Known in floriculture as Saintpaulia, it is a popular indoor herbaceous plant that is quite capricious when grown and propagated. This delicate plant, like all indoor flowers, must be replanted as it matures to preserve its decorative qualities and full development.
The first and most common reason for replanting a pet is to replace a small flower container with a larger one due to noticeable flower growth. In order to preserve it during transplantation and not harm further growth, it is necessary to take into account some factors. For example, when can and should be replanted, in what ways and methods.
- A bare stem in the lower part of the plant - replanting will help make the plant more lush and flowering, which will enhance its decorative qualities and improve its appearance.
- Compacted soil with a high level of acidity and low nutrient content.
- The formation of a white coating on the soil surface - in such a soil mixture there is an excess of mineral fertilizers, which harms the growth and development of the plant, as well as low air permeability of the soil.
- An earthen lump tightly entwined with numerous old roots and young root shoots - to detect this problem, the plant must be carefully removed from the flower container.
Transplantation is not recommended in winter, since at this time there is not enough sunlight for violets, and in hot summer weather due to poor survival of plants at such temperatures. In the autumn and spring months, you can replant indoor flowers, but with additional lamp lighting. The most favorable time for transplantation is April and May.
It is not advisable to transplant violets during the period of budding and flowering. Firstly, a flowering plant is an indicator of its good health, which does not require replanting, and secondly, this can stop the flowering process for a long time. Replant the violet after the flowering period ends. There are, of course, exceptions to the rules. If the plant is attacked by pests or some kind of disease appears, then the flower needs to be replanted, despite its development period. Saving the plant should come first.
Emergency transplantation should be carried out using the transshipment method. The earthen lump must be removed from the container very carefully, without damaging its integrity, after moistening it. When preparing the soil for transshipment, care must be taken to ensure that moisture does not fall on the violet leaves. If there are buds or flowers on the plant, they must be cut off. This will contribute to the speedy establishment of the indoor flower in the new pot.
- When using a used flower container to replant a plant, care must be taken to carefully process it. All salt deposits must be cleaned and the container washed with laundry soap.
- Each plant transplant should involve the use of a flower pot that is slightly larger in height and width than the previous one.
- Since clay and ceramic pots help the soil dry out quickly, it is better to use plastic containers or flowerpots for replanting violets.
- The soil mixture for violets should be water- and breathable. The mixture must contain all the necessary nutrients and fertilizers. It is advisable to add peat and coarse river sand to such a soil mixture.
- The first layer in a flower pot should be drainage, consisting of expanded clay or moss, and then prepared soil.
- The plant should be buried in the ground so that the soil does not come into contact with its lower leaves. Contact of soil with leaves will cause their death.
- Before planting violets in a new pot, it is necessary to rejuvenate the plant by cutting off the largest foliage and root part.
- Watering is not carried out immediately after transplantation. It is recommended to cover the plant with a transparent film for a while to maintain the required level of moisture in the soil.
Methods for transplanting violets depend on the reasons why the plant needs to be moved to a new container. For each method you will need plastic flowerpots, a soil mixture and free time.
Most often, replanting is carried out in order to replace the old poor soil with new nutritious soil. External signs of the plant such as a bare stem, wilting, and souring of the soil indicate that the soil in the flower pot needs to be completely changed.
First, you need to carefully remove the plant along with the earthen lump and carefully clean each root from the soil. The cleaned roots must be carefully inspected and rotten and damaged parts must be removed. The upper part of the plant also needs to be cleared of yellowed leaves and dry faded buds. After this, all cut areas on the stems and roots must be sprinkled with powdered activated carbon.
If during replanting most of the root system was removed, then the container for the flower will need not a larger, but a smaller size. First, drainage is placed in the pot, then the soil mixture (two-thirds of the total mass), then the plant is placed and the remaining soil is added to the level of the lower leaves. The first watering is carried out only a day after transplantation. If necessary, after a few days, when the soil settles, you can add a little more soil.
If it is necessary to partially renew the soil, you need to take a larger pot and a suitable soil mixture. The violet is removed from the old pot along with the earthen lump, lightly shaking it from the old soil. A drainage expanded clay layer is required in a new container. This method is suitable for miniature plants.
The transshipment method is used to replant violets during illness, as well as when the rosette is densely overgrown. This flower transplant implies complete preservation of the old earthen clod. The new pot should be filled with a good layer of drainage, then some fresh soil should be added. We insert the old one into the new pot in the very center. We fill the space between the containers with soil, tapping the walls for better compaction. After this, we take out the old container and plant a violet in its place along with a lump of earth. In this case, the surfaces of the new and old earth should be at the same level.
