Violet or Saintpaulia is an elegant and delicate flower that requires special care and attention. One of the important conditions for growing a healthy flower is replanting.
To preserve its decorative qualities and ensure its full development, the plant should be replanted in a timely and correct manner. Let's take a step-by-step look at how to transplant Saintpaulia yourself and without mistakes .
When should a violet be replanted?
Several factors indicate the need to replant the plant:
- A white coating appears on the ground. This indicates that the soil has poor air permeability. Also, the presence of a white coating indicates oversaturation of the soil with minerals. As a result, the roots begin to rot and the plant loses its attractiveness.
- The root ball grows too much and is visible on the surface of the soil, under the leaves. This interferes with the growth and development of the flower.
- The soil is depleted , has become dense, and the plant does not receive any nutrition.
- Violet leaves turn brown ; fertilizing does not help.
- The plant has grown and part of the bare stem has appeared. The transplanted flower will be more magnificent and beautiful.
- New “babies” have appeared that need to be separated from the mother’s outlet.
The appearance of any of these signs indicates that it is time to change the Saintpaulia container.
In this video you will be told about the importance of replanting violets with changing soil.
When is the best time to replant a flower?
For indoor violets, the best time to change the pot and soil is spring. But autumn is also suitable for transplantation. During these periods, the plant has enough strength to adapt to new conditions, survive stress and grow stronger.
If the procedure was successful, the plant will need a day length of 10 hours. In spring and autumn, there is just enough light for a flower to survive changes in its life. And the air temperature will remain on average at 18-20 degrees Celsius.
You can see the urgency of transplanting Saintpaulia by:
- stretching and exposing the stem
- compaction of the soil in the container
- white coating on the soil surface
- brown leaf color
- entwining the roots of an earthen coma in a pot
It is better to replant violets every year so that the plant feels good and blooms for a long time.
Useful video about transplanting violets:
Transfer time
For violets to take root better, spring is . At this time of year, the plant has enough natural light, and the temperature for transplantation is optimal. As a result, Saintpaulia will tolerate a change of “place of residence” well.
September and October are also recommended for replanting capricious violets into new pots. In the summer heat, it is undesirable to touch the plant . At high temperatures, the transplant will cause him unnecessary stress. The same applies to the winter period. Due to a lack of sun and uncomfortable temperatures, the plant may not take root and die.
Optimal conditions for the transplantation procedure are ten-hour daylight hours and a temperature of +18 degrees . If you still need to replant Saintpaulia in winter, you need to install special lamps for additional lighting and ensure the required level of humidity in the room.
Beginning flower growers often ask whether it is possible to replant a blooming violet. Transplanting Saintpaulia during flowering is resorted to only in emergency cases .
If a plant is exposed to a disease or is attacked by pests, it must be replanted immediately, regardless of flowering or time of year. The violet is also replanted if it is too flooded , which can cause the roots to rot.
Important! After transplantation, flowers or buds should be removed so that the plant directs all its energy to rooting and not to flowering.
Under normal conditions, the flower is not touched during the budding period. Flowering indicates the plant is in good health. Since it blooms, it has enough nutrients. Therefore, replanting can be delayed until flowering is complete.
Some gardeners rely on the lunar calendar for transplanting violets. It indicates favorable periods for planting, down to the day.
Is it possible to replant a flowering Saintpaulia?
We are often asked: is it possible to replant a blooming violet? One of our experts will answer this question for you.
Expert opinion
Klimkina Elena Vladislavovna
Florist, businessman. Organized her business on a country plot of land
First of all, you need to find out for what purpose you want to transplant. Just because the time has come, do you think the pot is too small, etc.? In this case, we would recommend that you wait until after flowering. After all, if a plant blooms, it means it is quite comfortable and in such conditions, no critical or dangerous processes occur.
But if you understand that the flower needs to be saved - for example, the soil in the pot has become sour, pests have infested, or the soil has already become too poor, then you need to act immediately. Even if the violet is blooming at this time.
Yes, it will most likely stop flowering, but at the same time you will save the plant
Transplanting violets after purchase
After purchasing a violet, you need to carefully inspect it, remove dried buds, flower stalks and leaves. Store-bought flower pots usually contain a peat mixture that contains no nutrients. Therefore, after purchase, the plant should be replanted as soon as possible .
