Cultivation methods for African violets. African violets belong to the Gesneriaceae family and are perennial evergreen herbaceous flowers. The stem is extremely short, the leaves are fleshy and thick, densely covered with fine hairs, ovate, heart-shaped or wavy, growing in clustered tufts, with the plant form resembling a lotus rosette. When blooming, 3 to 5 flower stalks usually emerge successively from the leaf axils, each bearing 3 to 5 flowers or more, with a flower diameter of 3 to 4 cm. The corolla is bell-shaped with deep lobes, bilabiate, the upper lip two-lobed and the lower lip three-lobed, the lobes elliptical and spreading. Flower colors include purple, blue, purple-red, pink, white, yellow, and white with red edges or violet edges.

African violet flowers are also fragrant, and there are several varieties with single petals, double petals and different flower sizes. The flowering period is summer and autumn, lasting up to 2 months.

African violets prefer a mild and humid climate, with an optimum growing temperature of 18 to 26°C. In winter, room temperature must not be lower than 10°C, and in summer it should not exceed 30°C. They like semi-shade, avoid direct strong light during hot periods, and need fresh, humid air. They require a sandy growing medium rich in humus, loose, fertile and highly permeable. In different regions, sandy loam, leaf mold, peat soil, rice husk ash (carbonized rice hulls) and similar materials can be mixed in appropriate amounts according to local conditions.

Propagation: Leaf cuttings: take half-year-old or one-year-old leaves and insert them into vermiculite, water and care for them normally, and in about 2-3 months new plants can grow, and one leaf can produce several new plants; you can also wound the petiole of an old leaf on the plant, and before long new plants will grow at the wound, which can then be removed and planted; seed propagation is also possible, but keeping seeds consumes energy, so it is generally not done this way;
Fertilizing: All my flowers use horse hoof, and I did not fertilize the African violets. If you want to fertilize, it is recommended to use more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer and less nitrogen fertilizer to prevent leggy leaf growth. Fertilizing should be done with dilute fertilizer applied frequently;
Last winter I took a leaf cutting, and this spring four small seedlings were propagated. I gave one to a classmate, and the remaining three are growing cramped together in one pot; even so, it has obligingly formed flower buds.

African violet - cultivation methods for African violets | African violet pictures

African violet

Cultivation methods for African violets

1. Soil: The potting soil should be loose and fertile, and it is best to use soil rich in humus. Generally, mix 5 parts leaf mold, 3 parts garden soil and 2 parts decomposed manure soil, or mix 6 parts leaf mold with 4 parts sandy loam, or mix leaf mold, peat soil and sandy soil in equal parts.
2. Watering: Watering is very important. In early spring with low temperatures, watering should not be excessive, otherwise the stems and leaves are prone to rot, affecting flowering. In summer with high temperatures and dryness, more water should be given, and spraying water to increase air humidity, otherwise the flower stalks droop and the flowering period shortens. However, when spraying, too much water splashed on the leaves can also cause leaf rot. In autumn and winter, as temperatures drop, watering should be appropriately reduced.

How to grow African violets

African violets prefer a semi-shaded, warm and humid environment, need attention to ventilation, and avoid high temperatures and strong light. Spray-style watering can be used, following the principle of not watering until the soil surface is dry, but it must not dry out completely, otherwise growth and flowering will be affected. Generally, fertilizers should be nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium ternary or multi-element compound fertilizers. The growing temperature must not be higher than 28°C, and is generally best between 15-25°C; a high-temperature environment is not conducive to growth. If African violets receive insufficient light, they will only grow leaves and not bloom; if the sunlight is too strong, yellow spots will appear on the leaves.

The role of African violets

The role of African violets: 1. Ornamental value. African violet plants are short, can bloom all year round, have leaves as thick as velvet, elegant and refined flower shapes, and rich, brilliant and colorful flower colors. They have high ornamental value and are excellent indoor ornamental plants.
The role of African violets: 2. Home decoration. African violets are all hybrid cultivars, with many varieties and flower colors including white, pink, red and blue. The plants are short, bloom in all four seasons, and are relatively shade-tolerant, making them good decorative items for indoor windowsills, living rooms, tables and so on.

Pest and disease control for African violets

1. African violet root-knot nematode disease
African violet root-knot nematode disease is a root disease caused by root-knot nematodes. The main symptom is that on the fibrous roots and lateral roots, root nodules of various sizes can form. The root nodules are initially milky white and later turn light brown. When cut open, there are very small milky white nematodes inside. This causes African violet plants to be short and stunted.
Solution: 5% ethoprophos can be used at 0.1% of soil weight, or 0.75 g per 6 cm flower pot, or 10% fosthiazate at 0.5 g per 6 cm flower pot. These two agents can be used during the growing period, but using them before planting is more effective. 10% aldicarb, 5.6 g per sq m, with at least 4 weeks between treatment and planting. In addition, when planting in nursery land, dihaiping can be evenly broadcast at 2 kg per mu within 15-20 cm around the roots of the seedlings, all of which can effectively control the occurrence of nematodes.

How African violets propagate

1. African violet leaf-cutting propagation method
African violets commonly use cutting propagation, mainly leaf cuttings. After flowering, choose healthy and plump leaves, cut them off with 2 cm of petiole left, let them dry slightly, insert them into a sand bed, maintain relatively high air humidity, keep the room temperature at 18 to 24°C, and they will root 3 weeks after insertion. In 2 to 3 months, seedlings will be produced, and they can be moved into 6 cm pots. During the cutting process, treatment with vitamin B is beneficial to seedling growth after African violets root. Treating the petioles with 25 mg/L kinetin for 24 hours is beneficial to the formation of adventitious buds. From cuttings to flowering takes 4 to 6 months.

Related encyclopedia

Pocket scale non-woven bag rush pith bamboo shoot crab claw red rice note3 ykk zipper ybs zipper Prunus sargentii climbing rose wild senna wintersweet green pine wristwatch Omega Longines famous watch children's building blocks flint Dudou orchid curling iron soursop