FITTLE HOLIDAY PROBLEM SOLVED

I have been growing Saintpaulias for about three years, and last year the question arose: how to keep blooming beauties during my long teaching leave. This year, I started looking for a solution in advance. It turned out, there is a way out - wick irrigation. Translated all the violets on him since February 2019 r. and now I can say with confidence, that the holiday problem has been resolved, and I am ready to share my experience with readers.

TRIAL LANDING

First I tried the method on three weak specimens, because I was afraid of losing the entire collection, if the experiment fails. I also wanted to understand, why this growing method is considered effective.

Cut off 1/3 plastic 1,5 l bottle and inserted the upper part of the "funnel" into the lower. New shoelaces cut across 20 cm, advanced the resulting wick (wrapped a plastic bag in the middle of each, so that the soil does not wake up) through the neck of the bottle so, with one end touching the bottom of the lower container, and the second stayed at the top, where did you put the mixture of soil for Saintpaulia and agroperlite (1:1). Planted violets, gently squeezed the soil around and poured lightly from the syringe.

I poured water halfway into the lower part and installed the upper one with a wick. I put the saintpaulias on the windowsill, shading blinds from direct sunlight. There was enough water in the tank for a month. Later 2 for two months violets have noticeably grown (the weakest is missing), the first buds appeared - it means, it's time to transfer the entire collection to wick irrigation. Only instead of bottles I now use plastic pots for seedlings d = 9 cm, which I put in disposable glasses 0,5 l.

FEEDING AND TRANSFER

I feed Saintpaulias with liquid complex fertilizer for violets once every 2 months, reducing the recommended dose by half and leaving the nutrient solution, until all is absorbed.

I transplant plants every six months., as in a constantly moist substrate the process of peat decomposition (which makes up most of the soil for Saintpaulias) goes much faster, than with conventional top watering, therefore, you need to change the soil mixture more often.

Tatiana MIKHNEVICH, r. Brest. Photo by the author

DISSOLVING MYTHS ABOUT WILDING IRRIGATION OF SENPOLIA

Wick watering Saintpaulia

I come across many interesting statements about the content of Saintpaulias on the wick.. Some opinions are quite justified, but there are such, what, in my opinion, not true.

Myth 1. With wick irrigation, the diameter of the rosette increases due to the lengthening of the leaf petioles, and the plant grows old quickly.

Actually, the problem here is not the wick., and in lighting (flaw) and nutrition (overfeeding).

Myth 2. Flowers gradually become smaller.

The flowers will be smaller with each flowering, if the violet is not transplanted for years, do not rejuvenate. With timely transplantation and top dressing, varietal sizes are preserved. With age, the flowers are even larger and more terry..

Myth 3. Leaves become more fragile and brittle, which complicates the transportation of violets and transplanting. The leaves of plants are so juicy, and therefore fragile. Before the exhibition or packing, I remove the bushes from the container and dry it for a day or two..

Myth 4 Sockets fade quickly, and with normal watering, the flowers last longer. On the contrary. Wick violets have uniform and comfortable conditions, which provides longer and more abundant flowering, than with classic watering.

Myth 5. There is a rapid salinization of the substrate.

Soil saturation with salts depends on the quality of the water and on the selected fertilizers. Is considered, what is more useful to water the plants from above, so that water flows to the roots, "Filtered" by the upper part of the soil. And then limescale forms on the walls of the pot and on the surface of the soil.. But this fact has little effect on the general salinity of the substrate in such a small container..

Myth 6. The height of the plant is increased due to the container with water, which leads to the need to expand the space between the shelves of the rack, removing one of them Only partly true. After all, one "lost" shelf is nothing compared to the time spent on regular watering or the death of your favorite violets during the holidays.

Myth 7. When irrigating with wick, it is impossible to overdry or "fill" the violet.

Controversial. At first, until you have found the optimal soil, wick and critical water level (on which the thread dries up), maybe even then, and other.

Myth 8. A vessel with water must sometimes be empty., and the wick is a little dry. No. For a constantly humid environment, the violet grows such roots. who will die at the slightest dryness.

Myth 9. Some varieties of violets do not accept wick watering..

I have not met such varieties among my own (and the collection has already visited about 400). And I have not seen convincing evidence anywhere, that such Saintpaulias exist at all.

Myth 10. Peduncles are falling apart, without forming a "cap".

This issue is not related to the wick., but with lighting and grade.

Myth 11. At the moment, pots for wick irrigation have not been developed, therefore, the appearance of the plant with the lower capacity is poor. Not true, there are such pots.

Myth 1 2. Air humidity in the room increases. This is especially good, when heating is on.

Controversial. If containers are closed with lids, then only the surface of the soil and leaves will evaporate. In this case, the more violets, the higher the humidity.

Myth 13. Before turning off the heating in the spring, the violets must be removed from the wick., otherwise they die from temperature changes.

If the temperature is lower + 18 city., you will be the first to start freezing and, sure, turn on the heater.

WHAT I AGREE WITH?

Keeping violets on the wick saves watering time.

Plants bloom more often.

You can leave the collection unattended for a while and not worry, that the soil is dry.

Wick irrigation solution contains fertilizers, therefore, pets constantly receive the necessary substances.

Mini violets, which grow in small pots, with normal watering, they can dry out literally in a day, therefore keeping them on the wick is almost a necessity.

Often a green bloom appears on the walls of the container with the solution - algae. However, they do not affect the development of Saintpaulias., although they look unaesthetic.

The length of the wick is not important, and the distance from the water to the pot. This "air" section of the thread is a kind of "engine" of the entire system.: when it dries up (which means, dries up and the soil), the water is pulled up, in a pot. If you make this gap too large, then the wick will dry out due to excessive length.

The development of the plant is accelerated on the wick. Baby quickly turns into a starter and blooms.

And it is true. The plant does not need to spend time and energy fighting for life..

When transplanting violets onto a wick, you cannot wash off the old earth, as this can lead to root rot.

Yes. Washing the roots, you break their surface, damaging suction hairs. If you don't like violet roots, better re-root it.

Mix for wick irrigation must be landless, then there is less risk of pests, and there is no place for sphagnum, and at the bottom there is no need for drainage. True.

© Author: Natalia BULATOVA, collector Saintpaulia. r. Izhevsk Photo by the author

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SPECIALIST COMMENT

You cannot use wick watering on a cold windowsill - the roots can rot.

The nutrient solution should not be poured into the container before, less than a month after the saintpaulia transplant. It is not added to sick weakened specimens.

It is important to follow, so that the wick does not dry out. If the water in the glass runs out and time has passed, you need to start the "system" correctly: spill soil from above or put in a pan with water, or pour it into the lower container like this, so that the bottom of the upper pot sinks a little, - the substrate should be well nourished.

© Author: Olga STEPANOVA. biologist, r. Mogilev