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This novice tutorial show how to take cuttings from African violets and grow new plants . Whether you settle down them in H2O or soil , these are easy plant life to circularize at dwelling house .

As they out - maturate their container , you will also want to dilute out orrepot your African reddish blue .

Scissors and an African violet plant in a pot.

Scalpels work great for fine plant cuttings.

How to Grow and Propagate African Violets

I ’m quite certain I contract my dearest of growing African violets ( Saintpaulia ) from my mom who always had some in flower throughout my puerility . There was something so wonderful about have these magnificent purpleness , pink , and snowy blossom blossom indoors in the middle of a Canadian winter . And , as a kid , the boneheaded , fuzzed light-green leaves were rather intriguing .

You may see this generation method referred to as takingleaf cuttings , stem newspaper clipping , orgrowing from leaves — it ’s the same thing . You are clone the works by hire a press cutting and urinate it grow root word .

And , once you know how leisurely it is to disseminate African violets , you ’ll want to try more .

Propagating African violet cuttings.

What To Expect

The cognitive operation from cutting to novel flora with prime take about 9 to 12 calendar month .

Contents

Propagation Methods

There are two main ways to root African reddish blue clipping : in water or grease ( growing intermediate ) .

Water Propagation Method

One way to propagate African violet is to take root a leafage stem ( “ leafstalk ” ) cutting in water .

It ’s not my preferred direction since roots grown in water tend to be less durable than those started inpotting mix , but I ’ll deal how it ’s done just in sheath you want to attempt it .

The traditional way is to place a part of wax report over the top of a baby nutrient jar filled with quick water . Hold the theme in piazza with an elastic dance orchestra . Slit a hole in the wax report and sit the cutting in it so the base of the stem only is submerge in water system and the leafage up top stays teetotal .

Purple flowering African violet in a small flower pot and garden scissors.

root should raise and , when a few in long , the plant can be pot .

Related : How to Make African Violets Bloom & Rebloom

Starting Roots in Soil or Growing Medium

I maturate up using the water method acting but swap when I test rooting film editing inperliteand / orvermiculiteand chance it much more reliable . you’re able to also use alight potting mixinstead .

Whenever you propagate carving there will be hits and miss so always do a few extras .

Like me , you may find that etymon raise in urine be given to be bloated and unstable . Once the industrial plant is place in grow sensitive , it has a lot of re - study to do to become content inpotting mix .

Deep purple African violet in bloom.

On the other manus , the unity started in a light , spring up medium seem to   put their DOE right into new plantlet emergence .

The method I ’m using herehas many variations . I trust you will sense bucked up to hear it and adapt as you like . If you enjoy gardening like I do , it ’s one more way to keep it going yr - round , even when the weather outside is cold and miserable .

Not always .

Read More : Plant Patents : What Home Gardeners Need to Know

Step-By-Step Instructions

Instructional Video

Supplies and Materials

Is rooting endocrine required?Nope ! These propagate just fine without append assistance .

Perlite| Amazon

Vermiculite| Amazon

YouTube video

Steps

I use a combination of vermiculite and perlite . you could also usepotting mixing for African violets . The finish is to have a easy - weighting growing sensitive that retain wet without being too damp or dry .

take a 2 - inch potty for each cut . gazump the growing metier and give up to drain exhaustively .

For good success , take your foliage shank ( petiole ) cut from the third row of leave of absence from the center of the works .

Preparing pots of growing medium.

Looking from above , you may see that the parting rise in circle around the midsection .

Related : How Often Should You Water Houseplants ?

you could steady down cut from leaves that have broken off the plant , if they are healthy , or twist them off at the base of the fore , if you could touch in there without damaging the rest of the plant .

Choosing leaves for leaf cuttings.

I liketo apply a scalpel , getting a nice , sporty swing . The cock you see here is marketed as a quilting shaft , used to move out tight stitch .

Always clean the brand with rubbing alcohol between uses .

If you desire to keep track of your cuttings , be certain to indite industrial plant tags with the name and particular date or use tape like I do .

Houseplant vines.

I mark the mother plant life mint with a code on a piece of tape   and write a duplicate one to place on the piddling pot used for the cut . This is specially ready to hand when I do not know the name of the hybrid but want to trail how well each plant propagates .

Related : Aloe Vera : How To Propagate New Plants From Pups

Place the leaf prow ( petiole ) tailor on a table with the fuzzy side facing up .

Scalpel used for plant propagation.

reduce the root at just about one - inch in duration .

Next , make an angled cut down the stem , take out a wedge - form piece with the deepest cutting   at the base .

This is the discussion section of the flora that will produce the   new plantlets .

Using a scalpel to take leaf cuttings.

Related:20 Easy Plant Propagation Tutorials for gardener

You may have seen tutorial where the leaf is also reduced in sizing , by cutting off the top two - thirds or one half . The idea is that you want the plant to put its push into growing new babies , not maintaining a enceinte leaf .

I do not do this . I ’ve found the stem form root just OK regardless and I do n’t like how it looks when they are cut .

Aloe vera plants on table with small flower pots.

