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For those who love African violets as much as I do, this article will tell you all you need to try your hand at your own African violet propagation. These small plants bring so much brightness into the room, and propagating them is fairly straightforward. Learning the two techniques I outline here, it’s easy to go from having too few African violets in your home to having a large collection. Read on to learn the why and how of African violet propagation, including the best timing, two methods of propagation—in soil and in water—and how to care for your newly rooted plants.
The benefits of African violet propagation
The biggest benefit I can find to propagate my own African violets is because I love having these plants around. There are other benefits, too:
- African violets take very well to cut-leaf propagation, making this activity a great entry-level home-propagation trial.
- One leaf blade can create as many as 10 new plants!
- These dainty plants make thoughtful gifts, so when you’ve grown all you want for yourself, it’s nice to share them with friends.
- Growing African violets from seed, the plant doesn’t always breed true. Doing your own African violet propagation vegetatively, you can be sure you’re making another of the same plant you have on hand.
When is the right time for African violet propagation?
You can propagate African violets any time of year. While new roots may start to form 3 to 4 weeks after taking the stem cuttings, it may take 10 months to grow a mature, flowering African violet using these methods of African violet propagation. Keep this full timeline in mind if you’re hoping to propagate these plants to give as gifts.
Selecting the best parent plant
Your African violet propagation will be most successful when you follow some guidelines for choosing the parent plant and the leaf from the plant:
- Use a healthy leaf from a healthy plant.
- Use a plant that produces leaves with long stems. The best leaf will have a stem (petiole) 1 to 2 inches long.
- Use a newer but already mature leaf for your cutting, as an older leaf may have a tougher stem that’s not as likely to sprout new growth.
Choose a healthy parent plant for cuttings. It doesn’t matter whether or not the plant is in bloom.
How long does African violet propagation take?
The actual hands-on work of African violet propagation takes only a few minutes. You’ll find it takes longer to get out all of your supplies than it does to work with the plants themselves.
Method 1: African violet leaf and petiole propagation in water
Leaf and petiole propagation in water is the traditional way to propagate African violets. I find it more enjoyable, too. Here, you’re cutting a stem, putting the cut end in water, and waiting for it to develop roots and then baby plants at its base, which you then separate and settle into a pot with soil. It’s getting to watch the roots and baby plants develop that puts this method above soil cultivation for me.
Supplies needed
For African violet leaf and petiole propagation in water, you need:
Step 1: Select and remove a leaf
Using the guide above (“Selecting the best parent plant”), use sharp, clean scissors or a sharp knife to cut a leaf from the plant. You want a clean cut with 1 to 1 1/2 inches of petiole, or leafstalk, still attached to the leaf. Cut the petiole at a 45-degree angle to maximize the cut surface area and improve the chances of root development. Disinfect your scissors or knife with alcohol before each cut to reduce the chance of sharing pathogens.
Use a sharp, sterile knife to cut a leaf from the mother plant.
Step 2: Place the petiole in water and wait for roots to form
Use a clean glass with tap water to hold the cut leaf. You don’t want the leaf itself in the water, just the petiole. You might achieve this by using a lid with a hole in it to hold the leaf above the mouth of the glass or by using a small flower vase.
Insert the petioles into small jars of water, then wait for them to develop roots. Eventually baby plants will form at their base. Change the water weekly.
Step 3: Watch the development of baby plants
Don’t let the water level drop below the roots. To prevent the water from becoming murky while you’re waiting for the plant development to start, change it weekly. Keep the vessel out of direct sunlight to reduce algae growth. The roots will develop first, then tiny offspring. These are clones of their parent plant. It is a wonder of African violet propagation that these little plants develop completely under water.
When the baby plants have a few leaves, use a knife to cut them apart from the mother leaf, being careful to ensure each one has roots attached.
Step 4: Pot them up
Remove the little clones by cutting them off with a sharp knife, being sure each one has some roots. Then, plant each one into a pot with a drainage hole and saucer. Plant them so the bottom leaf is just above the soil level. Since they are so tiny, you can put several in the same pot, but eventually you’ll need to separate them. Use well-draining potting soil mix, such as a blend with a good amount of perlite or vermiculite. Let the plants develop their root systems for a few months before you add any fertilizer.
