He presently resides in Philadelphia and works under the sun as a landscaper and gardener, and by moonlight as a writer. There always seem to be a few lying around. By your article am I watering them too much? I’m not sure what I’d do with that baby plant — has it grown in the last week? I never seen that before. African violets grow best in well-drained, slightly acidic soil. I currently have about 40 babies growing all over my house and am now experimenting with a few things such as use of supplemental grow lights and containers that won’t break the budget with good success (eggs shells that come with their own clam covers. 2. Be sure that you cut as close to the root as possible. What do I do with it? Sorry if this was confusing! After reading your article, I have started my own little green house. African violets put out suckers to propagate new plants, but if you don't remove them the mother plant will become misshapen and won't flower. I recommend filling the bottom of the container with about a quarter inch of water with the “roof” of the greenhouse open. 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. Ah, the moment we’ve all been waiting for! You’d want to plant that neck/stalk in some soil so that the bottom leaves of the violet are touching the soil. I got mine from the salad bar at a local grocery store. My violet will survive. Propping up a few grow lights about 20 inches away from the plants is beneficial. Clancey Moore. An African Violet neck looks like a long and thin tree trunk. It’s probably the easiest plant to propagate among common houseplants. It is vital that the container can close tightly, locking up the potted cuttings in a warm and humid environment. An incessant questioning of “Why?” affords him countless opportunities to ponder the (in)significance of the great and the small. Propagating Saintpaulia is relatively easy. Carefully place the stem of each leaf into the rooting medium. The trunk starts upwards from the base of the soil and ends at the leaves of the plants. 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! how to separate division of small plant from the mother plant and repot and success of blooms. If ingested, it can cause stomach discomfort and it can irritate any mucous membranes it comes into contact with. I’ve always defaulted to perlite in the past. Plants with multiple crowns can be divided, giving you more plants to enjoy or share with friends. I get the green growth everytime and I just plant it all under the soil and they pop up in a few weeks. Make sure to watch the below video on how to grow African violets through leaf cuttings. But there’s a more personal reason in there, too. Let me know how this progresses, it’s an interesting scenario! March 23, 2019. A little confused . Many thanks! Good question. After the time’s up, drain any excess water. The mini greenhouse shouldn’t have too much water in it, but it should never dry out completely. It takes some time for the leaves to root. The easiest solution to remove these substances from your water is to add a filter to your tap. Could you please elaborate? To ensure more blooms it is important to prune off the largest, outermost leaves from the plant. Keep the “roof” off for as long as the soil around the leaves is still wet to the touch. When the baby leaves appear do you cut the larger one? Plan to do this project in the spring. If you choose to mix your own soil when repotting African violets, it’s important to think of the natural habitat where these plants originated. Prepare the potting medium. I put a leaf in soil for propagation but not deep enough. Wow, leaves under the water? The edges of the leaves may turn upwards, turn yellow, or develop holes. A four inch pot seems to be the ideal “not too big, not too small” size for African violets. A: One of the easiest ways to propagate African violets is … The suckers can be removed carefully with small scissors or tweezers and repotted to grow new plants. Finally, to create a mini greenhouse for your cuttings to grow inside, you will need a clear plastic to-go container, the clamshell variety. It earned a reputation as a finicky plant, difficult to care for and prone to sudden death. Miracle-Gro’s African Violet Potting Mix is excellent for many young plants. This typically occurs when they are crowded with other plants or … African violets prefer their soil to be on the dry side of moist. a favor and pick one up. I have three I’m cuttings I’m caring for now and I think I should show them this picture so they know what to aim for. The plants actually bloom more powerfully and regularly when rootbound. Hi Kim! 