Many people who love growing violets also enjoy outdoor gardening, and there’s never a more exciting time than spring in the garden as tulips push through and magnolias bloom. But with the excitement also comes a most opportune time to warn you of a few dangers as they relate to your violets.
1. Make separate time for each. Avoid working in the garden or doing outdoor activities and then coming indoors to work on violets without taking precautions first. Whenever possible, work on violets first in the day and save outdoor chores for later. The natural world teems with potential dangers to violets. Buggy pests are rampant and will hitch a ride indoors on your clothes, in your hair, on your hands or on your pets. They can and will come through screened windows looking for bright flowers or healthy roots on which to dine. Keep windows closed in growing areas, change clothes and shower after working in the garden and try to keep your pets out of your violet room after they’ve wandered outside.
2. Never share tools. Always designate separate tools for indoor and outdoor gardening and never mix the two. Keep all your tools and potting areas clean and dry.
3. Keep outside things outside and inside things inside. Avoid exposing your violets to cut flowers from outdoors. Undoubtedly, those pretty little daffodils are full of pollen-munching thrips and thrips are no friends of violets. Fungus gnats make their homes in outdoor garden soil, so avoid bringing outdoor potted plants into your violet area on those chilly nights.
Hopefully these tips will help you to enjoy both your outside and inside gardens while still protecting your violets. By all means go outside and enjoy spring, but keep an eye out for any potential problems and correct them before they are out of your control.