Saintpaulia (Uzambara violet) - care and replanting at home

Saintpaulia is a striking representative of the numerous Gesneriad family. Wild varieties of Saintpaulias (violets) grow in tropical Africa, near waterfalls and streams. The plant was first discovered and described by Baron Walter von Saint-Paul, after whom the flower was named. This happened in Tanzania, near the Usambara Mountains, which is why Saintpaulia is often known as the "Usambara violet."

Today, violets are extremely popular due to their wide variety of varieties and long flowering period. Saintpaulias are considered easy-to-grow plants, so caring for a beauty at home conditions are quite simple. If you follow simple care rules, the indoor flower will delight you with lush flowering almost all year round.

Characteristics of Saintpaulia, varietal diversity

The Saintpaulia, or African violet, is a low-growing perennial plant with a compact stem and numerous firm, fleshy leaves. Most species are characterized by heart-shaped leaves with a pubescent surface, but some cultivars have smooth, corrugated, wavy, or serrated leaf edges.

Foliage pubescence also varies by species—you can find smooth-leaved, sparsely pubescent, or densely pubescent violets. The foliage is green, with a white border or light green (or, less commonly, white) spots.

Breeding efforts have been carried out by both foreign and domestic professionals, resulting in a vast selection of varieties (over 32,000) available today. Among the domestic varieties, florists highlight the following:

1. The Duchess violet boasts large flowers, reaching 3 cm in diameter. The flowers can be double or semi-double. Snow-white petals with large blueberry or raspberry spots open against a background of dark green, pubescent leaves.

   

2. The Velvet Blues variety features enormous, deep blue flowers with a violet tint. The blooms can reach up to 7 cm in diameter. The glossy leaves are slightly pubescent and dark green.

   

3. The "Your Majesty" variety is characterized by delicate pink flowers. The double blooms form numerous petals and rise majestically above the green foliage. When in bloom, the violet appears to be made up of lush pink bows with a yellow center.

   

Among the foreign varieties, the following violets are often grown:

• The Saintpaulia 'Kromka Zari' has spoon-shaped, oval green leaves. The star-shaped flowers are pink-peach with a red border along the petal edges. This variety requires good light and cool temperatures.

  

• The Concord variety is a chimera violet. For three months, the plant produces semi-double or single flowers. Large dark blue stripes stand out clearly against the white background of the petals. The quilted, rounded foliage is colored in dark shades of green.

  

• The trailing violet Madame Bovary has small, double flowers that are a deep cherry red. The petals are edged with a thin white border.

  

Caring for Saintpaulia at Home

Violets are considered easy-to-grow plants, but novice gardeners may find it difficult to create a suitable habitat at home. With proper care, the plant will delight with its blooms for quite a long time.

Lighting

Good lighting is the key to growing Saintpaulias. If adequate lighting is not available, it's best to avoid purchasing the violet, as flowering and growth depend on this factor.

If you place it on the south side of the house, you'll need to protect it from direct sunlight. It's important to remember that the plant requires 13 hours of daylight to bloom fully. This is especially true during winter, so it's recommended to use additional light sources during this time.

East and west windowsills are ideal for growing this plant, but north-facing windowsills will lack light. It's recommended to rotate the pot periodically to ensure even light distribution across the foliage.

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Temperature and humidity

The plant dislikes sudden temperature changes and cold drafts, so it's not recommended to place it outdoors or on an open balcony during the summer. The air temperature should be between 18-20°C throughout the growing season. During the dormant period, the temperature should be lowered slightly, but not below 15°C, otherwise the plant will stop growing.

Water droplets not only ruin the plant's appearance but also increase the risk of disease. You can mist the air around the pot or place containers of water nearby.

Watering and fertilizing

Saintpaulias should be watered moderately, after the top layer of soil has dried out. When doing this, remember that overwatering is much more dangerous than a slight drought. Use well-settled, room-temperature water for the plant. During the active growing season, it is recommended to water in the morning, and during the fall and winter, it is better to water during the day.

