Violets, with their simple yet striking beauty, are one of the must-have plants for flower enthusiasts at home. Due to their small size and easy care, you can find these humble flowers in many places such as balconies, window sills, and cafes.
While the care of violets with their different colors is easy, it requires some sensitivity. If you have all the information about violets, such as their soil, watering, and light requirements, you can obtain beautiful flowers.
With proper and good care, violets can maintain their vitality for many years without shedding their flowers. There are around 500 species of this flower worldwide. These violets can grow in almost every corner of the world, and some species can also be found in Turkey.
The most common variety grown in Turkey is the purple violet. You can see this plant in many houses. Cup violets, on the other hand, are known for their tiered structure and bicolor flowers. Another type grown in Turkey is the pansy, which is an aerial species. The Algerian violet is also one of the species that can be grown in our country and has flowers in different colors.
Violet Care
Violet flower care is extremely easy and effortless. Most of the time, just watering will be enough for this plant. Violets prefer bright environments but should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
The choice of pot and soil is essential for violet care. Violet roots are short and spread horizontally. Therefore, shallow pots should be preferred over deep ones.
Like many other indoor plants, there must be drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. Otherwise, excess water collected in the pot can cause rotting. Avoiding rot is an important aspect of violet care.
Violet Soil Selection
Having a violet plant at home makes you a proud owner of a beautiful flower without much effort. However, the correct soil selection for the flower is important.
The roots of the plant need oxygen. Therefore, a light and moisture-retentive soil should be chosen. You can prepare a mixture for violet soil at home. For this mixture, you can use one part perlite or pumice, one part peat, and one part vermiculite. Soil selection is an essential factor in violet care.
Violet Pot Selection
For violet care, shallow pots should be preferred. Violet roots are quite short and spread around. Therefore, a wide pot would be more ideal for this plant.
Having drainage holes in the violet pot is also crucial. It is not possible to grow violets in pots without drainage holes. It is good to occasionally fertilize this plant, which can grow with a small amount of soil.
Violet Light Requirements
Violets are plants that love daylight. However, they are sensitive to direct sunlight. Violets that are placed behind curtains and benefit from indirect light will be much happier.
Humidity is essential in violet care. The humidity level in the environment should always be sufficient. Placing a humidity tray under the pot is a useful solution in dry conditions. Additionally, you can choose pots that retain more moisture.
How to Propagate Violets?
Propagation of violets is as simple as their care. However, there are some key points to consider. One of the best methods to propagate violets is by separating them from their healthy roots. The upward-growing parts from the roots create the necessary new shoots to propagate the violets. These baby violets can easily be grown in small pots.
Violets grow as much as the size of the pot. Therefore, plants that start overflowing from the pot will need larger pots. If you don’t want your violet to grow further, you can keep it in a small pot. Additionally, be sure to regularly remove decaying leaves and branches. When these leaves and branches are left for a long time, they can take up a significant portion of the plant’s energy. When you change the pot, new leaves will quickly emerge, and the plant will multiply. Over time, the stem and leaves of the violet will grow. When it feels crowded, it stops blooming.
You can also use the leaf rooting method for violet propagation. For this, you should have a healthy and strong leaf. Healthy and strong leaves can be used for propagation without waiting for the violet to have offspring. You can propagate any of your favorite violet species this way. The leaves are soaked in water for a while. When you see the roots with the naked eye, you can plant the leaf in a pot. However, soaking the leaves in water is a much better method.
Violet Watering Techniques
The frequency and method of watering in plants are as important as soil and pot selection. It is recommended to use chlorine-free and room-temperature water for violet watering. If you use hot or cold water, you may harm the leaves and branches of the plant. To encourage more flowers from your violet, you should allow the soil in the pot to dry before watering. If you water from the pot’s saucer, there will be no rotting. For a healthy watering process, you should put plenty of water in the saucer. After 15 minutes, the soil will absorb the water. The remaining water should be drained. If you are watering from the top, you should pour the water onto the soil, not the plant.
Violet flowers should be watered twice a week during the summer months and once a week during the winter months. The most significant mistake made in violet care is overwatering. The key point in violet watering is to give the same amount of water each time. Violets are quite sensitive to changes in watering schedules. Variations in the amount and timing of watering can have a negative effect on the plant.