Using a dibble ( or the end of a pencil ) , create a hole in the growing medium to accommodate the leafage stem . You desire it on an angle so the cutting will seat at 45 - degrees with the fuzzy side up .

introduce the folio fore cutting , ensuring that the bottom of the foliage is just above soil degree .

If your humidity grade stay around 50 % or higher , you will not involve to cover the cuttings . you’re able to expend a simplehumidity reader(thermometer hygrometer ) like this one at Amazon to check levels on-going .

Slicing the stem of a leaf cutting.

If your humidness level is consistently humiliated ( 40 % or less ) , it can help to place some sort of humidity dome , plastic clamshell , or clear , large plastic udder over the cutting ( without touching them ) .

Some moisture will likely form on the inside of the humidness bonce . If it ’s really damp , hit it — you do n’t want that much wet present .

position under grow lights for 12 hours per dayor provide easy , east - facing natural sparkle .

Cutting stem on an angle to facilitate good root growth.

Maintain ordered conditions the best you’re able to , void any drastic temperature , light , or moisture changes .

How often you water the growing spiritualist will reckon only on the humidity levels and other growing conditions in your home . Water droplets should form on the inside of the clamshell palpebra . If they are present , no watering is necessary . And , as bring up , if it ’s really dampish ( dripping , pee the rise medium wet ) , remove the lid .

Related : How to Increase Humidity For Plants ( What work )

Plants propagating in jars.

In 2 - 3 months , you should point out piddling green balls appear at soil stage . These will grow into raw prow and leaves .

When there are at least four unassailable leaves , you could repot intoAfrican violet grow mixin a tiny pot ( they do not like big pots ) , or you could await it out if everything still looks strong and tidy .

Sometimes I have had the original cutting die off naturally during this time , other times it hangs in there .

Placing dibber in growing medium to create planting hole.

Also , not every   young stems may survive or you may need to reduce how many you keep to ensure that they each have fair to middling grow place . There are several television on YouTube showing this separation and potting process in type you need it .

relate : How to Repot African Violets ( Step - by - Step Guide )

These are how the potted cuttings front almost 4 months later :

Placing dibber in growing medium to create planting hole.

Potting Time

Around 6 - 7 months you should have enough new growth from a crown to mickle up your fresh flora . Blooms may get in in these next few months if your acquire conditions encourage it .

Frequently Asked Questions

From the time you take an African reddish blue cutting , root it in acquire medium , and have enough novel growth to consider it a new works takes approximately six month . After about nine months to a year you could get newfangled salad days . Timing will , of course , vary depending on the flora and originate conditions .

While you could settle these cut in soil or water supply , I observe , overall , cuttings take root in pot mix made for African violet or a mixture of vermiculite and perlite take effective answer .

African reddish blue cuttings do not require rooting hormone . They grow roots just fine without further assistance .

Stem cuttings in little pots in plastic clamshell.

Roots will start form on African violet newspaper clipping within days and will be 1 to 2 - inches long within a month or so .

African violet cut generally take about two to three month for slight leaflet to start appear .

African reddish blue cuttings do not necessitate fertiliser . Fertilizer is ordinarily need when the plant is mature and subject of flowering .

Collection of indoor tropical houseplants.

Yes , you could fertilise mature ( capable of unfolding ) African violets with a product likeOrganic Violet ! African Violet Plant Food . Be sure to be the product instructions and do not over - do it .

Resources

Care

What African Violets Need

Sunlight| East or west windows are urge . Avoid excessive estrus and frigid . You ’ll know the lightness is insufficient if the plant does n’t bloom after 2 - 3 months , the leaves grow in elongated shape , or crowns get leggy .

or

Fluorescent LightsorFull - spectrum LED Lights| One foot above the plants , 12 - 14 hour per daytime .

African violet leaf growing pups after rooting the stem in water for a few months.

Potting Mix| Usea commercial mix intended for African violetscombined with perlite or make your own .

Water| Water deeply , until the dish aerial fills . Empty the saucer after 30 minute . well to irrigate from below and avoid wetting leaves . Also considerwick watering .

Temperature| 65 - 75 ° F ( 18 - 24 ° cytosine )

Repotting a crowded African violet plant.

Humidity| 40 - 50 percent | Unfortunately , drip tray filled with piss do not avail with low humidness . A household humidifier and keeping up with watering can help .

Pot Sizes|2 - inchwide for plantlets,3 - inchwide for first - time blooming,4 - inchwide for 9 - inch diameter industrial plant

peck Type| Plastic or clay . pliant works well in low humidness menage . These shaping ones have estimable drainage and saucer .

African violet stem cutting with new leaves growing.

Fertilizer| One popular type used isOrganic Violet ! African Violet Plant Food .   need at your local garden nursery to see what they recommend in combining with your local water .

Reblooming| If grow conditions are optimal , by snipping off old flowers ( “ disbud ” ) , new blooming may appear in 6 to 8 calendar week .

Learn More

Happy growing ,

~Melissathe Empress of Dirt ♛

How to Propagate African Violets From Cuttings

Equipment

Supplies & Materials

Instructions

Notes

New flowers forming on African violet.

African violets growing on windowsill.

African violet plant and scissors.