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. When changing the water, be careful not to disturb or damage the leaves or roots that will eventually form. Matt, thank you for the propagation information. It’s probably the easiest plant to propagate among common houseplants. Read on and find out! 13 Mar. As for your info on watering, you said, “…the inversion method, is most effective.” But you didn’t explain how to do that. Place the sucker in a four inch pot with good potting soil. Some of these links may be affiliate in nature, meaning we earn small commissions if items are purchased. Many older African violets develop a “neck”, which is the stalk you’re talking about. It can be tricky to get your violets to bloom so much, I’ve only been able to get one plant to do that for me, but I’ll take it. As for those plastic pots, drainage holes are a must, and you’re looking for something small. Those pictured are ready to be separated and planted now, but we usually wait 4-5 months, since the extra … You only need a few items for the project: The scale of this operation is up to you, the gardener. Thank you very much for this information how to take care of African violets! Nice work keeping that going for 23 years, that’s very impressive. For simplicity’s sake I harvested leaves from a single plant, five total leaves for propagation. 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. Those look SO healthy. Do I keep it under water till the roots are longer? I like to let my violets dry out a little, but I never let them sit bone dry. How to Propagate New African Violets from Leaf Cuttings Melissa - Empress of Dirt Your email address will NEVER been spammed, sold, or shared. This can be the result of too much direct summer sun. 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). Nowadays, chloramine is also used. African violets are probably the most loved indoor houseplants. Botanically named Saintpaulia for their European discoverer Baron Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire, these flowers are native to the Unguru Mountains in Tanzania and also parts of Kenya. And in a few months I’ll have perfectly fine gifts to give to people for holidays and birthdays – and you can bet your bottom dahlia I’ll teach them how to propagate their own cuttings. And if you love home propagation, let us direct your attention to this piece on getting started with succulents. When selecting a leaf cutting, choose middle-sized leaves, cut them with about an inch of leaf stem (called the petiole). I have a violet leaf I stuck in water to see what would happen. African violet soil: Use a fast draining African violet soil or make your own by combining equal parts potting soil, peat moss, and perlite or vermiculite. When I was in charge of maintaining greenhouse stock at an old job, I took special pride in the condition of the African violets. And just think, if enough take you can hand them out as gifts to people, and they can all share in the legacy! 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. PUR 3-Stage Horizontal Water Filtration Faucet Mount. Other factors are rooting medium, your growing conditions, and variety. Tip: image width should be at least 400 and height should be at least 250, Ooops! By: burgundy bug African Violet leaf. If the leaf stem is longer, can use a sharp clean knife/blade to cut down the leaf stem to 1 inch. Use a very light rooting medium, one that can be kept moist without rotting the leaves. Cuttings can be… Read more ». Before we get started with this step, recognize that rooting powder is a very mild irritant. Allow the soil to soak up the water completely. After about two to four weeks, roots will form at the bottom of the leaf. With proper care, African violets often bloom all year long. gently tugged on the leaves today, there was resistance, which means roots are forming. But you can also pick it up at your local nursery, or find a suitable mixture online. I used a few two-inch pots that were leftover from some succulents I purchased a few months ago. GardenSafe Take Root Rooting Hormone is one of my favorites, and it’s available on Amazon. One of the reasons it ranks so highly in my favor is that they seem to thrive on neglect. All you need is a leave from an existing plant. 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. You never know when you might need them. I love African Violets very much and I really enjoyed your article . 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. If they’re happy then they’re good! It’s also why you typically find African violets sold Matryoska-like in a no-frills pot stacked within a decorative pot lacking drainage holes. Remove mature and healthy leaves from the host plant. Your ultimate goal at this point is to do your best to mimic the natural habitat Saintpaulia originates from. 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. Its survival along with my own has been very symbolic for me. It is believed that the application of cold water to the leaf causes the cell vacuoles to collapse. They are best propagated by removing mature leaves from the mother plant in the form of leaf stem cuttings. 