Miniature and brightly blooming violets won the hearts of many plant growers around the world. For decades, breeders have bred varieties of this flower, among which the Aphrodite variety has become one of the most successful. The plant fell in love due to the special elegance of flowers collected from delicate terry petals. From our article you will learn in detail how to grow the indicated variety on your windowsill and what you need for this.

Did you know? The violet was discovered by the German botanist and aristocrat Baron Walter Saint-Paul in 1892. In honor of the discoverer, plants received their world famous name of the genus. — Saintpaulia.

Botanical description of the plant

Violet Aphrodite is a perennial herb from the family Violet. Its stem is greatly shortened, forms a basal rosette, from which numerous leaves grow. The average plant length is in the range of 20-30 cm, while the diameter of the rosette can be about 20 cm. The leaves are dense, smooth, rounded and slightly pointed at the edge, with stipules of petiole type. The color of the leaves is often saturated green, they are also inherent in numerous villi. The root system of the plant is fibrous, creeping, highly branched.

Peduncles, on which flowers are formed, also develop from a common near-stem outlet. Terry flowers, up to 9 cm in diameter, bisexual, perianth double. They gather in small inflorescences of several pieces. The flower petals are wavy, rounded in shape, their color tone is diverse. There are hybrids with pink, blue and lilac shades. Violet can bloom throughout the year, so the active period of flower growth is often about 9 months. On one plant, from 50 to 100 flowers bloom simultaneously.

Like all violets, the plant in question is a long-standing descendant of the various wild forms that live on the African continent, so this territory is still considered the natural habitat of the flower. The variety itself is a product of a modern Russian selection school, a variety of hybrids of which were born at the beginning of the XXI century.

Among them, the following varieties were successfully registered:

Conditions for growing violets at home

The plant is ideal for home growing: despite the fact that it is decorated with fairly large flowers, the bush itself is quite compact, which creates the perfect composition for any interior. But in order to grow violet, one should seriously take care of observing the optimal microclimate for the development and flowering of the plant.

Did you know? In the days of Ancient Greece, violets were considered not only decorative, but also cult plants. They were used both for decorating homes, and temples, as well as sculptures of ancient gods.

Placement and lighting

Violet is demanding on the place of cultivation: its delicate foliage and flowers do not tolerate direct sunlight, therefore, under its influence they can seriously burn themselves. Often this reduces the decorative value of the flower and leads to the withering of the entire bush. To avoid this, flowerpots equip only on the western or eastern window sills. If a southern window is prepared for plants, at noon a flowerpot with a flower must be shaded with a mosquito net or a translucent thin fabric.

Temperature and humidity

All representatives of the Violet family are quite thermophilic species. For the successful growth and development of flowers, a temperature in the range of +20 ... + 25 ° C is necessary. Neglecting the temperature regime inhibits the flowering of the bush, which negatively affects its decorative value. For successful flower cultivation, moderate humidity should be provided in its growth zone - in the range of 50–70%.

Important! To prolong the flowering of violets, it should be kept in moderate heat at an average daily temperature of not more than + 20 ° C.

The basic rules for caring for violets

Although violet and are considered unpretentious plants, growing Aphrodite on the windowsill is not so simple. In addition to watering and periodic top dressing, the bushes need to be trimmed and replanted in a timely manner: without this, prolonging their life cycle for the next season will be quite problematic.

Watering

When watering violets, it is necessary to create a moderate humidity of the substrate. Prolonged waterlogging of the soil is detrimental to the roots of the flower, so pots are often watered abundantly, but not more often 1-2 times a week. In winter, hydration is reduced to 1 treatment per week. The acute need of the plant for moisture is determined using the state of the substrate: it is moistened after the appearance of a distinct dry crust with a thickness of about 1-2 cm.Watering the flowerpots by horse riding, while drip irrigation is not recommended. Water should fall into the soil, bypassing the leaves and the socket, otherwise the overmoistening of the green mass will lead to the creation of a favorable environment for the development of fungi. Water the soil until excess moisture is released from the drainage holes. For irrigation use only clean, settled and filtered water, heated to ambient temperature.

Top dressing

In order to achieve long-term blooming from Aphrodite, as well as bright and saturated shades of flowers, flowerpots need to be fertilized periodically. Complex mineral mixtures are used for this, based on phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium, as well as all kinds of trace elements. Most often, specialized fertilizers for violets or complex preparations for flowering plants are used for this.Fertilizers are often introduced only in liquid form, however, if necessary, leaf feeding can also be applied: for this, the concentration recommended by fertilizer manufacturers is halved. Regardless of the type of top dressing, during the active growing season, violets are fertilized every 10-14 days. However, during the rest period the described procedures are not carried out.

Important! After transplantation, the substrate fertilizer is stopped for 4-6 weeks. During this period, the introduction of concentrated drugs can cause yellowness, wilting and even death of the bush.

