How to plant viola
Comprehensive explanation on how to plant viola and detailed introduction to the cultivation techniques of viola, let's follow the editor to see the specific content!
Viola is a perennial herbaceous flower of the Cruciferae family and the Viola genus, also known as Si Tao Ke, grass osmanthus, grass viola, wealthy flower, purple fence, purple blue, etc. It can grow up to 60 centimeters tall, with the whole plant densely covered with grayish-white pubescent branched hairs. The stem is erect, with many branches and slightly lignified at the base. The leaves are oblong to oblanceolate or spoon-shaped. Viola flowers are abundant, with bright colors, strong fragrance, long flowering period, and long inflorescence, making it loved by many flower enthusiasts. It is suitable for pot cultivation, flower beds, steps, and flower paths, and the whole plant can be used as a bouquet.
Viola is native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean coast, prefers cool climates, and dislikes dry heat. It enjoys a well-ventilated environment, prefers a mild climate in winter but can also tolerate short-term low temperatures of -5°C. The optimal growth temperature is 15-18°C during the day and about 10°C at night. It is not picky about soil, but grows better in well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil and dislikes acidic soil. Viola is cold-tolerant but not shade-tolerant, afraid of waterlogging, and suitable for higher positions. It is prone to diseases and pests in hot and humid weather with poor ventilation. Over-fertilization is not recommended, as it can be detrimental to flowering; insufficient light and ventilation can also lead to diseases and pests.
I. Viola propagation methods: There are seed propagation, cutting propagation, and tissue culture methods for viola propagation.
1. Cutting propagation: Viola is commonly propagated by cuttings, mainly through leaf cuttings, which are most effective in summer and autumn. After flowering, select strong and full leaves with a green color, cut the middle part with a sharp knife to obtain a leaf with a 2-3 cm petiole, let it dry slightly, then insert it into the sand bed, water thoroughly, maintain high humidity, room temperature of 18-24°C, and it will root after 3 weeks, with seedlings produced in 2-3 months, which can then be transplanted into pots. During the cutting process, to speed up root growth and increase the number of roots, the cuttings can be treated with plant growth hormones, which have a significant effect on promoting root growth. Common growth hormones include indole butyric acid, indole acetic acid, naphthyl acetic acid, 2,4-D, and rooting powder, all of which have a good effect on promoting root growth.
Viola can also root in water. The method of water cutting involves selecting mature, healthy, disease-free branches or leaves from the current year, cutting branches 8-12 cm long, retaining the top 3-4 leaves, cutting the mouth flat, and preferably at the bottom of the lowest node. Soak in 0.1% potassium permanganate solution for 2-3 minutes before cutting. Fill a glass bottle with water and insert the viola cuttings. Change the water every 1-2 days, keep the water temperature at 20-30°C, and it can root in about 30 days. After the roots are fully developed, it can be potted. It takes 4-6 months from cutting to flowering.
2. Seed propagation: After the fruit matures, cut the flower branch base, dry and thresh the seeds, and store them. The sowing time is generally from mid-August to early October, and it can be adjusted according to the time of use. Sowing in February in a greenhouse can bloom in May, sowing in March can bloom in June, but if sown in July, it will bloom in the greenhouse from February to March of the following year. The seeds should not be too dense, otherwise the seedlings are prone to damping off. For biennial cultivation, pot sowing can be done in September. The suitable sowing temperature is 16-18°C. When sowing, water the pot soil thoroughly, and do not water directly after sowing. If the soil dries and turns white, spray with a spray bottle or use the "pot immersion method" to keep the soil moist. Generally, the seeds will germinate in about 2 weeks.
II. Potting soil preparation: Home cultivation of viola usually involves potting. Potting first requires the preparation of cultivation soil, which is very important. A pot is a special small environment, and no single type of soil can meet all the needs of viola. Therefore, potting viola must involve manually preparing the cultivation soil to replace the natural soil and keep the flowers fixed in the pot. The soil should have good water retention, drainage, and be loose, fertile, and well-ventilated. Viola prefers fertile and well-drained sandy soil. Generally, the potting soil for viola can be prepared with 30% leaf mold, 50% garden soil, and 20% sand. It is best to sterilize the prepared soil at high temperature (fry in a wok or steam) before use, or it can also be sun-dried to kill germs.
III. Potting: When potting viola, choose a pot with good drainage and ventilation. First, soak the new pot in water for a day, then put some broken tiles at the bottom of the pot, followed by some decomposed cake fertilizer, crushed bones, fish bones, chicken feathers, etc., then fill in the cultivation soil. Trim the injured roots and excess fibrous roots of the viola plant, ensuring that the roots are spread out. Fill the soil to half the pot, then gently lift and shake the plant to compact the soil. Do not plant too deep, keeping the rootstock level with the pot rim. If it's too shallow, it affects survival, and if too deep, it affects the growth of the viola after transplanting. Water thoroughly after planting. Initially potted plants should be protected from direct sunlight until the roots are well developed. After potting, keep it in a shaded environment for about a week before moving it to a sunny place for care.
IV. Daily management
1. Light: Viola needs some light for growth, but not too intense. Strong sunlight in summer can affect growth. Light must be moderate, and proper shading is required during intense sunlight in summer.
2. Watering management: Viola prefers moist soil but dislikes waterlogging. It is important to water appropriately. Excessive watering can cause root rot. Viola enjoys fertilizer, water, and plenty of sunlight. During the growing season, water when the soil is dry. In hot spring and summer, water more, while in cooler autumn and winter, water should be reduced appropriately. Do not overwater or underwater.
3. Fertilization management: Apply a light fertilizer 2-3 times during the growing season, with a 10-day interval for compound fertilizer. Do not over- or under-fertilize, as improper fertilization can affect normal growth. Generally, no fertilizer is applied in winter. After pruning the wilted flowers, fertilize appropriately.
4. Pruning: After the viola flowers fade, pruning should be done promptly.
The above sharing on how to plant viola and a detailed introduction to the cultivation techniques of viola are for reference by netizens.