By Teresa Watkins
Love African violets but think they are high maintenance? Know someone who has a gorgeous African violet, and you would like to have one too? Here is my friend, Glenna Hancock’s easy-to-do propagation method that is sure to be successful!
1. Select a very healthy, good-sized leaf, about 2” – 3” wide and long. Make sure it’s thick and sturdy and has a long stem (petiole) about 4” – 5”.
2. Go down into the crown of your plant and diagonally snip the petiole about 1” above where it is attached to the larger plant.
3. Place your African violet cutting in a miniature glass bud vase (see picture) with water. No need to add anything to the water.
5. In 3 – 4 weeks, you should see roots form on the petiole. This is when you can plant it.
6. Select a small 3” plastic pots and fill with African violet potting soil, or ½ vermiculite and ½ potting soil or ½ sand (sterile) and ½ potting soil.
7. Water gently with teaspoon to dampen the soil.
8. Water when the pot becomes almost weightless when you hold it. Feel it after you water the plant to gauge how heavy your pot should feel when it has enough water and when it doesn’t.
9 In about six weeks, you should have 3 – 5 leaves emerged and can plant it in a larger pot.
10. You can cut off the original leaf if you want. I don’t like to cut them off, but you can.
Listen to Glenna talk about her agricultural legacy and her love for African violets: https://bit.ly/3BX6nLY
For more information on African violets, check out University of Florida’s publication: https://bit.ly/3vmYtKJ