If you follow all the rules of care, the violet will definitely delight you with its lush flowering.
Before transplanting a violet, a number of preliminary preparations must be made. It is advisable to start preparing Saintpaulia a few days before transplanting. Dirty leaves must be washed and dried: they must be dry when replanting. The soil, as a rule, becomes wet as a result of such a marathon. Therefore, it is advisable to wait a few days and bring the soil to a slightly moist state. If you decide to replant the plant here and now and wash it, be sure to carefully cover the soil with polyethylene. Remember - you cannot replant Saintpaulias if the soil has stuck together in a wet lump around the roots! The patient may not survive!
It is important to prepare containers that are the right size for your plants. Ideally, the diameter of the pot is one third of the diameter of the rosette, but you can get by with half the size. For large Saintpaulias, select pots with a diameter of 9 cm (no longer recommended). Small young rosettes are planted in 2-3 centimeter pots. Soak ceramic pots in water for 24 hours. Plastic containers are no worse than ceramic ones, and in some cases even preferable. At elevated summer temperatures, especially in the southern regions, the soil in plastic pots stays moist longer.
With regular watering from above, the soil should be loose , but nutritious and good at retaining moisture. All recipes for soil mixtures basically come down to a combination of the same components: leaf soil, vermicompost, peat (top and bottom), sphagnum, coal, sand, vermiculite, perlite, coconut fiber.
- Mixture 1. Take 4 (3) parts of leaf soil, 1 (2) parts of peat, 1 part each of sphagnum, vermiculite, coal.
- Mixture 2. Leaf soil - 2 parts, vermicompost - 2, peat - 2, sand - 2, coal - 0.5.
- Mixture 3. Use purchased soil (for Saintpaulias, universal) with the addition of 1 part each of perlite (vermiculite) and sphagnum.
If you are planning to switch regular irrigation to wick irrigation, then with this method the soil has a number of features: the soil components may be the same, but it should be even looser. For example, leaf soil (2 parts), peat (1), coconut fiber (1) perlite (2). Soil loosening agents should be approximately 50%.
If you purchased or were given an ordinary, not very expensive Saintpaulia, then you are unlikely to sterilize the soil. But if you have a rare variety, most likely you will not risk it and do not expose the flower to the danger of being affected by any infection during transplantation. Therefore, you will seriously think about sterilizing the soil. Flower growers give ambiguous recommendations - from simply scalding the soil with boiling water to sterilizing it for several hours in a microwave, oven or over an open fire on the stove. You can put it in a container with holes and keep it for a couple of hours. In any case, you will end up with “dead” soil, which is not recommended to be used immediately: wait a few weeks until beneficial microflora develops in it. Another way is to treat the planting soil with disinfectants ( Fitosporin and etc.).
Prepare drainage - expanded clay, polystyrene foam, broken brick, sphagnum. Usually only one component is added.
Pour boiling water over all tools, drainage, and pots and cool.
Replanting Saintpaulia with soil replacement
Place drainage at the bottom of the pot. If you decide to use wick watering, 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 with 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.
How to plant violets in different containers
If you haven't replanted your flower for a long time, you may end up with a whole plantation of plants in one pot. The flowering of such Saintpaulias is either sparse or non-existent. Plant it urgently! But please note that many rosettes do not have roots and are simply attached to the mother stem. Remove the plant from the pot and carefully separate all the rosettes with a sharp object (razor blade, needle, knife), sprinkle the cut areas with crushed coal.
Place all sockets on root. You can root in water, in a substrate (vermiculite, coconut fiber, sand, etc.). Plants placed in the substrate are either covered with polyethylene or placed in a greenhouse. Stepchildren with roots are planted like adult Saintpaulias in separate pots. The mother flower is planted using one of the methods described above. Plants, each placed in its own home, will very soon delight you with lush flowering.
When and how often can violets be replanted?
When is the best time to replant violets? It is generally accepted that the best time for plant development is spring. Saintpaulias are no exception to this rule. If spring gives an impetus to growth, then autumn is the opposite. Is it possible to replant violets in the fall? And in winter? Flower growers answer these questions positively, with some reservations. If there is constant illumination, the temperature fluctuates in a comfortable range for Saintpaulia, then the transplantation goes no worse than in the spring. When flowers stand on windows, where temperature fluctuations depend on the weather outside the window and there is little lighting, then the chance of such a transplant dying is quite high.
In the summer, when the air temperature is not too high, there is moderate rain, and there is air conditioning at home, there are no restrictions on transfers. But for the southern regions, where summers are hot and dry, this is the worst time not only for transplants, but also for the growth of Saintpaulias in general.
