If by rooting a violet leaf you can get only one plant, then when propagated by seeds, many small flowers will grow at once. All of them will be different and not similar to their parents, because the characteristics of the variety are not preserved during seed cultivation. But the process is so fun that if there is free space for flowers and time to care for them, you should definitely try.
Getting seeds
In order for the seeds to set, the flower must be fertilized. At home, occasional insects can sometimes contribute to pollination, but more often a florist has to do this. The anther, a small formation containing pollen, is plucked out with tweezers. It needs to be opened, you can use a blade. After that, the resulting pollen is transferred to another plant. Pollen retains the ability to fertilize for a long time, up to three months, so it can be collected for future use.
If everything went well and an ovary has formed in the flower, the peduncle will not dry out, but, on the contrary, will slightly increase. The seeds may take several months to ripen. It is necessary to ensure that the seed box does not open on its own.
Sowing seeds
It is best to sow seeds in March or April when day length is optimal for growing violets. If the seeds are sown in autumn or winter, additional lighting is required.
For germination, take a low-fat soil, from the ready-made soil mixture for cacti and succulents is suitable. You can prepare the mixture yourself. This will require equal parts of humus, calcined sand and vermiculite.
The seeds are not deepened, they are scattered over the surface of the moistened soil. The seed pot should be covered with glass or a plastic bag to keep it moist. The temperature for germination should be at least 20 degrees Celsius.
After the appearance of the first shoots, the crops begin to ventilate. The pot is left open for half an hour. With each subsequent day, the airing time is increased.
Picking
After the appearance of the second true leaf, the violets must be opened. Flowers are carefully removed from the soil with a toothpick or a stack and placed in a separate container with a volume of up to 100 ml. It is advisable to cover the planting for two weeks while the root system is restored.
In the future, the violets are looked after as usual, monitoring the moisture content of the soil and applying top dressing on time. Flowering will begin in about 2 years.