7. Then wait for the water to drain out from the bottom and return the violet to its home. This can occur due to overwatering and wide temperature fluctuations. Propagating African Violets is not hard at all. Q: How do you take a cutting of an African violet and how long does it take to root? They can be bought online or from gardening shops. Leave them in bright light for 2 to 4 weeks. African violets need bright, indirect light such as from a south- or east-facing window, although direct sunlight can burn the leaves. Thanks for any info or help you have. I’ll fill that container and let the violet drink, then let it sit for awhile until it’s had time to dry out a little before starting the process over again. At about 3-4 weeks, roots should begin forming on the petiole. To stir it up, any household mixing bowl will do. It sounds like you’re describing something called a neck. Add this to a small plastic pot until it is 3/4 of the way full. In fact, you can root them in water. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Your seeds should germinate in 8 to 14 days. African Violets propagation time varies. include a range of perennial plants usually grown as houseplants, though Saintpaulia ionantha and other species grow outdoors year-round in … 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. I may have to try to start a plant from a leaf cutting. Water on the foliage can cause dieback, leaf spotting, and other problems. It does not take long to be able to recognize the fact if your plant likes their spot. The leaves forming from the very center of the plant are the youngest, and the largest leaves on the outside are the oldest. Old African violet . For each leaf, you’ll require one pot around the 2-inch size for this project. This method guarantees that you will not wet the leaves of the violet. Soil should be porous and well-draining. African violets need lots of light. Below are three images of an African Violet … Went to water and it fell out of the pot. My then 17 year old daughter brought me a gift basket with a beautiful African violet and some other pretty, green “house” plants. Add just enough water to the potting mix to dampen it. Let me know if you need some clarification! You are welcome to unsubscribe at any time. I’d shoot for a four inch pot rather than a smaller or larger one. I tried to put the leaf in a plastic container and the dirt molded!? By placing the plants in a well-drained rooting medium and containing them in a mini-greenhouse with some bright light, you are effectively duplicating their native cloud forests. The new plant rosettes will form from this area. The African Violet ( Saint Paulia ) is a very popular houseplant, loved for it’s colorful flowers. I just noticed a new plant forming on the neck of my violet. I’ve never seen that, what a funky happening. So long as a few basic conditions are met, Saintpaulia is an amiable houseplant. If the roots are the right size, you can plant the leaf directly into its intended pot. That’s because of its profuse and reliable blooming, the ease of care, and the mystique of being a plant native to Africa. Leave them covered for 3-4 days before exposing them to the light again. National Geographic author Andrew Evans has written an eye-opening look at the delicate state of African violets in their native habitat, where unscrupulous gatherers are plucking rare species from the jungle to sell to collectors. That’s up to you and your preferences! One or more plantlets will begin to develop from the cut end of the rooted leaf’s petiole, and will make their way above the soil. The tight rosette pattern can quickly grow out of whack if it’s left in one place for too long. To my delight, a new plant grew up from the stem about a month later. Image width has to be at least 400 and Height at least 250, Any valid link such as http://pondic.com/hydrogen-peroxide-hacks/, Supported services: Youtube, Vimeo, TED, Vine, Hulu. 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 ». 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. There are a few important tips to keep in mind: Violets do not react well to cold water; it can cause their roots to shrivel and their foliage to die off. That might help it get established and start growing somewhat normally. Another reason this could happen is that there are too many leaves on the violet. When it comes to any kind of cuttings or seed growth, it’s always better to start with more than you think you need. The ones you see here have been in the soil for 3-4 weeks. For this project I mixed 2 parts perlite to 1 part African violet potting mix. I came here to find an answer as to when I’d pot these. Generally, at this point, it’s best to discard the plant. It isn’t necessary to re-pot violets with a neck. 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. Now what? African violets are one of the easiest house plants to propagate. Hi Kathy! Source: Propagating an African Violet | Penelope Peru Photography P³ African Violets (Saintpaulia Ionantha) are one of the most common houseplants and … 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! By the time you’re finished reading this, you’ll be armed and ready to start your own African violet assembly line! Unfortunately, the native cloud-forest habitat of Saintpaulia is under threat from encroaching agriculture. Miracle-Gro® Indoor Potting Mix is specially formulated to provide indoor plants like African violets with just the right growing environment. 