Is it possible to replant a blooming violet? If you have the determination to pick off all the flowers, replanting during flowering is possible. But don’t be sad, the plant, which has received new vital energy, will quickly take root and bloom again even brighter and more abundantly! It is necessary to break off all peduncles with flowers to form new roots. The nutrients found in the soil should primarily be used for their growth.
Growing Saintpaulias are in small containers, from which minerals are quickly taken away and the soil is depleted. Grown flowers require a larger pot and fresh soil. They are replanted several times a year. Adult flowers are less demanding of frequent replanting; one replanting per year is enough for them.
Violet is a genus that includes more than 500 subspecies. The natural growing conditions are the mountainous terrain of the Northern Hemisphere, but the plant also takes root well as an indoor crop.
The flower grows quickly and requires periodic replanting. Saintpaulias (an alternative name is Usambara violet), which belong to a different family, are often confused with violets. The tips below apply to both cultures.
At home, the container is changed annually. Within 12 months, the soil is greatly depleted, losing most of its nutrients. The soil cakes and does not accept moisture well or leads to its stagnation. In such conditions, the flower quickly begins to rot or dry out. If Saintpaulia grows quickly, it can completely fill the container with the root system, which will also damage its condition: the leaves become small, darken, and stretch out. To prevent weakening, it is necessary to transplant into a new pot.
Experts note that annual change of container also allows for constant flowering. The plant will receive enough nutrients to form new inflorescences.
Determining the need to transplant violets
Based on the condition of the flower, it is easy to understand that a transplant is required. The following signs indicate this:
- the appearance of a white coating on the soil surface;
- growth of the root system to such a state that it entwines the entire container;
- change in color of leaf blades from green to brown;
- reduction in foliage size or loss;
- excessive extension of the barrel;
- compaction of the earth in the container.
Sometimes the need to change the pot is indicated by a long absence of flowering. However, violet can produce buds during illness or lack of nutrition. If flowering has begun, and the soil mixture urgently needs to be renewed, the buds and opened flowers are cut off.
Timing for transplanting indoor violets
The pot needs to be changed in the spring, in April or May. It is also allowed to carry out the procedure at the end of February, beginning of March or during the fall. At this time, the air temperature is optimal and the daylight hours are quite long. Disturbing the plant in summer is strictly prohibited. In conditions of strong heating and low soil and air humidity, violets may take root poorly and die.
Winter replanting is allowed, but only if phytolamps are used. They should extend daylight hours, especially in December. With a lack of lighting, the flower will take root just as poorly as at elevated temperatures. In February, additional lighting is practically no longer required if the grower does not live in the northern regions.
The plant should not be replanted during flowering. If buds appear on the rosette, this indicates a sufficient content of nutrients in the soil. It is necessary to wait until the flowering period has passed and change the pot after it. An exception can be made only if Saintpaulia is affected by a fungal or bacterial disease or pest. In this case, the flower is carefully removed from the pot, trying not to damage the root system, the inflorescences and buds are torn off, and then carefully placed in a new container without removing the old earthen lump. This method is called the transshipment method.
Transplanting violets according to the Lunar calendar
The Earth's satellite significantly influences the development of plants. Depending on the phase, the moon can lead to increased or decreased circulation of sap within the plant. Experienced gardeners use the lunar calendar to increase the chances of successful planting. It is best to change the earthen lump during the waning moon phase.
Transplant methods
There are three ways to transplant Saintpaulia. The first and most popular is changing the container with partial replacement of the soil. This procedure is carried out as planned if the violet is completely healthy and does not bloom. Algorithm of actions:
- Prepare a pot of slightly larger diameter.
- Pour drainage into the bottom of the container, then fill in the soil mixture.
- Make a hole for the root system.
- Carefully remove the violet from the old pot, shake off the soil, which easily comes off on its own.
- Place the flower in a new pot, surrounding the roots with new soil.
With this method, the lower part of the plant is practically not damaged, and the transplantation occurs as gently as possible. In this case, the soil is replaced by more than 50%, which allows for an influx of new nutrients and improves the condition of indoor violets.
The second method involves a complete replacement of the soil. It must be used if the soil is seriously depleted. The need to change it entirely is indicated by the presence of a white coating on the surface, browning of the leaves, and exposure of the trunk. This option is traumatic for the roots, but allows you to achieve a maximum influx of nutrients. How to carry out the procedure correctly:
- Remove the plant from the soil. Remove all soil, as well as rotten or dried roots.
- Carefully cut off leaf blades that are too large, dry, excessively soft or brown. Sprinkle the cut areas with crushed coal or ash.
