The modern variety of senpolia varieties is amazing. Before the start of active breeding work at international exhibitions, specimens with purple or blue flowers were found. Later, in the 30s of the twentieth century, magnificent terry varieties with pink, white, red-violet petals were bred.
Nowadays, on the shelves of flower shops you can see plants of unusual beauty, with flowers of almost any (and even fancy) color.
Among them, the magnificent violet Ruffled Skies - "lace heaven" stands out. In the article we will describe its distinctive features, the intricacies of care and cultivation, and also give recommendations for transplanting this senpolia.
Violet Ruffled Skies: photo and description of the plant
Thanks to the breeding work of two violet guides - Kent Stork and Gordon Boone - in 1992, a new senpolia variety, called Ruffled Skies, was bred. Its distinguishing features are:
- very large terry flowers of a blue-blue color with a clarified or greenish border;
- quilted dark green leaves with a slightly corrugated edge;
- neat outlet in standard sizes;
- high peduncles.
Violet Ruffled Skies won the hearts of many amateur gardeners and has become one of the best representatives of blue-flowered varieties.
Its magnificent, abundant and prolonged flowering with huge lace stars can hardly leave anyone indifferent! Until now, this variety is in great demand, it is so beautiful and harmonious.
Later K. Stork and G. Boone received an interesting variety from this violet - Ruffled Skies 2. Its wavy, densely-terry flowers of cornflower blue color have a bright green border. The plant has a rosette in standard sizes, and the leaves are dark green.
Features of growing Ruffled Skies at home. Lighting
Maintaining favorable environmental conditions is the key to good growth and abundant flowering of Saintpaulias. Violet Ruffled Skies prefers good and long-lasting lighting, but is afraid of direct sunlight. To grow this plant, northern, northeastern or northwestern windows are well suited. On the south side, the violet can easily get burns, so it must be shaded.
The lack of lighting is not to the liking of Saintpaulia: in a dark room, the color of its petals becomes pale and inexpressive. The use of additional light sources (fluorescent lamps) allows you to get year-round flowering.
Favorable temperature
Violet Ruffled Skies prefers a calm, even temperature, without sudden changes and drafts. Optimal summer range: +20 ... + 24 ° C, winter: +16 ... + 18 ° C. Lower temperatures slow down the growth and flowering, high temperatures prevent the buds from laying. In winter, the plant will feel uncomfortable on cold window sills. It is advisable to use insulating material and not to place the pot close to the glass.
Humidity and watering
Violet Ruffled Skies prefers average air humidity (not lower than 45%). Excessive dryness, coupled with high temperature, lead to diseases and lack of flowering. In the summer dry season, you can use pallets with wet sand or expanded clay or lay sphagnum moss on the soil surface. It will prevent the rapid evaporation of moisture and the drying out of an earthen coma.
As for watering, it should be careful and moderate. Humidify an earthen lump no more often than a couple of times a week, using soft water at room temperature. The soil is watered gently, preventing moisture from entering the outlet; excess water is drained from the pallet. In the winter season, the plant is moistened less often, waiting for a thorough drying of the earthen coma. Excessive moisture in the substrate quickly leads to decay of the roots and death of the plant.
Transplantation of Saintpaulia. We select good soil and a pot
A new, newly acquired plant necessarily requires a transplant. The fact is that violets being prepared for sale are grown in peat with a large number of growth stimulants. Such a soil mixture is not suitable for long-term maintenance of the plant due to its excessive moisture capacity and a tendency to acidification.
Soil for senpolia should be chosen light, moderately loose, moisture- and breathable. You can buy a special soil mixture for violets in a store or make it yourself from two parts of turfy land, one part of sand and one part of peat. It is recommended to add a small amount of charcoal to this mixture.
Note! If you plan to use the ready-made store mix “Senpolia”, it is advisable to add a small amount of sphagnum moss, vermiculite and charcoal into it.
Which pot is better to choose? Definitely not too big, with a diameter of not more than 12 cm, always with drain holes. Otherwise, the risk of root rot in the violet Ruffled Skies increases significantly. Growing in containers of inadequate volume inhibits or completely stops the flowering of the plant.
Transshipment of Saintpaulia after quarantine
Before transplanting, you must carefully inspect the plant, remove all damaged leaves and rotten flowers. Next, wash the violet under running water to remove possible pests. And then quarantine in a room separate from other domestic plants. Over the next few days, the violet is not watered, waiting for the earthen coma to dry.
How to transplant Ruffled Skies violet? The description of the procedure is as follows. Vermiculite is placed in a new pot, and expanded clay is placed on it. This is done so that excess water freely flows into the pan. Following on expanded clay lay the soil mixture. The violet is watered, after some time, it is carefully removed from the old container, being careful not to damage the roots. Place the plant in a new pot and sprinkle with earth. Tamp and shake easily. A layer of soil is poured over the root neck of the plant, and then watered. The pot is slightly tilted from side to side to make sure that the violet sits firmly enough in the ground and does not swing.
The transplanted plant is covered with polyethylene and left alone. After two or three days, the violet is inspected and, if necessary, watered. Five days later they begin to “air”, and after ten - they completely remove the plastic bag. Thanks to such gentle handling, your plant will feel good and will bloom in 1.5-2 months.