Propagating African Violets is quite easy, if you know what to do. There a few methods that work well:

1. use a leaf cutting

2. use a sucker

1. When using a leaf cutting, select a healthy leaf, preferably not from the bottom row of leaves. Remove the leaf, leaving no "stub" on the main stem/trunk of the plant. Using a sharp knife (Exacto, razor) cut the stem of the leaf, diagonally, about 1" - 1 1/2" from the base of the leaf, with the cut facing forward. In this way, when the roots form, & plantlets start growing, they will come up in front of the "mother" leaf, rather than the back (where they'll be hidden & get no light). Also, you may use a sharp knife to cut the top part of the leaf off, which will prevent the leaf from growing, & encourage it to put its energy into producing roots & plantlets. For rooting you should use a very light African Violet soil, to which you've added some perlite &/or vermiculite. You should use a small growing container---3oz. or 5oz. Solo cups work well. Be sure to poke a hole in the bottom of the Solo cup for drainage.

Once you have your growing container ready, you may dip the cut end of the leaf stem into a rooting hormone powder, & gently place the leaf stem into the soil, leaving a small portion of the leaf stem above the soil line. (Be sure to write the name of your plant & the date you planted it on the Solo cup.) Add a tablespoon or two of (diluted) AV fertilizer "water" (allow it to drip if necessary), put the Solo cup in a zip top bag, & place it on your plant stand---or where it will get good light, & be away from cold. The humidity that will develop in the baggie will keep the leaf/soil moist, & help it to root & produce babies. If you see too much moisture developing on the sides of the bag, open it slightly, for a few hours, to allow evaporation to take place. Reseal. Roots should form in 3-4 weeks, & plantlets should start poking up through the soil in about 6-7 weeks---but could be sooner, or take a few months. As long as the "mother" leaf is healthy, you will get babies--in due time. Each "mother" leaf can produce 1, 2, or many babies. You keep only the heartiest looking ones.

When the babies/plantlets begin to develop, they will need separating. When each plantlet has 4-6 leaves, & looks sturdy, you should take it out of the Solo cup, gently separate each one from the "mother" leaf, & repot each one into its own growing container (a 3oz. Solo cup) Discard any plantlets that look weak &/or flimsy. When planting the babies you must decide if you're going to be wick-watering. If so, be sure to use a nylon twine, or acrylic knitting yarn--cotton will rot & create problems. Punch a hole in the bottom of the Solo cup, thread the wick through the hole, add your soil as you wind the wick around the inside of the cup, fill to the top. With a utensil, or your finger, make a little hole in the center of the soil-filled cup, gently insert your plantlet, push the soil around the base of the plantlet to hold it in place (add soil if necessary). Moisten soil slightly; if wick-watering, place on a reservoir (baby-food jars work well), put your plant where it get's good light---& watch your baby grow!

Repotting will be necessary as your plant grows. Remember---your pot should be 1/3 the diameter of the plant. It's very important not to "over-pot"--which means that you shouldn't put a plant into a pot larger than 1/3 the diameter of the plant. (If your plant is 12" across, it should be in a 4" pot.) African Violets will put all their energy into filling a pot with roots, & will not produce good leaf growth or blossoms. They like to be a bit root-bound---then all the energy goes to growing new (center) leaves & pushing up beautiful blooms.

2. Suckers---are "side shoots" that usually appear at the joint of a leaf & the main stem of a plant; at the base of the crown; & just about anywhere. Left alone, this sucker will develop into an exact duplicate (clone) of the "mother" plant. It will also overcrowd the pot & distort the shape of your plant. African Violets should have only one (1) crown. Suckers are easily removed by using a small pointed instrument (a nut-pick works well, as do a small pointed knife, or even a pencil tip). Gently poke around the base of the sucker, loosening it from the "mother" plant. Try to "lift" the sucker up & away, so that all you need to do is place the sucker in a labeled (name of plant, date potted) Solo cup, then into a zip-top bag, & wait for your baby to root & grow. Remember to re-pot as needed; Your "babies" will bloom & become another treasure in your African Violet collection.

To join the AFRICAN VIOLET SOCIETY OF AMERICA:

Write: AVSA; 2375 North St., Beaumont, TX 77702

Phone: 409-839-4725

FAX: 409-839-4329