Thanks for any info or help you have. Carefully close the lid tight, ensuring that the cuttings and pots all fit inside of the container. This can occur due to overwatering and wide temperature fluctuations. One of the reasons it ranks so highly in my favor is that they seem to thrive on neglect. In another 3-4 weeks, your new leaves will start to sprout. Propagating African Violets is not hard at all. The ones you see here have been in the soil for 3-4 weeks. I never let… Read more ». They were also a favorite plant to bring home, and in the years I’ve spent caring for these tough yet delicate plants, I’ve learned the ins and outs of the African violet. The leaf grew and now I have a baby on the backside of the leaf. It is a great boomer but the stem has gotten so long that it won’t stand up right anymore. One of my favorite aspects of Saintpaulia is that repotting is generally not required, and often is discouraged. Hi Ruby, thanks for reading! Hello Matt! I’d suggest leaving it for now and monitoring its growth, and if the parent plant begins to look a little stressed it’s time to remove the new one. Always save those pots! The leaves of some varieties root very quickly, while other varieties certainly take their time. Miracle-Gro® Indoor Potting Mix is specially formulated to provide indoor plants like African violets with just the right growing environment. Watering is the area where African violets are most temperamental. But what confuses me is the varieties that do not grow from the center crown into a circular manner, but rather as other plants do… Read more ». Those look SO healthy. This typically happens to plants left near a window during the winter months. In fact, you can root them in water. He presently resides in Philadelphia and works under the sun as a landscaper and gardener, and by moonlight as a writer. so your article will help me deal with all those beautiful, stripped-off leaves I found on the sunroom floor this morning. It will need to be large enough to place your pots inside, and for the pots and the leaves they contain to remain upright when the lid of the container is closed. Satin Flower: Darling of the Pacific Coast, 12 Fast-Growing Shade Trees for Your Yard, 11 of the Best Pumpkins to Grow for Pies, Puree, and Other Treats, 11 of the Best Vegetables to Grow in Pots and Containers, Potted Bushes: How to Grow Shrubs in Containers, How to Identify and Treat Pecan Twig Dieback Disease, Growing Heliotropes: Fragrant Vintage Charmers, How to Grow Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) from Seed, A sharp knife, your pinching fingertips, or a pair of fine-tipped pruners, Plastic plant tags or other waterproof supports, A clamshell to-go container made of clear plastic. African violets prefer bright but indirect light. These leaves should be well-developed and healthy. I recommend filling the bottom of the container with about a quarter inch of water with the “roof” of the greenhouse open. I’ve never had this happen before. If the water evaporates, add more. When several roots about 1 inch long develop, typically after a few weeks, the African violet is ready for transplanting into a growing medium like potting soil. If you got roots to sprout, then this should suffice to start a new plant! Walter discovered the plant in 1892 (the first year a game of basketball was played and when Coca-Cola was incorporated, for the history buffs out there) and sent seeds to his father in Germany. Rooting An African Violet In Water. By the time you’re finished reading this, you’ll be armed and ready to start your own African violet assembly line! What do I do with it? Your goal is to remove the bottom of the root ball in an an amount equal to the length of the neck; in other words, if your violet has 1″ neck you want to remove 1″ of soil and roots from the bottom of the root… Read more », Awesome post! Place the potted and soon-to-be-beautiful African violets into the clamshell containers. How much or do you water the leaf while it is in the container (mini greenhouse)? Here is more about what we do. Can this be replanted with rooting medium? And just think, if enough take you can hand them out as gifts to people, and they can all share in the legacy! To my delight, a new plant grew up from the stem about a month later. Plant the leaves that have roots into the prepared flower pots. At first the plant will being to fill the flower pot with its roots, so don’t use extremely deep flower pots. Plan to do this project in the spring. Could you please elaborate? Thank you for such a great article. When the baby leaves appear do you cut the larger one? . I’m glad the stripped leaves can be useful to carry on the legacy of your powerful and long-lived violet. The plants actually bloom more powerfully and regularly when rootbound. My violet will survive. As long as a leaf looks healthy and crisp, don't give up on it. This typically occurs when they are crowded with other plants or … Thank you very much for this information how to take care of African violets! He considers folksy adages priceless treasures and is fueled almost entirely by beer and hot sauce. Thanks to your article, I know… Read more ». African violets (Saintpaulia spp.) Nice work keeping that going for 23 years, that’s very impressive. Many older African violets develop a “neck”, which is the stalk you’re talking about. You’d want to plant that neck/stalk in some soil so that the bottom leaves of the violet are touching the soil. After a period of approximately eight weeks, your leaves should be developing into proper violets. Its survival along with my own has been very symbolic for me. Use the plastic plant tags (or whatever support you have chosen) to act as a stand, ensuring the leaces do not collapse into the soil. You could try cutting off the top of the leaf (above the baby plant) and some of the edges and re-burying the leaf stem a little deeper into the rooting