Saintpaulia

Saintpaulia is one of the most common flowering houseplants due to its abundant and long - lasting - even year-round-flowering and a wide variety of flower colors. The genus comprises over 10 species native to Central and Southern Africa. The original species from which the most famous cultivars are obtained is the Saintpaulia jonantha with characteristic small heart-shaped velvety leaves collected in a rosette on rather long petioles. The corolla of the flower consists of 5 lobes. Their color in the botanical species is blue, with a yellow core, but varieties with flowers of various shapes are more common, which are simple and double, smooth or fringed along the edge, the color is purple, pink and white, with various color transitions and patterns. Recently, the so - called chimera-cultural forms with characteristic two-colored petals with radially divergent stripes-have been developed using genetic engineering technologies. Also very common are "mini- Saintpaulia ", small plants that are grown in very small pots. Among the most famous varieties, you can also recall 'Ballet' and 'Rhapsody'.

Saintpaulia is one of the most common flowering houseplants due to its abundant and long - lasting - even year-round-flowering and a wide variety of flower colors. The genus comprises over 10 species native to Central and Southern Africa.

The original species from which the most famous cultivars are obtained is the Saintpaulia jonantha with characteristic small heart-shaped velvety leaves collected in a rosette on rather long petioles. The corolla of the flower consists of 5 lobes. Their color in the botanical species is blue, with a yellow core, but varieties with flowers of various shapes are more common, which are simple and double, smooth or fringed along the edge, the color is purple, pink and white, with various color transitions and patterns.

Recently, the so - called chimera-cultural forms with characteristic two-colored petals with radially divergent stripes-have been developed using genetic engineering technologies.

Also very common are "mini- Saintpaulia ", small plants that are grown in very small pots. Among the most famous varieties, you can also recall 'Ballet' and 'Rhapsody'.

Cultivation

Saintpaulias are grown only in indoor conditions, in pots with a diameter of 10-12 cm, filled with a mixture of garden soil, peat, sand and leaf humus or peat soil, keeping it constantly moist, but not waterlogged. In order for the plant to bloom more abundantly, you need a rest period (at any time of the year, except in summer): for about 40 days at a slightly reduced temperature (13-15 °C) compared to normal, watering only once a week to temporarily suspend the setting of buds.

Location

Saintpaulia need strong lighting, but do not tolerate direct sunlight.

Temperature

The optimal winter temperature is 15-18 °C, summer - 18-21 °C. It is recommended to make sure that it does not fall below 13 °C and does not rise above 30 °C. Avoid sudden temperature changes.

Watering

In order to avoid rotting of the roots due to stagnation of water, it is recommended to water by adding water, if possible soft, directly into the pan. At the same time, water should not remain in the pan for a long time, its excess is drained. To maintain the required humidity level, it is useful to pour pebbles or expanded clay into the tray. Make sure that water does not get on the leaves, otherwise they may rot.

In order to avoid rotting of the roots due to stagnation of water, it is recommended to water by adding water, if possible soft, directly into the pan. At the same time, water should not remain in the pan for a long time, its excess is drained.

To maintain the required humidity level, it is useful to pour pebbles or expanded clay into the tray. Make sure that water does not get on the leaves, otherwise they may rot.

Transplant

Saintpaulia is transplanted in the spring into a new pot only if the roots have completely filled the previous one. Use a special soil for Saintpaulia (preferably peat). The pot is slightly larger than the previous one, however, the final diameter should not exceed 13-15 cm. In a pot of the maximum size, change the ground, removing the plant from the pot, only if it is obviously necessary. Sometimes you can pour soil into the pot from above.

Care

You should not, as with all plants with pubescent leaves, resort to lustrating solutions. It is enough to shake off the dust with a brush. Withered flowers are removed together with the peduncle, damaged leaves - together with the petiole, otherwise the remains of tissues easily rot.

Reproduction

The most common vegetative method is using leaf cuttings. In the spring, a leaf is taken, grabbing 3-4 cm of petiole, and planted for rooting in peat soil. The leaf plate is not buried in the soil, it should remain completely above the surface. A certain degree of humidity is maintained (so as to completely eliminate its redundancy) and the temperature is within 18-22 °C. After about 40 days, the leaves of a new plant appear, and the old leaf is removed. When the young plant grows up, it is transplanted into a large pot. You can root the leaves in water, but this increases the likelihood of rotting the petiole.

The most common vegetative method is using leaf cuttings. In the spring, a leaf is taken, grabbing 3-4 cm of petiole, and planted for rooting in peat soil. The leaf plate is not buried in the soil, it should remain completely above the surface. A certain degree of humidity is maintained (so as to completely eliminate its redundancy) and the temperature is within 18-22 °C.

After about 40 days, the leaves of a new plant appear, and the old leaf is removed. When the young plant grows up, it is transplanted into a large pot. You can root the leaves in water, but this increases the likelihood of rotting the petiole.

Diseases

Among the pests of Saintpaulia are the most dangerous: aphids (especially green apple) and mealybug. To control them, it is recommended to use appropriate insecticides, better systematic action (that is, absorbed by the plant), because preparations released in aerosols can damage the leaves. Among fungal diseases, oidium (powdery mildew of grapes) and gray rot (pathogen - Botrytis cinerea) are common, against which appropriate fungicides are used. The plant can be damaged if it is placed in direct sunlight (discoloration of the leaves and the appearance of spots on them) or do not provide sufficient lighting (poor growth and lack of flowering). Avoid both over-watering and top-watering (both cause root diseases) and under-watering (causes yellowing and leaf spotting).

Acquisition

Saintpaulia is easy to purchase: both in gardening centers and in flower shops all year round. It is recommended to choose plants with still closed buds, on which the color of future flowers is visible. The plant should not have any rotting symptoms, spots, flowers and leaves should not be deformed. Usually, plants are sold in cardboard packaging that protects them from temperature changes during transportation.