- Prepare a new container: pour drainage, then half of the soil mixture.
- Place the violet in a new container, surround it with soil and lightly compact it. Add the second half of the mixture so that it almost reaches the lower leaves.
- Lightly tap the pot to distribute the soil more evenly.
- After a day, water Saintpaulia generously at the root, adding a little more soil if necessary.
As for the third option, it is used if the plant is in a flowering state, but urgently requires replanting. The earthen lump is completely preserved, but the container is replaced with a larger one. How to replace step by step:
- Moisten the soil in the old pot, being careful not to touch the leaves with moisture, and carefully pull it out entirely.
- Pour drainage into a new container, which should be larger in diameter than the old one. Then place the previous pot on top of it and pour soil between the walls of the two containers.
- Place a lump of earth together with the violet root system into the resulting recess.
- Check if the ground level is the same.
Capacity requirements
Violets do not need deep pots. Their root system expands upward, so the maximum depth of the container is 10 cm. As for the diameter, depending on the age and size of the flower, you need to purchase a container of 5-9 cm. For miniature varieties, a container with a depth of 5 cm and a diameter of 4 cm will be sufficient.
Particular attention should be paid to the material of the container. The most common options:
- Plastic. Inexpensive and easy to use material. Light weight allows you to place the pots on glass shelves or fragile window sills. In stores you can find a wide variety of shapes and colors, patterns, textures. The only drawback is the lack of ventilation. If the manufacturer does not provide holes for air and drainage in the container, they must be made using a very heated nail. It is best to purchase a special container for violets. Such models are equipped with a convenient drainage system.
- Clay. Clay containers are quite heavy and bulky, so they are not suitable for fragile flowerpots and glass shelving. On the other hand, they retain heat well, retain water at the roots and allow the required volume of air to pass through. Such a pot can be purchased if the buyer’s budget is not limited.
It is convenient if the container is transparent. The owner will be able to control the size of the root system and replant in a timely manner.
Composition of the nutrient substrate
In flower shops you can purchase a special soil mixture for violets. It includes the necessary minerals and biohumates. Sometimes the substrate is prepared independently using the following ingredients:
- leaf soil;
- peat;
- coniferous soil;
- turf land;
- river sand.
The required proportions are 2:1:1:1:1. To improve drainage, it is better to add a handful of crushed or fine charcoal.
The soil must be treated to remove fungus, bacteria and pest larvae. The best option is calcination in the oven for 20-30 minutes at a temperature of +200 °C. If it is inconvenient to use the oven, it is necessary to treat the soil with boiling water.
Violet transplant technology
Before starting the transplant, several preparatory steps must be taken. New containers should be treated to reduce the likelihood of disease development. You can moisten the internal cavity with a solution of potassium permanganate, and wash it off after a few hours. Clay containers are additionally cleaned of salt deposits. They need to be left in water for 10-12 hours. You also need to buy drainage. Its role can be played by expanded clay or pieces of medium-fraction charcoal.
During replanting, you need to remove large leaves that can take away nutrients. They are suitable for vegetative propagation.
Mr. Summer Resident warns: mistakes when transplanting violets
A violet may die if replanted incorrectly. Flower growers often make the following mistakes:
- transplanting into a pot with a diameter of more than 9 cm;
- watering after planting in the center of the rosette;
- too deep or shallow location (leads to rotting of the roots and weakening of the rosette, respectively);
- use of unsterilized soil contaminated with fungal spores or bacteria;
- incorrect choice of substrate components;
- the use of soil mixtures with excess nutrients.
The replanting algorithm is simple; even a beginner in the field of floriculture can perform it correctly. The main thing is to find the right time to change the container and not forget about the nutrient substrate.
All plants require replanting or replanting from time to time. And most often, replanting is done due to the growth of the plant, when the regrown roots need a larger pot. In cramped conditions, indoor plants stop growing, stop blooming and lose their decorative properties. Many novice flower growers are wondering how to transplant violets at home. After all, Saintpaulia is a very delicate and fragile crop, from which you ultimately want to achieve beautiful flowering.
When to replant an indoor flower?
This plant needs annual replanting; it has a beneficial effect on its overall health. With time soil loses nutrients, the necessary acidity and caking. In addition, replanting helps to hide the bare stem and helps to obtain a lushly blooming rosette. How to determine when it’s time to replant a violet? There are certain signs:
- There is a white coating on the surface of the soil, which indicates that the soil lacks air permeability and that it is oversaturated with mineral fertilizers.
- The earthen ball is tightly entwined with the root system of the flower. To verify this, the plant is removed from the container.