To do this, prepare a new substrate by mixing high-moor peat with vermiculite. This mixture will be moderately sour and loose. If you wish, you can purchase ready-made soil for violets .
After transplantation, the plant is covered with film to obtain a greenhouse effect . After 7 – 10 days, the film can be removed.
If the flower was purchased not in a store, but from familiar flower growers, you don’t have to rush to change the pot. In this case, the young plant is not immediately replanted, giving it time to develop the root system.
Preparing a container for violets
The flowering of a houseplant depends on the diameter of the pot. The container must be of optimal size. Usually they look at the size of the outlet, choosing a container diameter that is 5 centimeters larger.
The height of the container should not exceed 10 centimeters for medium-sized plants, and 5 centimeters is enough for miniature ones. The diameter of the pot should be 1-2 centimeters less than its height.
Violet containers must be selected according to the requirements, otherwise the plant will not bloom.
Flowers feel comfortable in plastic or ceramic flowerpots. There must be holes at the bottom of the container to drain excess water into the pan. Through them the soil in the pot will be better ventilated.
How often to replant
In flowering perennials, the root system develops quickly . The plant quickly draws all the nutrients from the soil, and it becomes depleted. The roots begin to peek out of the drainage holes or above the ground. The violet needs to be replanted at least once every 7–8 months.
Timely transplantation of Saintpaulia into a new pot will help prevent diseases , and the violet itself will delight with beautiful flowering.
What soil is suitable for Saintpaulias?
Violets like soil that is loose, light, and breathable, so that the root system does not suffer from a lack of oxygen.
It is also important that the soil is moisture-absorbing and retains moisture well. And yet, when choosing land for violets, you should take into account the acidity level. These plants thrive in slightly acidic soils, with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. If there is a strong deviation in acidity in one direction or another, the flower ceases to normally absorb mineral and organic substances from the soil, and nitrogen-phosphorus starvation may occur. The growth of the plant will slow down, the bud will fall off without even opening. If the substrate is too acidic, the young leaves will curl, and in an alkaline environment, they will lose their bright color, turn pale, and their tips will turn brown. Of the chemical elements in the soil for violets, nitrogen and phosphorus compounds, potassium salts and macro- and microelements should be present: iron, boron, calcium, chlorine, sulfur, zinc, molybdenum and others.
To prevent fungal diseases, we recommend treating the soil of homemade violets with a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate or a Fitosporin solution at least once a month.
In small pots, which violets love so much, the soil is quickly depleted - do not forget to fertilize it and promptly replant the plants in new pots. It is best to use ready-made soil for Saintpaulias or indoor Violets, which it is advisable to purchase in specialized stores. Unfortunately, purchased soil often suffers from poor quality. Florist specialists add perlite, vermiculite and coconut fiber to prepared soils as raising agents. But a little bit of everything, so as not to cause root rot.
How to prepare your own substrate for violets
If you are a fan of making your own soil mixtures, we will tell you the proportions suitable for violets:
- high-moor peat - 1 part;
- coniferous soil - 1 part (harvested under coniferous trees after removing the top layer of pine needles);
- leaf soil - 3 parts (harvested under deciduous trees and shrubs);
- turf soil - 2 parts (harvested in areas where perennial grasses grow);
- coarse river sand or perlite - 1 part.
For drainage, use expanded clay with pieces of charcoal of different fractions, which will regulate soil moisture and adsorb harmful impurities.
All components should be disinfected - steamed or frozen.
Vermicompost has proven itself quite well, and some gardeners use it to prepare a substrate for violets: 40% vermicompost plus 60% baking powder so that vermicompost does not petrify over time.
How to test soil for acidity
Soil acidity is not a constant value; it changes over time. Any change in the appearance of the plant, the shape and color of its leaves, slower growth and lack of flowering should alert you and prompt you to check the acidity.
The acidity of the substrate is checked using a special device. If you don’t have one, try to determine the acidity of your soil using traditional methods. We'll show you how to do this.
- Take two small containers, glass or ceramic, it doesn’t matter. Place the same small amount of soil in them, slightly damp.
- Add vinegar to the first container. If the environment is alkaline, the earth will hiss.
- In the second container, fill the soil with soda. If the environment is acidic, gas bubbles will begin to form.
- If there is no reaction, your soil is neutral.
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You can reduce acidity at home using dolomite flour, and increase it with peat.