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. The leaf grew and now I have a baby on the backside of the leaf. But plastic forks – or even toy Army men – could be used. Do we drill drainage holes in the part where we start the leaves. So How To Propagate African Violets? 23 years ago I was in the hospital after breast cancer surgery and reconstruction. For the rooting medium, I made my own. Let There Be Light. They remind me of the grandness of Africa. Should I keep it submerged until the baby leaves are bigger? Use a pencil or any similarly-sized object to poke holes through the soil. Your patience will be rewarded when you spot the first "ears" as the new plantlets poke their developing leaves above the potting mix. Other problems could involve too much light, or the plant simply died. Growing African Violets from Leaf Cuttings Propagating African violets from leaf cuttings is the most popular method because it’s so easy and successful. African Violet Potting Soil Mix. The blade of the leaf should just touch the surface of the rooting medium. Remove them by hand if you find them, and try applying a spray of neem oil. Hey Rebecca, thanks for the question here. Gloves and eye protection are always a safe precaution, but not a requirement. Select leaves from the middle row of the plant to use as cuttings. They enjoy their tenderness and beautiful flowers longer, I decided to learn propagate them through leaves. Firm the soil around the stems so that the leaves are upright and in place. The African Violet ( Saint Paulia ) is a very popular houseplant, loved for it’s colorful flowers. It could well have been an over watering issue. I use this one from PUR, available on Amazon, and it serves me very well! See our TOS for more details. He considers folksy adages priceless treasures and is fueled almost entirely by beer and hot sauce. If so how big and how to I eventually plant in dirt? I raised African violets about 14 years ago and they did great. It can be and you probably don’t even need the rooting hormone if it’s an old plant, though it wouldn’t hurt to add some. My husband’s new puppy had gotten up on a table in our sunroom and decided my violet’s pot of soil was a good place to bury her rawhide chew. The soil should be… Read more ». Caring For Your African Violet. Select and pick the leaf on the mother plant that you want to use to propagate a new plant. If the leaves you cut are too tall to fit inside the container, there’s an easy fix for that. With proper care, African violets often bloom all year long. We occasionally link to goods offered by vendors to help the reader find relevant products. This upbringing keeps him permanently affixed to the outdoors where most of his personal time is invested in gardening, bird watching, and hiking. Photos by Matt Suwak. Some people say to imagine it’s like oatmeal, but I’ve never grabbed a handful of oatmeal before. 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. 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. Houseplants. I’d carefully wipe the leaves to remove the frass, and check every leaf and stem for pests. You can make one clean cut across the top of each leaf, effectively slicing away the top half of the leaf. I did rot my stem off once using this method but I didn’t throw out the plant. If you got roots to sprout, then this should suffice to start a new plant! Thank you for such a great article. Gardening Guides: How to Propagate an African Violet from a Leaf. Thanks again! Larvae like this love to munch on leaves, and though it’s not extremely likely that you’ll see these types of insects indoors, it’s not impossible. That’s fascinating and I haven’t seen anything like it before, either. One of my favorite aspects of Saintpaulia is that repotting is generally not required, and often is discouraged. Lightly dip each stem into the rooting hormone. I’ve always dipped my cuttings right into the bottle of hormone powder, but you can shake some of the hormone onto a flat surface if you prefer. This can take a day or two. Then we’ll all have something in common. A room that gets a lot of sunlight, 10 hours or so a day is an African violets best environment. I keep mine in a small container and water that container directly, allowing the violet to soak up what it needs through the drainage holes. No roots just a stalk. It spreads across the leaves and petals of African violets when they are in an area with very low air circulation. Make sure to remove as much of the leaf stem as possible from the crown to prevent rot in the host plant. I appreciate and will try what you suggested! That’s why I used a rooting hormone for this project, to help these cuttings establish themselves. Uh-oh! I have beautiful plants, and they almost bloom all year long. Saintpaulia prefers well-drained soil, but cuttings are even more particular. African violets are susceptible to powdery mildew, a white fungus that may be any number of species of fungus. O hope they all make it! Not hot without filtering or special treatment should just touch the surface of the year handful! 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