watering methods

For Saintpaulias, use soft, slightly warmed water. It should be left to stand for several days and then boiled or filtered with a household filter. Melted snow or rainwater can be used for humidification. As a last resort, tap water can be used, after reducing its hardness. To do this, add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar to each liter of water.

Wick

To perform this irrigation, you'll need a rope or ribbon made of natural fabric. Insert one end of the improvised wick into the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot. Lower the other end into a bucket of water. Place the Saintpaulia pot above the water level. Its bottom shouldn't touch the water. Gradually, the liquid rises up the wick and saturates the soil in the pot.

Important!

This irrigation method can be used even when the temperature or humidity fluctuates. The plant will absorb the required amount of moisture depending on the external conditions.

The disadvantages of wick irrigation include:

cannot be used for all varieties;
cannot be used in winter as the liquid cools down quickly;
Not suitable for mature plants in large containers due to strong root system growth and rapid moisture evaporation.

By immersion

To water the Saintpaulia this way, place the pot in a wide container filled with warm water. Adjust the water level so that the container is covered by 1/4 of its height. After a few minutes, the substrate in the pot will be saturated with water.

Then the flower is removed and placed on a wire rack to allow excess moisture to drain. This method is beneficial because the substrate does not absorb excess liquid.

When using this watering method, it's not recommended to place several pots in the same tray. If any of the plants are diseased, the infection will spread to other flowers through the water.

In the tray

It's more convenient to water plants in a tray. In this case, warm water from a watering can is poured into the tray where the plant stands. The liquid seeps through the drainage hole and gradually saturates the soil. With this type of watering, the plant regulates the required moisture level itself. After half an hour, drain the remaining water from the tray.

With a thin watering can

In this case, the violet is watered from above. To prevent moisture from getting on the leaves, use a watering can with a thin, long spout. Use it to water the plant at the roots, protecting the foliage from excess moisture. A syringe can be used instead. Continue applying water until water begins to flow out from the bottom. After 20 minutes, drain the remaining water from the tray.

Features of watering

In summer, violets are watered in the morning. At this time, the sun's rays are dim, and the liquid evaporates slowly. In the cold season, watering is done during the day, choosing a consistent time each day. In summer, when the room is too hot and humidity is low, water daily. In winter, depending on soil conditions, watering is done 1 to 3 times a week.

Note!

If the flower grows under artificial light, watering time does not matter.

If the plant is being repotted, the soil is thoroughly moistened. The amount of water added at this point will last for a long time. Therefore, after transplants Violets should be watered for the first time after 7-10 days. Subsequent waterings should be continued as the soil in the pot dries out. Do not use the wick method immediately after repotting. The flower needs 3 to 4 weeks to establish itself in its new pot.

As Saintpaulias prepare for flowering, their watering regimen changes. The plant requires large volumes of water. Therefore, the frequency of watering is increased to support long and abundant flowering. The need for additional water is determined by the color of the soil. A darker shade indicates sufficient water. If the soil becomes lighter, water the plant.

In addition to water, violets require liquid fertilizer during the flowering period. Therefore, water twice a month with a complex mineral fertilizer for violets. A weak pink solution of potassium permanganate is sometimes prepared as an additional fertilizer and to prevent disease.