Viola alba aka White Violet

Taxonomy

Viola alba, also known as white violet, is a clump-forming perennial species belonging to the family Violaceae. It features mid-green, heart-shaped leaves and produces white flowers during the spring season. This plant is a rare houseplant that requires regular watering and thrives in direct, long-lasting light, preferably less than one foot away from a window. It prefers well-draining soil, and fertilizer is unnecessary if the plant is repotted each time it doubles in size.

Common names

White Violet, Parma Violet

How to care for White Violet

Difficulty

If you're looking for a plant that offers a moderate level of challenge, White Violet is a great choice to test your gardening skills.

Water

White Violet should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Soil

White Violet loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.

Lighting

To ensure optimal growth, the White Violet prefers bright indirect light for 6-8 hours each day. Insufficient light can result in slow growth and leaf drop, so it's important to find a well-lit location for this plant. Place it near a window, within a distance of 1 meter (3 feet), to enhance its potential for thriving.

Dormancy

During the cold period, it is common for White Violet to go dormant, resulting in a slowdown of growth. To accommodate this, waterings should be spaced out more.

Toxicity

There is no verified data on the toxicity of this plant in the records of Ploi. If any person, including yourself, a family member, or a pet, consume plant material with an uncertain toxicity level, it is advisable to seek the advice of a healthcare expert.

Humidity

No extra humidity is necessary for the White Violet. Absorption of water by plants is primarily done through their roots, and soil watering is the most effective method to provide humidity to your plants.

Fertilizer

Repotting the White Violet should be done either when it has doubled in size or on a yearly basis, whichever occurs sooner. Fresh potting soil with all the required nutrients, refreshed annually, will provide the plant with all the necessary sustenance, making the use of fertilizer unnecessary. Keep in mind that plants receive their energy from the sun, not fertilizer.

Region of origin

White Violet’s native range is Temperate Northern Hemisphere.


More info:
Wikipedia