How to choose a pot
Shallow pots are chosen for relocating Saintpaulias , since the roots of these flowers develop from the bottom up. A height of 10 cm and a diameter of 9 cm will be sufficient. If the plant is planted in a larger pot, it will intensively develop roots and entangle the earthen ball, and there will be no strength left for flowering.
A pot made of clay or plastic is suitable for violets . A clay pot provides good air permeability and maintains soil moisture at the roots. In such a pot, the plant is less likely to get sick and be attacked by pests. The downside of these pots is that they are heavy and not cheap.
A plastic flower pot is lightweight and easy to care for. Its disadvantage is poor air circulation. To fix this, holes are made with a nail in the bottom and side walls.
In this video they will show and tell you what pots and soil to plant violets in.
Replanting Saintpaulia with soil replacement
Place drainage at the bottom of the pot. If you decide to wick water, insert the wick through the drainage hole. So, you have everything prepared and you can replant the Saintpaulia.
Transplanting violets - master class with complete replacement of soil
Gently tap the outside of the pot on all sides. Tilt it a little and pour out the excess soil. If you had loose soil, then after such manipulations, you can easily pull out the plant by holding it by the base of the rosette and tilting the pot. When the soil is old, you can gently loosen the soil using tools. Remove withered leaves, not forgetting to sprinkle charcoal on the broken areas.
How to preserve its root system as much as possible during transplantation? Carefully remove and shake the soil from the roots. Remove old brown roots - they have already served their purpose and are no longer functional. Sprinkle charcoal on the damaged areas. You cannot wash the roots, as there is a risk of losing the entire plant. However, gardeners who water the plant using the wick method note that they regularly wash the roots when replanting and this does not cause any harm to the Saintpaulias. Apparently, the whole point here is the quality of the root system, accustomed to constantly wet conditions.
Adult flowers are transplanted into the pots in which they grew (there is no need to increase the volume, replacing fresh soil is enough), and growing ones are transplanted into containers of a larger diameter. The size of new pots should not exceed the size of old ones by more than 1-2 cm.
Holding the Saintpaulia with one hand, carefully add soil just below the last leaf. We compact the soil by tapping the pot on some flat surface and lightly pressing it on top.
There is one subtle nuance when transferring an old plant to another pot. Often its stem becomes lignified and exposed. Appearance suffers. This deficiency can be eliminated by transplantation. The stem is trimmed, leaving a few centimeters with living roots. The cork layer at the top is removed so that young roots can easily grow. The trunk is wrapped in sphagnum moss or vermiculite (perlite) is added around it and buried. This method protects the injured trunk from rot. In such situations, it is advisable to place the flower in an environment with high humidity. There are advanced cases when the roots are completely removed along with part of the trunk and the plant is rooted in water or substrate.
Sometimes Saintpaulias have to be replanted by transshipment. The plant is removed carefully so that the earthen clod does not fall off. The entire plant is transferred to a pot larger in diameter than the old one and new soil is added around the edges. With this method, the old soil is almost completely preserved.
What soil to plant violets in
To independently prepare soil that is best suited for violets , you will need the following components in equal parts:
- two parts of leaf soil;
- part of coniferous soil;
- part of the peat;
- part of the turf land;
- some river sand;
- a handful of charcoal.
Advice! For better results, vermicompost can be added to the soil 2 weeks before transplanting.
The prepared substrate must be disinfected. To do this, it is steamed in the oven or doused with boiling water. After the soil has cooled, you can begin replanting the Saintpaulias.
Dangers to avoid when rejuvenating
Typical mistakes of gardeners:
- it is undesirable to renew the plant in the active flowering phase;
- Rooting Saintpaulias cannot be fed with nitrogen fertilizers, as root growth will stop and leaves will begin to form;
- violet does not like spraying. For foliar treatment, a solution of amino acids is used: preparations Epin, Ovary, HB-101. They activate metabolic processes.
Important! During the period of rejuvenation, the plant is powered by photosynthesis, so the bush must be provided with good lighting.
Knowing how a violet with a long stem is renewed, you can preserve your favorite flower that has aged. After transplantation, the bush will come to life and will again delight with flowering. After a couple of months, the withered plant will be difficult to recognize. His vitality will noticeably increase.
