The time of autumn is slowly approaching, and that means a relentless period of changeable and rainy weather. Tea works reliably to warm us up, perhaps with a drop of something spicier, but how to warm our souls? Let’s try it with the violets that adorned our grandmothers’ windows.
Anyone can do it
Violets are small, undemanding plants that, if you take the minimum of care, will reward you with a flood of colourful flowers.
Did you know that the largest number of violet growers are in the United States? That’s where they started a club that includes amateur and commercial growers from all over the world.
Low price
The easiest way to get this flower is to go to a market or florist and buy some violets.
Before you bring the flower home, here are some quick tips:
- Don’t expose to direct sunlight
- Provide plenty of light
- Don’t leave it standing in water
The packaging of the pot also matters, so that it fits in with your interior and complements it appropriately. You can choose from many plastic and ceramic containers, in different shapes and colours. Some look like hand-painted boxes that can hold several plants. It’s up to everyone’s taste.
Violets can be repotted or left in their original packaging and you’re done.
Simple propagation
There are several thousand species of violets. There are single or full blooms in myriad colour combinations from white to pink, purple to blue. The flowers can be single, bicoloured, plain, fringed. There are simply too many to choose from.
Once you get into growing violets you will find that there are species in your area, e.g. in your library, office or friends’ homes, that you would love to have. It is so easy to get this particular plant. Just break off a few leaves with a sufficiently long stem and you can propagate the flower yourself. You don’t have to worry about hurting the violet, as the leaves are plentiful and easy to replace.
Cut the healthy leaves you brought home and plant them in a small pot with damp sand, or dip the ends straight into water. Within two weeks, these leaves will take root and you can enjoy a bumper crop of new flowers. And it all starts again. Where and in which pot will I put it?
The plants will be an ornament to your interior and, with regular light watering, which must never get on the leaves, they will be your faithful guides not only through the winter season.