medium, getting the baby closer to the potting mix. I told about a 23 year old violet in my sunroom that my husband’s puppy stripped of most of its leaves in order to bury her rawhide chew. They should have developed a few baby leaves at the base of the plant (seriously, they’re adorable) and have reached a height of about two inches. Thank you for all the information. Matt, thank you for the propagation information. Thanks so much for the answer, springtime uh? African violets prefer bright but indirect light. Drainage is always important for potted plants, but if you’re careful with your watering and don’t put in too much you should be fine without the drainage. Many thanks! It does not take long to be able to recognize the fact if your plant likes their spot. If you need to separate seedlings that are growing too close together, you can do this when the African violet seedlings have leaves that are about 1/4 inch wide. I’m not sure what I’d do with that baby plant — has it grown in the last week? But if you want to re-pot your plant, here’s how. Propagating african violets by leaf stem cuttings. They will do best at 65 to 75°F (18 to 24°C), and although they can survive temperatures up to about 90°F (32°C), they will die if exposed to below 50°F (10°C). Just a thought. Position this container in an area that is bright, but not hot. Like soy sauce, a little rooting hormone goes a long way. How to Propagate New African Violets from Leaf Cuttings Melissa - Empress of Dirt We occasionally link to goods offered by vendors to help the reader find relevant products. If you elect not to use artificial lighting, your violets will still be as happy as… well, whatever the plant equivalent of a clam is. If you look closely at the crown of Saintpaulia you will notice that leaves are arranged in a rosette pattern. African violets are easy to propagate by rooting a leaf cutting in water or vermiculite. GARDENER'S PATH® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ASK THE EXPERTS LLC. The African violet seeds should germinate in one to nine weeks. For simplicity’s sake I harvested leaves from a single plant, five total leaves for propagation. Source: Propagating an African Violet | Penelope Peru Photography P³ African Violets (Saintpaulia Ionantha) are one of the most common houseplants and … If the leaves you cut are too tall to fit inside the container, there’s an easy fix for that. That said, if you are going to replant them and carefully divide the multiple crowns, do it during the… Read more ». Leave them covered for 3-4 days before exposing them to the light again. I suspect that I might have overmoistened it… Please advise. But you can also pick it up at your local nursery, or find a suitable mixture online. I love African violets. I generally trust plants to know what they’re doing and only intervene if it’s necessary. The leaf is however the best part of the plant to use when wanting to propagate a new plant. I truly love this plants and I want to share with you my way in propagating African … Remember that without any roots on a leaf cutting it’s not pulling up much, if any, moisture from the soil, so it’ll sit in consistently wet soil and slowly rot. Seeds are another way to propagate African violets. Leave them in bright light for 2 to 4 weeks. African violets grow best in well-drained, slightly acidic soil. If the roots are the right size, you can plant the leaf directly into its intended pot. Gardening Guides: How to Propagate an African Violet from a Leaf. Below are three images of an African Violet … It does take a healthy dose of courage, but you make a clean cut across the “neck”, dip that cut end in rooting hormone (optional), and pot it up just like a leaf cutting. Even though the leaf has roots, I’m not going to see any new top growth for probably another 3 weeks, maybe even another month. Fill the 2-inch pots (or whatever size you have) with the rooting medium. There always seem to be a few lying around. 6. Room-temperature water is ideal for African violets. Other problems could involve too much light, or the plant simply died. In a month or so, it should form new roots. What does a long neck look like on African Violets? That’s fascinating and I haven’t seen anything like it before, either. Other factors are rooting medium, your growing conditions, and variety. Caring For Your African Violet. Finally, to create a mini greenhouse for your cuttings to grow inside, you will need a clear plastic to-go container, the clamshell variety. This can be the result of too much direct summer sun. Auxins are a plant hormone located in the tip of a stem that encourage elongation. Remove them by hand if you find them, and try applying a spray of neem oil. Very interesting! We’ve found that plantlets can be removed from the mother leaf and individually potted anywhere from 3 to 5 months from the date the leaf was first put down. The main violet is healthy and happy. You are welcome to unsubscribe at any time. Now I have dozens of new babies crowding my bigger pots. This was exactly my question as well – re how to deal with neck of my mature and beautiful African violet. They have a well-documented history and are relatively easy to care for, but propagating them from cuttings is an exercise in pleasure. By your article am I watering them too much? When the sprouts get 2-3 leaves on them, which is around the 2-6 month mark, you will need to repot. Good question. The suckers can be removed carefully with small scissors or tweezers and repotted to grow new plants. African violets are one of the easiest house plants to propagate. Sorry if this was confusing! One of the reasons it ranks so highly in my favor is that they seem to thrive on neglect. I also had some pots that had a wick system to continually wick water. Hey Rebecca, thanks for the question here. African violets need bright, indirect light such as from a south- or east-facing window, although