I use a chopstick to help me plant the tiny plantlets into a pot of soil. Make sure they aren’t buried too deeply.
Method 2: African violet leaf propagation in soil
The more common means of African violet propagation is using soil. This requires a bit more setup than water propagation, but it’s by no means difficult. You’ll use the same leaf removal process, then plant the African violet cuttings directly into the soil and create a greenhouse-like environment as the new plants develop.
Supplies needed
For African violet leaf propagation in soil, you’ll need:
- An African violet plant
- Sharp, clean scissors or knife
- Disinfectant alcohol
- Rooting hormone (This is optional.)
- A potting container
- Well-draining potting medium, such as African violet potting mix
- A plastic covering
- Small pots
Step 1: Select and remove a leaf
Using the guide above (“Selecting the best parent plant”), use sharp, clean scissors to cut a leaf from the plant. Leave 1 to 1 1/2 inches of petiole, or leafstalk, attached to the leaf. Cut the petiole at a 45-degree angle. This angled cut maximizes the cut surface area and improves the chances of root development. Disinfect your scissors or knife with alcohol before each cut to reduce the chance of sharing pathogens.
Step 2: Dust with rooting hormone (optional)
Rooting hormone is an especially useful tool for taking leaf cuttings and planting hard-to-propagate plants. African violet propagation is usually an easy process, so rooting hormones aren’t necessary. Using a rooting hormone for your propagation will improve your chances of success, but these chances are already high.
If you choose to use a rooting hormone, you may have either a powder form or a liquid form. You’ll dust the powder onto the cut end or dip the cut end into the liquid before planting.
For rooting in soil, choose healthy leaves and have your pots of soil at the ready to insert the cuttings.
Step 3: Insert base of petiole in soil
As you would plant any seedling, insert the petiole’s cut end into the potting medium. The tip of a pencil is helpful to push down the leafstalk so the soil is all the way up to the leaf. It’s OK to even bury about 1/4 inch of the leaf. Be sure the soil is moist to start.
Step 4: Cover with plastic bag or humidity dome
Now you need to create a greenhouse-like environment for the plants in propagation. If you’ve started out using a tray with a dome, you already have a well-fitting, attractive solution. If you’re using a regular planting container, you can be creative by loosely fitting a clear plastic bag or placing a cloche made from a plastic juice bottle overtop. Secure the bag with a rubber band, if needed.
Step 5: Separate the young plantlets
As you water your propagation bed weekly, keep watch for new plantlets emerging from the soil. You may see the new leaf growth poking through the soil in 5 weeks, but don’t be concerned if it takes a few weeks longer.
Wait another 5 or so weeks, until the plants have a few leaves growing above the soil and you can see each new plant has its own center rosette. Then carefully remove the new plants and the parent leaf from the propagation container.
One or more small plants will soon grow from the base of the petiole. When they’re about this size, it’s time to separate them and repot.
Step 6: Discard the parent leaf and pot up the plantlets
Separate the individual plants from the parent leaf, careful to take the roots. Plant each in its own small pot. A well-draining potting mix or a mix specific to African violets is important. If you have multiple African violet varieties, be sure to label each new pot so you know what to expect as the plants develop and eventually bloom.
All types of African violets can be propagated using these two methods, including variegated forms as well as large- and small-leaved varieties. These propagations are ready for separation and potting up.
Aftercare for your new African violet plants
With your first African violet propagation success, you can take a few steps to bring them to maturity in the healthiest way possible. Here are a few tips:
- Keep these plants under a quality grow light or in a window with direct sun as they grow into maturity.
- Don’t add fertilizer yet. As your new African violets grow and you up-pot them, go ahead and add an African violet fertilizer.
- Water your plants once a week or when their soil is dry to the touch, careful to not add too much water.
Violet victory
Now knowing two ways to propagate African violets at home, you can have some fun with this. Swap cut leaves with friends, or grow out your plantlets and swap the tiny plants. This is a quick way to increase the pots of African violets around your home. These are small plants, so it can’t hurt to add a few more, right?
Whether you choose to propagate your African violets using the water method or the soil method, your patience will pay off in creating these new little lives. Use care in selecting the original plants and leaves to propagate, use only well-draining soil, and resist the urge to fertilize. The rest of the propagation will take care of itself.
You’ll find more propagation advice for a range of plants here:
