Table of Contents
Gently stick the African violet leaf stem through the plastic so that the end of the stem is submerged in water and the leaf is upright. 4. Sticking the leaf stem into the water should be done soon after pinching it from the plant. If there is more than a minute in between, recut the stem before placing in the water.
Can you start an African violet from a leaf?
African violets are easily propagated by leaf cuttings. Leave 1 to 1½ inches of the leaf stem (petiole) attached to the leaf blade. Fill a pot with a moistened 50:50 mix of vermiculite and coarse sand. Insert the petiole of each leaf cutting into the rooting medium at a 45 degree angle.
How do you grow African violets from leaf cuttings?
African Violets: Propagation by Leaf Step 1: Remove and trim leaf. Step 2: Cut leaf petiole. Step 3: Root the leaf cutting. Step 4: Plantlets at 12 weeks. Step 5: Separate plantlets from leaf cutting. Step 6: Prepare pot for plantlet. Step 7: Pot plantlet. Step 8: You’re done!.
How long does it take for African violet leaves to root?
At about 3-4 weeks, roots should begin forming on the petiole. In another 3-4 weeks, your new leaves will start to sprout. When the sprouts get 2-3 leaves on them, which is around the 2-6 month mark, you will need to repot.
How do you propagate African violets from water?
Gently place the new plant’s roots in place, and then cover with soil up to right below the bottom leaves. Water each African violet and place them in a window with good light. From here on, you’ll continue to care for the new plants just like you would any other mature plant.
Can you root an African violet leaf in water?
The good news is that it’s easy to root these flowering beauties. The quickest and easiest way I’ve found to root African violets is in water using a leaf. Take a wide-mouthed jar or cup and fill with lukewarm water to almost the top. Secure a piece of plastic wrap on top, making sure that the plastic wrap is taut.
Can you divide African violets?
There are several methods of African violet propagation, from cuttings to division. The plants often develop multiple crowns, which can be split apart and used to propagate new plants. Division propagation creates mature African violet plants faster than other methods.
How often should African violets be watered?
An important point to remember when bottom watering African Violet plants is to top water at least once a month. This way you are flushing out any extra fertilizer salt build up and refreshing the soil/roots from the top too.
How do you strike a cutting?
Remove most of the leaves along the stem. Strip leaves off with fingers or nip them off with sharp secateurs, leaving a cluster of several leaves at the tip. Dip base of cutting into hormone rooting powder or gel to increase the strike rate. Using the dibbler, make a hole in the propagating mix and insert the cutting.
How long does it take a plant to root in water?
Be sure to add fresh water as needed until the cuttings are fully rooted. Rooting will generally occur in 3-4 weeks but some plants will take longer. When the roots are 1-2 inches long or longer the cutting is ready to be potted up. This plant has heavy rooting and is ready to be moved to a pot with potting soil.
What kind of fertilizer do African violets need?
About African Violet Fertilizer The recommended ratio for African violets is 14-12-14. There are commercial formulas available specifically for fertilizing African violets, but many of these use urea as the nitrogen source. In certain conditions, urea can burn the plant’s roots.
Can I use regular potting soil for African violets?
Can You plant African Violets in Regular Potting Mix? A preferred potting mix for African Violets doesn’t contain any soil or dirt in the mixture. It also helps to keep the soil moist and drain extra water from the soil. Regular potting will work but make sure they are well-draining.
Can you grow African violets in just water?
African violets can not live in water. African violets can be watered from the bottom but should never sit in water for more than 45 minutes. It is possible to root new cuttings in water but once rooted the cutting should be removed from the water and planted in a pot with appropriate soil.
Can violets grow in water?
Growing an African violet in water from leaves is usually a good way to get a clone of the parent plant, although some multicolor violets will yield plants with solid color flowers. Choose young, healthy African violet leaves to start new plants.
Why do African violet leaves split?
Reason for Splitting African violets reproduce with suckers, or small rosettes, that sprout from the base of the plant. You may also see them growing in the axils — the area where the leaf joins the main stem. Suckers that aren’t removed promptly keep growing, sapping the energy the plant needs to produce blooms.
Should I replant my African violet?
Many successful growers of African Violets recommend repotting with fresh potting soil, twice a year or more. At the very least, an African Violet should be repotted whenever the plant becomes rootbound, i.e., the Violet has outgrown its current pot to the extent that its roots are growing out and around the rootball.
Why do African violets get leggy?
Depriving your plant from light will cause longer stems as they reach for light to grow. Leaves of African violets don’t like to be wet. If leaves stay wet, they are more susceptible to mold, rot, and fungus growth. The flowers will try to get away from the mold or fungus and become leggy.