direct sunlight can burn the leaves. Use a pencil or any similarly-sized object to poke holes through the soil. It is vital that the container can close tightly, locking up the potted cuttings in a warm and humid environment. You can make one clean cut across the top of each leaf, effectively slicing away the top half of the leaf. I put a few leaves in water, add water when needed, and my last check, I notice small tiny green leaves under water. I wa scrolling through looking for the same answer when I stumbled upon my original post. Place the sucker in a four inch pot with good potting soil. That’s because of its profuse and reliable blooming, the ease of care, and the mystique of being a plant native to Africa. Not a happy time! Hey there! No roots just a stalk. You must have the violet touch! I have beautiful plants, and they almost bloom all year long. You never know when you might need them. I think you’ve got a good system with those pots, essentially letting the plants do the watering themselves. I may have to try to start a plant from a leaf cutting. Clancey Moore. It’s funny how determined African violets are to reproduce, isn’t it? Soil should be porous and well-draining. a favor and pick one up. After the time’s up, drain any excess water. After a month or so, the plant will begin growing and it will bloom beautifully in no time! Hopefully you’ll find that, after this treatment, the plant will be so grateful to be released that it will almost immediately burst into bloom! I appreciate and will try what you suggested! They enjoy their tenderness and beautiful flowers longer, I decided to learn propagate them through leaves. Prepare the potting medium. Occasionally, I'll see ears in as little as two or three weeks, but four to six weeks is more likely. Then wait for the water to drain out from the bottom and return the violet to its home. I love African Violets very much and I really enjoyed your article . Make sure to watch the below video on how to grow African violets through leaf cuttings. That’s great to know, I’ll wait. Use a very light rooting medium, one that can be kept moist without rotting the leaves. Thanks again! 13 Mar. QI rooted my leaves in water and is there a specific planting method for them? When I (VERY!) Plants with multiple crowns can be divided, giving you more plants to enjoy or share with friends. The plant was shown in Germany in 1893 and Britain in 1894, but it didn’t make its way to the United States until the 1920s. Do we drill drainage holes in the part where we start the leaves. Thank you for reading and for taking the time to comment, it means so much , I have noticed the last couple of day that my African Violets has holes on the leaves and could like black caviar poo what is this Thank you Kind Regards Mary Agius, All signs point to this being an insect infestation Mary, likely some type of worm/caterpillar that produces frass (waste) as you’ve described. Always remember that African violets are typically better off being a little dry rather than too wet. Uh-oh! Once upon a time, chlorine was the only gas used to clean drinking water. As described in the article, inversion is a method of watering that involves setting a pot with holes in the bottom into a container of water to allow it to be absorbed from the bottom up. The leaves will tell you almost right away. As for those plastic pots, drainage holes are a must, and you’re looking for something small. Err on the side of a little too dry rather than a little too moist with your violets. I don’t know what I am doing wrong… My propagated baby did not last long…. I have nurtured that violet successfully for 23 years. I know it sounds dumb but is there any way try to re-root it by cutting the stem off? Hi Kathy! GardenSafe Take Root Rooting Hormone is one of my favorites, and it’s available on Amazon. It should look like a delicious crumbled cookie concoction. Whether you need more violets in your own home, or are planning ahead towards Christmas, Mother’s Day, or Easter, establishing African violet cuttings is a surprisingly easy exercise. Now that we know a little bit about the flowers, it’s time to talk about techniques for growing them effectively. An incessant questioning of “Why?” affords him countless opportunities to ponder the (in)significance of the great and the small. I use this one from PUR, available on Amazon, and it serves me very well! Allow the soil to soak up the water completely. The soil should be… Read more ». Repotting these violets once or twice a year is helpful to remove the unsightly neck. Some of the  leaves will develop roots. When changing the water, be careful not to disturb or damage the leaves or roots that will eventually form. Remember that starting from a cutting is to start a plant with almost no need for water, since it has few roots to pull it up and almost no material to spread that water to. For close to four years I was handling hundreds of plants (in addition to the rest of our stock) and am proud to say I lost a mere handful. It’s probably the easiest plant to propagate among common houseplants. This morning I found it stripped of nearly all its leaves! They are best propagated by removing mature leaves from the mother plant in the form of leaf stem cuttings. Do I leave it or remove it? African violets are probably the most loved indoor houseplants. African violets need lots of light. Firm the soil around the stems so that the leaves are upright and in place. When would be the best time to replant my babies? Thank you. Matt Suwak was reared by the bear and the bobcat and the coyote of rural Pennsylvania. Those pictured are ready to be separated and planted now, but we usually wait 4-5 months, since the extra … So long as a few basic conditions are met, Saintpaulia is an amiable houseplant. An African Violet neck looks like a long and thin tree trunk. 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