Preparing the plant
Before transplanting a violet, it should be prepared for the procedure . The soil in the pot is moistened so as not to damage the roots of the plant. There is no need to fill the pot with water until dirt forms; the substrate should remain loose.
The violet is carefully removed from the old flowerpot, trying not to stain the leaves. Some of the root shoots are cut off and large leaves are removed . These manipulations activate the rejuvenation of the flower.
Optimal season for transplantation
Wondering how and when to replant violets? Violets can be replanted at any time of the year , except for the winter months with short daylight hours and unfavorable temperature conditions:
- During this period, the transplant may not be successful; it is better to wait until spring;
It is best to replant violets in the spring.
How often to replant violets at home - this cannot be given a definite answer, since all varieties have their own characteristics .
Three methods of transplantation
Depending on the purpose or reason for the procedure, there are three methods , each of which has its own advantages.
Complete substrate replacement
This type of plant replanting is resorted to when the violet stops growing and developing, does not bloom and looks unhealthy . This is a signal that the plant has used all the microelements and the depleted soil can no longer nourish it.
Complete removal of old soil involves cleansing the root system . It is inspected and dried, rotten and damaged parts are removed. As a result, the root part is significantly reduced, and the plant can be planted in a pot of smaller diameter.
Expanded clay is scattered on the bottom as the first layer . Then a small amount of soil is poured on which the violet is laid out, carefully straightening its roots. Next, fill the remaining soil until it comes into contact with the lower leaves. The soil is mulched with vermiculite.
To check whether the soil is well compacted, shake the pot with the plant. compact the soil again .
To maintain soil moisture for the first day, the plant can be covered with plastic film .
This video explains in detail how to properly transplant a violet.
Partial soil replacement
Partial replacement is carried out every time a healthy plant needs to increase the pot . To do this, part of the soil is removed, but the earthen ball around the roots is not touched.
The violet is removed from an old pot in which the soil has been previously moistened. Having transplanted it into a large pot, add the prepared nutrient mixture and tamp it down with a teaspoon.
Transshipment
Transshipment is used when it is necessary to urgently relocate a flowering plant or replace a container that has become cramped with a more spacious one.
The violet is carefully removed from the container along with the earthen lump. Drainage and part of the prepared soil are poured into the new pot. Then the used container is inserted, and the space around it is filled with soil. After this, the unnecessary pot is removed and a flower is placed in its place. All that remains is to carefully level and compact the earth.
Methods of watering violets
Always approach watering responsibly. Be sure to follow the golden mean, avoiding either excessive drying or waterlogging of the substrate, since deviations in one direction or the other will equally adversely affect the health of the plant. Watering violets should be done with settled tap water at room temperature. Boiled water is also suitable, since when boiled, most of the harmful salts decompose and precipitate.
Once a month, you can acidify the irrigation water with acetic acid (1 teaspoon per 1 liter of water) or citric acid (5 crystals per 1 liter of water).
We remind you that the temperature of the water used is no less important than its quality. Too cold or hot water will harm the root system of the flower.
For indoor violets, we do not recommend using the traditional method of watering - into an outlet. Water should not get on the leaves and the growing point, so as not to provoke a fungal disease of the flower. In addition, leaves through window glass can get sunburned from wet spots even in winter. It will be better if you water the violets in other ways. Here are some of the most commonly used methods of watering Saintpaulias.
Watering through a tray
Pour water at room temperature that has been standing for 24 hours into a tray or other container to a depth of a quarter of the height of the pot. Place the violet pot in water for about half an hour so that the soil is saturated with moisture. You will see that the required moisture level has been reached when the ground darkens. If you combine watering with fertilizing, the flower will receive the necessary nutrition in addition to moisture.
If you have a wide tray and you place several violets in it at the same time for watering, it is important to ensure that all the plants are healthy, otherwise the disease of one will spread to the others.
Take water quality seriously. If you water your violets with unsettled tap water, then the numerous impurities in it will each time rise to the top of the substrate during bottom watering and remain there. The soil will very soon become unusable due to salinity. The root system will stop absorbing beneficial microelements. You will see this by the white coating on the surface of the soil and the sickly appearance of the plant. Violation of the quality of the water used will result in a disadvantage of watering through the pan.
