Violet can be seen on almost any windowsill. The tenderness of the pubescent leaves and the beauty of the flowers delight both beginners and collectors alike. Senpolias do not require strictly specific conditions of detention, however, in gratitude for the proper care, they are always ready to reward the owner with hat flowering and the ideal shape of the outlet.
Origin
In nature, senpolia grows in the mountainous regions of Kenya and Tanzania, in particular in the Ulugur and Usambara (Uzambara) mountains, which gave the plant the name "Uzambara violet." The vast majority of senpolia species is found precisely in the territory of Tanzania, in Kenya only one species was discovered - Senpolia teitensis.
According to the living conditions of the senpolia, they often grow in areas near waterfalls and rivers - in water dust and fog.
Discovery story
Baron Walter von Saint-Paul, the military commandant of the Uzambara district, owned by the Heman colony, is considered the discoverer of violets. In 1892, the baron noticed this plant during a walk. He sent the collected seeds to his father, Ulrich von Saint-Paul, who was president of the dendrological society in Germany. He, in turn, transferred the seeds to the botanist Herman Wendland, a member of this community, who grew the first senpolia from seeds in 1893.
The resulting plants were described as Saintpaulia Ionanta (Saintpaulia violet, or Saintpaulia violet) - the first species in the classification of a new genus, named after the father and son Saint-Paul.
In the same year, the Uzambara violet was first demonstrated at the international flower show in Ghent, after which the company E. Bernary acquired the right to industrial breeding.
The first violets appeared in the USA in 1927, where they quickly became a popular houseplant. And by 1949, breeders had already bred 100 varieties. Today there are more than 32 thousand varieties of senpolis, 2 thousand of them are domestic.
Accommodation
For senpolia, the location on the western or eastern windows is preferable. For symmetrical formation of the outlet, it is recommended to periodically turn the pot. The optimum temperature is 20-22 ° C; for continuous flowering, the use of artificial lighting using fluorescent lamps is permissible.
Senpolias are sensitive to drafts and sudden changes in temperature. Under the influence of direct sunlight, burns can appear on the leaves, therefore, special care should be taken in the spring and on sunny days in the summer, shading plants standing on the windowsill. However, even in the shadow of the senpolia, they will not be able to develop fully. Lighting suitable for violets is bright but diffuse.
The soil
An important requirement for soil is its breathability. Violation of air exchange leads to root decay, therefore, when preparing the soil mixture, disintegrants are used - perlite, vermiculite, coarse river sand and chopped sphagnum.
Ground for violets can be prepared independently by mixing sheet, turf, coniferous and peat components in the ratio of 3: 2: 1: 1 or by buying ready-made soil for senpolia in a store.
Watering
Moisture should always be accessible to the roots of the violet, however stagnation of water in the pot is unacceptable. Watering should be done as the earthen coma dries up, along the edge of the pot, avoiding water entering the leaves. Water should be at room temperature, pouring cold water is detrimental to the senpolia.
Such requirements are difficult for a person whose life is associated with frequent trips. Replace the daily watering violets can method wick watering.
Top dressing
During the growing season and flowering, it is recommended to apply complex mineral fertilizers approximately once every 2 weeks.
Air humidity
The natural habitat of violets is the area with high humidity. In indoor conditions, this figure should be at least 50%. To increase humidity, you can place the pot with the plant in a tray with raw pebbles or put this tray next to it.
Spraying plants is not recommended. This is permissible only during the flowering period; in this case, water should be sprayed very finely.
Winter care
With a reduction in daylight, plant metabolism slows down. You can maintain the same growth and development rate in the winter using artificial lighting, prolonging daylight hours to 11-13 hours. Watering in the winter months is slightly reduced. It is important to remember the temperature regime: if the thermometer column drops below 15 ° C, additional lighting will not change the situation, and your violet will not bloom anyway.
Breeding
Vegetative propagation in senpolia is the simplest of the existing methods. For this purpose, any parts of the plant are suitable: daughter rosettes, leaves, their fragments and even peduncles. Of course, the better the condition of the selected part, the greater the likelihood of rooting. If the plant has not yet formed daughter rosettes, it is best to choose a young leaf with a stalk length of 2-3 cm. It can be placed in water until roots are formed or immediately planted in loose soil, 1-2 cm deep, then water and cover with a plastic bag . Do not forget to remove condensate from the bag as it forms and ventilate the greenhouse. The desired temperature for the seedling is 20-22 ° C. Within 1-2 months, roots will appear and children will begin to develop.
Seed propagation is of primary interest to breeders. Pollinating Saintpaulia is not so easy, especially if the flowers are double. The peduncles selected for crossing must be strong and developed. For pollen, the degree of maturity is extremely important, the flower must be older, you can choose already faded. The flower, on which the fruit will ripen, on the contrary, should be chosen from the recently blossomed. Anthers on it are removed to prevent self-pollination. Pollen transfer is conveniently done with a needle. For the greatest probability of pollination, the procedure is repeated for several days.
The seed box develops within 1-1.5 months, reaching 1 cm in length. The ripening process takes at least 4 months, and with autumn pollination it can last all 8. When the flower stalk begins to dry, the box is separated and dried for 2 months, only after that you can start sowing. Violet seeds are sown on the ground in a greenhouse. The first shoots appear a month later. After the formation of the second pair of true leaves, plants can be planted in separate greenhouses.
Content Features
The trunk of the senpolia lignifies with time, the lower leaves die off at the same time. Sometimes this happens after breaking off the lower leaves for reproduction. It is easy to restore the plant to its previous appearance using a conventional transplant and deepening the stem, if it is no longer than 2.5 cm. Otherwise, you can rejuvenate the senpolia by cutting off the top and rooting it.
Violet rejuvenation is recommended every three years to update the root system of the plant and provide long-term and plentiful flowering. It takes about a month to root, and many are scared slightly, but you should not worry about this: as soon as the senpolia forms a new root system, it will again delight you with its appearance.
Diseases and Pests
Improper care often leads to rotting of the stem, and also provokes the occurrence of diseases characteristic of the genus - powdery mildew and gray rot. Of the pests for the senpolia, the mealybug and cyclamen mite are especially dangerous.