At what time of year should violets be replanted? Saintpaulia is replanted at any time of the year, with the exception of winter, when light flow is limited. Therefore, in winter it is better not to disturb the violet, but to wait for warmer weather. If you still decide to replant in late autumn or winter, then the plant must provide additional lighting, connecting the lamps. If the summer turns out to be hot, then it is better to postpone the transplant, since the survival rate in such conditions gives a low percentage.
Is it possible to replant a flowering Saintpaulia? Many gardeners are interested in this question. Experts answer that replanting is undesirable at the time of bud formation, since the violet can stop the process that has begun. If a plant blooms, this means one thing: it feels great in this pot. Therefore, there is no need to rush. You should wait until Saintpaulia has finished blooming, only then proceed to replanting it.
Transplantation in bloom is carried out only when absolutely necessary, in cases where immediate saving of the flower is required. This procedure is carried out correctly - by transferring the earthen clod. Before this, all the buds are cut off so as not to delay its rapid adaptation.
The plant needs to be prepared for transplantation. The earthen ball is slightly moistened to prevent root damage.
The soil should not stick to your hands, but it should not be too dry either. When moistening the substrate, avoid getting water on the leaves, which will protect them from contamination during replanting.
Main rules, in accordance with which it is necessary to transplant Saintpaulia, are the following:
Different transplant methods
Today you can replant this indoor flower using several methods. For this you will need plastic pots, soil substrate and a little time.
The most common reason for replanting Saintpaulias at home is to replace the old soil mixture with a new one. This procedure is carried out when the violet stops developing, has a bare stem or soured soil. Such a transplant requires a complete replacement of the soil, including removing it from the roots. This makes it possible to conduct a thorough inspection of the root system; if it is unhealthy, it is necessary to remove rotten and damaged parts. Carefully remove the violet from the pot, remove the soil, yellowed leaves, and limp and dry flower stalks. The sections must be treated with charcoal powder.
If during transplantation it was necessary to remove a lot of roots, choose a container one size smaller than the previous one.
The bottom of the pot is covered with expanded clay, after which form a hill from the earth, on which they spread the violet, straightening the roots. Then add soil right up to the leaves. To better compress the roots with an earthen lump, lightly tap the pot. After planting, the plant is watered no earlier than 24 hours later. After watering, when the soil settles slightly, you need to add more soil to avoid exposing the stem.
Violets are replanted at home and for partial soil changes. This method is good for miniature varieties, when partial renewal of the substrate is sufficient. Such a transplant is carried out without damaging the root system into a larger pot. The transplant itself takes place in exactly the same way as the previous method, however, the substrate is partially shaken off, without the need to disturb the earthen coma.
Transshipment method
Transplanting Saintpaulia using the transshipment method is carried out in case of saving a flowering specimen or in order to plant children. This method is also applicable when you need to replant a very overgrown flower rosette. Such a transplant implies complete preservation of the earthen coma. How to make it?
A larger pot is covered with a layer of drainage, followed by a portion of fresh substrate. The old one is inserted into this flowerpot and aligned in the center. Soil is poured into the resulting free space between the pots; tap the container for better compaction. Then the old container is removed and the violet along with an earthen lump is placed in the recess formed from the previous pot. It is necessary to ensure that the surface of the new and old soil is at the same level. Transshipment of Saintpaulia is completed.
After this procedure, competent care is carried out, with which you can achieve full development and wild violet blossoms.
Violet is a well-known houseplant that requires special care. This flower must be replanted in time to preserve its basic qualities. Since the flower grows noticeably over time, it is necessary to replace the small container with a larger one. To transplant a violet, you need to know what methods and techniques can be used to do this.
When is a transplant necessary?
To understand how often to replant violets, you need to consider that it is recommended to do this once every twelve months . And also for a transplant there must be the following reasons:
It is important to consider the time of year when violets can be replanted. It is not recommended to do this in winter, because at this time there is a lack of sunlight. And you also don’t need to think about how to plant indoor violets in hot summer weather. Under such conditions, plants do not take root well. If you need to do this in spring or autumn, it is recommended to turn on lamp lighting. It is best to carry out your plans in the middle and at the end of spring.
If a florist is thinking of planting indoor violets, then he should know that urgent transplantation is carried out by transshipment. The lump needs to be carefully pulled out, trying not to cause harm. And it is also recommended to water it a little in advance, but the water should not get on the leaves of the plant. If the plant has already acquired buds, then it is better to get rid of them. If you follow these rules, the flower will quickly take root properly in the new container.
Nuances and rules
When transplanting Saintpaulia, you must follow certain rules. It is necessary to adhere to them so that the flower does not die in the process:
