Easy Way to Root African Violets

Hello and welcome to HealthyHousePlants.com. Today we’re going to talk about rooting, or actually propagating, African Violets using leaf cuttings. It’s a really quick and easy way to get new African Violet plants. As you probably know, while you’re watching the video in the first place, they are beautiful and they bloom really well indoors.

As I mentioned, they do really well from leaf cuttings. I started this a couple of months ago, and I’m going to show you how to do it, but I want to show you the results once they get going. Many plants will root from leaf cuttings, and African Violets do particularly well with this method. I’ll show you a close-up here, and you can see the roots on this one, which was planted two months ago. You’ll also notice the little baby leaves right there. Those little baby leaves will eventually become the new plant.

What will eventually happen is that you’ll want to raise the plant up so that the roots remain down, but the leaves are elevated. This allows the leaves to grow bigger. Once those leaves have grown to about the size of 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch, the entire plant can be transplanted into soil. At that point, you’ll remove the mother leaf, allowing the new baby leaves to continue growing and become the new plant.

So, how do you get to this point? What you want to do is start with a vessel that will hold water. Glass is preferable. These are actually milk bottles, which we do have for sale on the website. They are really nice because they provide plenty of room for the roots to grow. The roots, which I showed you earlier, will continue to grow longer, and it’s better if they can stretch downwards, as opposed to being balled up at the bottom. While it’s not the end of the world if they do, it’s just better for the plant’s growth if they have room to extend.

Next, you would fill the container with lukewarm, tepid water. You don’t want cold water because it’s too harsh for the plant, and hot water would also be damaging. So, fill it with water, and then you take some plastic wrap. If your container doesn’t have a cover, you can use plastic wrap to cover it tightly. You can even secure it with a twist tie if needed, but it doesn’t have to be perfect. Just make sure the plastic is taut. Then, take something like a wooden skewer and make holes that are the size of the leaf’s stem. You can fit about two leaves in this size of the container, but I wouldn’t recommend doing more than two.

Now, let’s take the plants. When you’re propagating African Violets, it’s also a good time to prune the plant. With African Violets, you prune from the outside. You’ll see here that this leaf is broken, so we’ll remove it, but it’s not suitable for propagating. Discard that leaf, but continue pruning until you find a mature leaf that’s not too old but not too young. Essentially, you’re looking for an adolescent leaf. Take the leaf off with a fairly long stem, about 2 inches, and place it in the water.

Now, insert the leaf stem into the hole in the plastic wrap so that the stem is submerged and the leaf itself is well-supported. Do the same for the second leaf. As you’re pruning, look for any yellow leaves and remove those, as they are getting ready to die off. You’ll want to select leaves that are bright, shiny, and buoyant, meaning they are full of water. While I used my fingers for this, you can also use pruners. However, make sure the cut is clean and smooth. It’s even better if the cut is made at a slight angle, as this will provide more root coverage when it starts to grow.

Once the leaves are in place, put the container in a bright location with medium to bright light. The light does not have to be direct sunlight. With time, you will have perfectly propagated African Violets to add to your collection.

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FAQs on Propagating African Violets

How do I propagate African Violets using leaf cuttings?

To propagate African Violets, start by selecting a healthy, mature leaf from the plant. Cut the leaf with a stem about 2 inches long and place it in a water-filled container with plastic wrap covering the top. Make sure the stem is inserted into the water through a hole in the wrap. Keep the container in bright, indirect light, and in a few months, baby plants will form at the base of the leaf.

What type of container is best for rooting African Violet cuttings?

Glass containers, like milk bottles, are ideal for rooting African Violets because they provide enough room for the roots to grow downwards without bunching up at the bottom. Make sure the container allows the roots to stretch for better growth.

How long does it take for African Violet leaves to root and form new plants?

It typically takes about two months for the leaf cuttings to form roots and small baby plants. Once the baby leaves are about 1/4 to 1/2 inch in size, they can be transplanted into soil to grow as a new plant.

What is the best light condition for propagating African Violets?

African Violet leaf cuttings should be placed in bright, indirect light. They don’t require direct sunlight, but a medium to bright location is ideal for healthy root and leaf development.

How should I prepare the water for rooting African Violet leaves?

Use lukewarm, tepid water to fill the container. Cold or hot water can shock the plant, so it’s important to use water that is gentle on the leaves.

When should I transplant the new African Violet plants into soil?

Once the baby leaves have grown to around 1/4 to 1/2 inch in size, you can transplant the entire cutting, removing the mother leaf, and plant it in soil to continue growing.

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