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Drip irrigation
For drip irrigation, use a watering can with a narrow spout or a large syringe bulb so that you can easily get to the soil, bypassing the rosette of violet leaves. The growth point should also not be filled. If you don’t have a watering can or a syringe, you can take a regular plastic bottle and make a hole in its lid into which to insert a straw. Water the soil drop by drop until excess water flows into the pan from the drainage holes. Then stop watering, and after 15 minutes. drain excess water from the pan.
If you accidentally spill water on the leaves, nothing bad will happen, just blot the moisture with a dry cloth.
Immersion method
On especially hot days, during the next watering, a pot with a flower can be immersed in a basin of settled water at room temperature for about an hour. The plant will be saturated with moisture, take a break from the heat, and its root system will cool down. After this, let the excess water drain and return the plant to its original place.
Wick watering of violets
As a wick, use a string or a narrow strip of cotton fabric, which should be passed at one end into the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot. The other end of the wick is lowered into a container of water for irrigation. The flower pot is placed on this container, and moisture rises inside the wick due to the capillary effect. The essence of wick watering is that the violet will take as much water as it needs. The level of moisture in the ground remains stable and is regulated by the violet itself depending on the ambient temperature. Below is a detailed video about wick watering, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with it.
Wick watering is not suitable for all violets, because it has several disadvantages:
- This method can only water plants in the warm season, because in winter the water cools quickly, especially if the container with water and the pot are on a cold windowsill. Violets do not like their roots to be in the cold. A supercooled root system is susceptible to disease and may die.
- For uniform watering, only small pots, 7x7 in size and no larger, are suitable. Uneven soil moisture will lead to the growth of green mass to the detriment of flower blooming.
How to seat children
It is important to know how to plant young shoots so that they take root. Young rosettes are distributed into pots with a diameter of 6 cm after two pairs of leaves have appeared on them. To prepare the soil, use vermiculite, peat and chopped sphagnum.
The babies are separated from the mother's rosette along with a large leaf. Then they are seated in separate containers at a shallow depth. The soil is moistened , and before rooting, containers with young plants are placed under a lamp.
This video will tell you when it’s time to separate violet babies from the mother leaf and how to do it.
Consequences of incorrect transplantation
When, after transplantation, the plant begins to dry out, and after a month the buds do not appear, it means that the procedure was carried out incorrectly.
- If the pot is chosen too deep, the violet will direct its forces to the growth of the root system. Then you can't wait for the buds.
- It is also a mistake to recess the socket. In this case, the root system will grow downward, which will lead to a stop in the development of the above-ground part. If the root collar is located high relative to the ground, it will become loose.
- Before planting, you should not pour water into the center of the rosette, otherwise the roots will rot and the flower will die. You can water the violet at the root so that the water does not get on the leaves.
- Too dense soil will not allow the roots to receive sufficient nutrition. The development of the violet will stop and the plant will begin to wither. It is necessary to ensure that the soil in the pot is not contaminated with nematodes, larvae of harmful insects, or spores of pathogenic fungi. If the soil is not disinfected, then the violet will begin to hurt, its leaves will dry out, and its buds will fall off.
Transplanting violets is an important procedure that must be carried out promptly and competently. In order for the best varieties of Saintpaulia to delight you with their long and lush flowering, you need to decide on the timing of transplantation.
Care after transplant
To ensure that transplanted plants do not experience stress and recover faster, they need to be helped with proper care . It is necessary to maintain optimal temperature, soil moisture and lighting.
After transplanting the perennial, adhere to the following rules for 2 weeks:
- cover the plant with film ; when condensation forms, remove it for a couple of minutes for ventilation;
- the flower pot is left in a warm place (24 degrees) ;
- Saintpaulias provide sufficient lighting, but protect from direct sunlight .
When is transplantation prohibited?
The rules for growing indoor plants say that violets cannot be replanted in summer and winter. The reason for the ban is that in winter the plant will not have enough light to establish itself in the new soil. Saintpaulia will not be able to get enough heat, since the air temperature in winter often becomes below optimal.
A summer transplant will mean that the violet will not rest properly and will not gain strength for active flowering. In summer, the air temperature in the room rises, so it is necessary to shade the flowers standing on the windowsills so that the leaves do not get scorched.
Urgent transplantation is carried out at any time if the flower is in danger of dying from disease or pests.
It is prohibited to transplant a flower during the flowering period. Then you will have to stop the violet’s growth and budding. The plant will stop flowering and come out of the “depression” only next year.