Pruning

Since the cultivation of Aphrodite provides for the decorative content of the plant, it is subjected to periodic pruning - this will make it possible to form a compact and elegant bush. In addition, the removal of excess parts of the stem allows you to direct all the forces of the plant to the formation of flowers, which only improves its decorative value.

Pruning is carried out as necessary, excessively large as well as excess parts of the bush, shading each other, old and dried leaves are subject to removal. Together, this measure makes it possible to rejuvenate the bush, improve its productivity, and also stimulate flowering.

Violets are pruned no more than 1 time per month based on the following recommendations:

• for the procedure use only a clean and disinfected instrument;
• pruning is carried out only with a sharp tool, plucking is prohibited, since it damages the delicate tissues of the plant;
• the leaves are removed along with the handle, large parts of the bush - at the outlet;
• the last shortening of the season is carried out before the onset of the dormant phase - at this time the bushes are thinned out and rid of faded peduncles;
• places of cuts are necessarily treated with crushed charcoal - this will protect the flower from damage by specific infections.

Video: violet leaf pruning

Transfer

A violet transplant is carried out as the bush grows, 1-2 times a year. The most suitable period for this is spring or summer: so the plant will best adapt to new conditions. In case of transplantation of a mature plant (2-3 years and older) during the procedure, it is rejuvenated. To do this, the rhizome and socket are carefully cleaned of old parts.

Important! Deepening the violet during a transplant is not recommended — the outlet must remain at the same level with respect to the soil as in the old pot.

The procedure is carried out using transhipment:

1. The bush is carefully removed from the pot along with a root lump of substrate.
2. If possible, part of the old soil is removed. As the flower grows, the soil becomes depleted, as well as the accumulation of various toxins in it, so this measure will not only provide improved development of the bush, but also protect it from the suppression of immunity.
3. Next, the violet, together with a lump of land, is transplanted into a new container, one third filled with new soil.
4. After that, all the cracks are thoroughly covered with soil, and then the flowerpot is well moistened.

Transplant the flower into pots with a well-fertilized and loose substrate. To prepare it, peat, sod land, vermiculite, leaf soil, sand and sphagnum moss are mixed in equal parts. The new pot should be 1–5 cm larger in diameter than the old one; it can be made of any non-toxic material (ceramics, plastic, etc.).

Video: how to transplant a violet

How to propagate at home

Most often, the reproduction of Aphrodite is carried out by a leaf, stepsons, peduncles or seeds. Regardless of the method, carry out this procedure in the spring or in the first half of summer (March - July). Leaf propagation considered the easiest and most popular way to obtain daughter flowers. To perform it, an adult healthy leaf is selected in the center of the bush, after which it is cut off and placed with a sharp end in moist soil or water, and then transferred to a dry, warm place (+22 ... + 25 ° С). After the appearance of several roots, the leaf is transplanted into a separate pot.

Video: violet leaf propagation

Getting daughter plants using stepsons carried out after the next pruning. For this procedure, only young parts of plants are selected without any pathologies. They must contain at least 3 sheets. The stepson is rooted in well-moistened vermiculite, soil or in water for a week, in a lighted and warm place (+22 ... + 25 ° С).

Peduncles for new plants are selected after flowering. They are germinated in water, moistened vermiculite or soil, in a well-lit place, at a temperature of at least + 22 ° C. For this, the peduncle is cut off, leaving a small process closer to the middle. After 10-14 days, roots appear on it, after which it is dived into a separate tank.

Video: propagation of violets peduncles

Propagation by seed. Aphrodite is not often cultivated: this method is quite time-consuming and requires strict adherence to a special microclimate. In addition, the seeds of the species are often quite small, so they must be prepared for planting. To do this, they are soaked in water, and then enveloped in crushed ash. Thus, they are heavier, which allows them to be sown in bulk, bypassing the irrational use of seed.

Seeds are sown in a row method to a depth of about 1-2 cm, with a row spacing of 3-5 cm. Next, the containers with seeds are covered with transparent polyethylene or glass and moved to a warm place (+24 ... + 26 ° С). Before the appearance of 2-3 leaves, seedlings are grown by mass sowing, after which the shelter is removed, and the plants dive into separate containers.

Growing difficulties

Subject to the basic rules of agricultural farming techniques and norms of care, the described plant does not cause difficulties. Due to inaccuracies in observing these principles and rules, Aphrodite sharply decreases immunity to various infections, thereby creating favorable conditions for the appearance of pests.

The main diseases and pests of violets Aphrodite, as well as methods for their treatment:

Violet Aphrodite amazes with the beauty of the unique terry flowers of many gardeners and lovers of these plants. You can get a healthy and flowering bush if you follow all the rules for the care and maintenance of violets, described above.