Violet Planting Time and Methods
As an elegant ornamental flower in the courtyard, the violet is deeply favored by gardening enthusiasts for its unique fragrance and rich colors. Mastering scientific sowing time and planting methods can make the violet bloom more magnificent flowers. This article will systematically analyze the entire process of violet planting, from sowing timing to seedling cultivation.
Planning the Sowing Time for Violets
Regular Sowing Window
The best sowing period is from mid-August to early October, when the temperature is stable between 15-25℃, avoiding high temperatures that can burn the seedlings and ensuring sufficient growth period. It is recommended to sow in early August in the north and can be postponed to mid-October in the south.
Strategies for Flowering Control
Accurate flowering control can be achieved by adjusting the sowing time: sowing in February for flowering in May, and sowing in March for flowering in June. If planning to use flowers for the New Year, sowing should be completed in July, but it is necessary to build a shade shed in summer to maintain an ambient temperature of ≤28℃.
Full Process of Sowing and Cultivating Violets
Seed Pre-treatment Techniques
Choose single-petal plants for seed-saving, and soak the seeds in 40℃ warm water for 2 hours before sowing to improve germination rate. Use a mixture of peat soil and perlite (3:1) as the growing medium, maintaining a sowing depth of 0.5cm, and use the pot-bottom watering method to keep the soil moist after covering the seeds.
Key Steps for Transplanting
When the seedlings have unfolded 2 true leaves (about 20 days after sowing), transplant them with the soil ball to a 15cm diameter pot. It is recommended to use a base fertilizer of decomposed sheep manure and bone meal (mixed 5:1), and after transplanting, water thoroughly and place in a diffused light environment for 7 days to slow the seedlings.
Key Points for Seedling Care of Violets
Water and Fertilizer Management System
Maintain soil moisture at 60%-70% during the seedling stage, following the principle of "watering when dry and keeping moist". Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted 2000 times (N-P-K=20-20-20) every 10 days, combined with a weekly foliar application of seaweed fertilizer to enhance stress resistance.
Technique for Pinching and Shaping
Perform the first pinching 60 days after sowing, leaving 6-7 functional leaves. Select 3-4 strong lateral branches after they emerge, removing the rest. During the bud formation stage, remove weak buds at the base to ensure that the main flowering branches have concentrated nutrition (G-Y).
Through precise time control and scientific care management, it only takes 120-150 days for the violet to bloom from sowing to flowering. It is recommended to rotate the pot regularly to ensure even lighting of the plant, and to remove the withered flowers promptly after flowering to promote secondary blooming. Mastering these core techniques can make the violet bloom elegantly throughout the year.