Saintpaulia requires regular feeding while its above-ground growth is growing. You can use a fertilizer complex for flowering plants, but dilute it with twice the amount of water indicated on the package. Apply nutrients no more than once every 10-15 days.

Diseases, pests, and treatment of African violets

Improper care weakens violets' immune systems, leading to disease and the need for treatment. The most common problem when growing houseplants is powdery mildew, which attacks the foliage. If a white coating appears on the leaves, treat the plant with Fundazol.

Late blight is one of the most dangerous diseases. When detected, the plant is destroyed, followed by thorough sterilization of the pot. If gray spots appear on the foliage, the Saintpaulia is cut down and treated with a fungicide. Gray spots indicate gray mold. It's important to discard the soil in which the plant was grown.

Overwatering can cause fusarium wilt, which causes foliar rot. If rot is detected, use a special fungicide.

Among the pests that can attack the plant, spider mites are considered the most dangerous. They leave white webs or brown, seemingly eaten-out marks on the foliage. They can be eliminated with insecticides. If scale insects appear, collect the insects by hand and then treat the foliage with Aktara in several stages.

Propagation and transplantation of Saintpaulia at home

With the arrival of spring, gardeners' workload increases, as it's the perfect time to repot and propagate houseplants. Violets are easy to propagate, and this can be done in a variety of ways: leaf cuttings, flower stalks, side shoots, and seeds.

Landing and transplanting

Young Saintpaulias are recommended to be repotted annually, while mature plants should be repotted every two to three years or as needed. If the foliage is too dense, select a pot one size larger than the old one. The pot shouldn't be too large; its diameter should be three times smaller than the diameter of the leaf rosette. Next, prepare suitable soil. The soil should contain the following components:

• coniferous and soddy soil;
• leaf humus;
• charcoal;
• sphagnum moss and bog moss;
• sand.

If you can't prepare such a substrate, you can buy ready-made Saintpaulia potting mix. Repotting is carried out as follows:

1. Drainage material and a layer of substrate are poured into the new flowerpot.
2. Support the old pot so that your fingers are on either side of the foliage. Tap the edge of the pot lightly to help remove the root ball more quickly.
3. Very carefully begin removing the old soil. This can be done with a stick or pencil.

   

4. The violet is placed in the center of the new container and the empty spaces are filled with fresh soil mixture.
5. You should make sure that all the roots are covered with soil, after which the soil is compacted slightly.

After completing the procedure, the pot is placed in a shady place and is not watered for two days.

Propagation by leaf cuttings

Even an inexperienced gardener can propagate violets from leaves. This method can be performed in three ways: using a leaf cutting in soil, in water, or using a leaf fragment.

Beginners are advised to use propagation by cuttings in water, as this allows them to monitor the formation of the root system.

Next, place it in clean water (you can dissolve a tablet of activated carbon) to a depth of approximately 1 cm.

The cut leaf can be immediately placed in soil. For best results, cover the container with a clear plastic bag or other material to create a greenhouse-like environment.

Propagation by seeds

In home gardening, violets are rarely propagated by seed; leaf rooting is most commonly used. The dust-like seeds can be germinated year-round. To do this, follow these steps:

• Sow seeds on moist soil without covering with soil and cover with glass or film;
• the container is placed in a bright room and young shoots are expected to appear within 2-3 weeks;
• periodically spray the soil to maintain moisture, and also ventilate the mini-greenhouse every day;
• Once several leaves have formed, you can plant the seedlings in wide containers. The distance between the sprouts should be about 5 cm.

Seedlings are transplanted only after they have become sufficiently strong. This procedure is carried out by transshipping the root ball.

Frequently asked questions about growing

The variety of Saintpaulias will delight any lover of flowering plants. With proper care, this flower is sure to brighten up any room with its lush, long-lasting blooms.

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