How to Propagate African Violets
Prepare the potting medium first., Add just enough water to the potting mix to dampen it. , Take an African Violet cutting from a host plant., Coat the stem end of the African Violet cutting that was cut from the plant with rooting hormone, which...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Prepare the potting medium first.
Place suitable potting mix with vermiculite and perlite in a small plastic pot.
Buy a commercially-sold potting mix that already contains these soil conditioners or use peat and add them to it.
If you choose to use peat rather than potting soil, you can purchase vermiculite and perlite at most garden centers. -
Step 2: Add just enough water to the potting mix to dampen it.
, Locate a healthy, mature leaf that is growing close to the base of the plant.
Use a sharp, clean knife to make a clean cut with minimal damage to the host plant.
Cut off the leaf stem with your knife.
The cutting needs to be about 1-1.5 inches (2.54 cm to
3.5cm), so if it exceeds that length, cut it down as much as necessary. ,, Make a small hole in the damp potting mix.
Plant the leaf in firmly and only cover the stem that has been covered with rooting hormone. ,, However, make sure that this light is not direct.
If you have fluorescent lights, you can also use those rather than putting it outside. , Allow the soil to dry out slightly.
Use tepid (not hot!) water as African violets don't like cold water. , However, in many cases you should see shoots appearing within two weeks.
During this time, uncover the plant every now and then to make sure it is not drying out.
If it appears dry at any point, add just enough water to get the soil damp.
Let the water drain off, and then put it back in the bag.
If you notice at any point that the interior of the bag has become wet with humidity, take the bag off long enough for the plant to dry. , Some of the soil should come up with it.
You do not want to tear it from its roots. , You will not be able to grow African Violets without any roots, so be sure they all have some of the leaf stem's roots. ,, This shouldn't take any longer than 2 weeks; exactly when you remove the bag is a matter of your own discretion.
If you think the African Violets look sturdy enough to handle normal weather conditions, they are probably ready. -
Step 3: Take an African Violet cutting from a host plant.
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Step 4: Coat the stem end of the African Violet cutting that was cut from the plant with rooting hormone
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Step 5: which you can buy at a local gardening center.
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Step 6: Place the cutting into the prepared soil.
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Step 7: Put the pot with the cutting into a plastic grocery bag
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Step 8: making sure that the pot's topside where the cutting is planted is not showing.
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Step 9: Place the plastic bag-covered pot in an area that gets plenty of sunlight and warmth.
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Step 10: Keep the cutting moist but not over-wet.
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Step 11: Allow 3-4 weeks for results.
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Step 12: Remove the leaf stem
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Step 13: which should have the beginnings of small plants growing from it
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Step 14: from the potting mixture.
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Step 15: Cut the small individual plants away from the leaf stem.
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Step 16: Plant each of these in a pot with plant fertilizer and potting soil.
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Step 17: Put a plastic bag back over each of the plants
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Step 18: and let it remain there until they have grown a little bit more.
Detailed Guide
Place suitable potting mix with vermiculite and perlite in a small plastic pot.
Buy a commercially-sold potting mix that already contains these soil conditioners or use peat and add them to it.
If you choose to use peat rather than potting soil, you can purchase vermiculite and perlite at most garden centers.
, Locate a healthy, mature leaf that is growing close to the base of the plant.
Use a sharp, clean knife to make a clean cut with minimal damage to the host plant.
Cut off the leaf stem with your knife.
The cutting needs to be about 1-1.5 inches (2.54 cm to
3.5cm), so if it exceeds that length, cut it down as much as necessary. ,, Make a small hole in the damp potting mix.
Plant the leaf in firmly and only cover the stem that has been covered with rooting hormone. ,, However, make sure that this light is not direct.
If you have fluorescent lights, you can also use those rather than putting it outside. , Allow the soil to dry out slightly.
Use tepid (not hot!) water as African violets don't like cold water. , However, in many cases you should see shoots appearing within two weeks.
During this time, uncover the plant every now and then to make sure it is not drying out.
If it appears dry at any point, add just enough water to get the soil damp.
Let the water drain off, and then put it back in the bag.
If you notice at any point that the interior of the bag has become wet with humidity, take the bag off long enough for the plant to dry. , Some of the soil should come up with it.
You do not want to tear it from its roots. , You will not be able to grow African Violets without any roots, so be sure they all have some of the leaf stem's roots. ,, This shouldn't take any longer than 2 weeks; exactly when you remove the bag is a matter of your own discretion.
If you think the African Violets look sturdy enough to handle normal weather conditions, they are probably ready.
About the Author
James Clark
Professional writer focused on creating easy-to-follow organization tutorials.
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