Today, there are a huge number of different varieties and types of violets (officially registered 8500 varieties), in addition, the constant selection work contributes to the emergence of new representatives of this beautiful plant. Such a variety and huge popularity of violets make them the undisputed favorites of home gardening.
This article will tell about one of the varieties of violets, which is distinguished by its unusually attractive colors.
Violet Le Chantal: photo and description of the variety
The flower grower Elena Lebetskaya brought the Saint-Paul Le Chantal and named it after Saint Jeanne-Francoise de Chantal.
This violet is distinguished by its large flowers with a corrugated structure. Color - bright crimson with a white eye in the middle. If the temperature of the environment decreases, the white speck becomes more pronounced, and the fringe at the edges of the petals acquires a light green hue. Flowers are not fully disclosed.
The leaves of this variety are wavy, dark green with a thin stem. Peduncles tall and weakened, so quickly fall on the leaves. The plant begins to bloom 14-15 months after the appearance of the first leaves. Le Chantal violet is very photophilous.
The conditions for growing violets at home
In order to admire beautifully blooming senpolias at home, it is important to create the conditions necessary for their cultivation. Light, temperature, air humidity - these are three components for the proper development of the plant.
Flower arrangement
In nature, violets grow in hot countries, but direct sunlight does not fall on plants due to bushes and high vegetation. It is difficult to create such a microclimate at home. Light-loving plants will feel best on the windowsills of the north-west and north-east windows, where there is no direct aggressive light.
If there are no such windows at home, then the Le Chantal violet needs to be darkened a little by covering the bottom of the window with a lightweight cloth or paper. If lighting, on the contrary, is not enough, then an additional light source will be needed. You can light up the plants with phytolamps, LED or conventional lamps.
Temperature
In order for the senpolia to bloom for a long time and plentifully, it is important to observe the temperature regime. The best temperature is considered to be the range +20 ... + 24 ° . Young immature plants love a higher temperature: +24 ... + 26 ° . Deviations in the temperature regime of violets tolerate well, but their growth may slow down and the plant may lose flowers. It is also important to remember that violets do not like drafts.
Air humidity
In order for Le Chantal violet to grow and develop fully, it is necessary to maintain a normal level of air humidity in the room - at least 50%. If the air in the apartment is dry, then you need to use humidifiers or put water near the plants.
High humidity is also undesirable for violets, in such an environment fungal diseases can develop.
Care for violets at home
Violet Le Chantal is demanding on agricultural technology, so it is important to know how to properly care for it.
1. Watering. Senpolias are watered only with filtered or settled water. Water temperature should be slightly higher than room temperature. From a cold liquid, the root system of a plant can rot.
It should be watered as necessary, as soon as the soil in the pot dries. You can pour water both in the pot and in the pan.
2. Fertilizers. The first three months after the transplant, the Saintpaulia does not need to be fed. After this, you need to fertilize once every two weeks. For this, it is better to use ready-made liquid organic and mineral formulations specifically for home violets. Such formulations have the right dosage of nutrients.
3. Cropping. Pruning of violets is done if necessary: when the leaves die off or turn yellow, and also when there are too many leaves. Excess shoots are simply plucked off, and stepsons are carefully cut so as not to harm the main plant.
4. Transplant. Le Chantal violet care also includes a transplant. It is required for the plant in the following cases:
- need to replace old depleted soil;
- with a long and bare plant stem;
- too many lateral processes that occupy the entire space of the pot.
Violet tolerates over rooting well - this property is rare in plants. That is why sick and inferior roots can be safely removed. If the plant is healthy, and it just needs a larger pot, then it is simply “transferred” to another container.
When transplanting, drainage materials will be required that fall asleep to the bottom of the new tank.
Le Chantal violet loves leaving, therefore it is necessary to be taken seriously.
Propagation of violets at home
Violet Le Chantal, like other types of senpolia, propagates using cuttings, stepsons, seeds and rooting of peduncles.
1. Propagation by cuttings is the most common way. To do this, cut the leaf, leaving a stalk about 4 cm long. Rinse the cut and dry it a little. Leaf for rooting you need to choose bright green, without spots and defects.
After all of the above actions, the stalk should be placed in a small container of dark glass with distilled or filtered water with the addition of activated carbon. The stem should be immersed in water no more than 1 cm. Then you do not need to change the water, but only add to the original volume.
If the stalk begins to rot, then it needs to be cut, sprinkled with activated carbon, dried and put in fresh water.
When the roots grow to 1-2 cm, the stalk is planted in nutrient soil with an obligatory drainage layer.
2. The stepsons of the Saintpaulia propagate in the same way as leafy cuttings. To do this, take small processes from the sinuses of the main plant and, when young rosettes take root, they are transplanted into separate pots.
3. The violet Le Chantal presented in the photo can also propagate by seeds, but this method is quite complicated. As a rule, it is used in breeding work.
The container must be filled with perlite soil, pour violet seeds mixed with sand on top. After this, the seeds need to be moistened with a spray gun, covered with a film and placed under the lamp. Every day from the inside of the film you need to remove condensate and ventilate the soil. In this case, the soil should not dry out. Five centimeter sprouts are dived into separate cups and grown until subsequent transplantation.
4. Rooting of peduncles. To do this, you need to take a full-fledged or faded flower (peduncle with buds will not work), cut it off from the main plant along with large stipules. After that, plant the peduncle in moistened perlite and cover with a film. When a young rosette appears, it means that the plant has taken root. After the violet gets stronger, it can be transplanted to a permanent place.
Diseases and pests
Home violets practically do not get sick, but you need to know about possible diseases:
- Late blight. The most dangerous for the plant, occurs due to the high humidity of the soil and air. You can notice it by brown spots on the stem and leaves. In this case, the plant cannot be saved; it will have to be destroyed so as not to infect other flowers. The soil must also be thrown away, and the pot sterilized.
- Root nematode. This pest destroys the root system of the flower, and the violet dies. Lives in the earth. As a preventive measure, it is better to plant the violet in the purchased soil.
- Thrips are small insects that appear on the back of leaves. Leaves affected by thrips should be removed on time - this will save the flower from death.
In conclusion, we can say that the beautiful Le Chantal will not leave anyone indifferent. Judging by the photo and description of the violet Le Chantal, the flower is not only beautiful, but not too capricious, it is easy to grow it at home.