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Step 1
Look for a healthy and solid leaf in the middle of the plant. Cut the leaf off at the stem of the plant, leaving the leaf stem, or petiole, intact. Trim the leaf stem to 1 1/2 inches if it is longer than that.
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Step 2
Fill a small glass or jar with warm water and put the cutting into the water. Be sure that the petiole is under water and the leaf is not. Place the jar on a window ledge and wait for roots to grow from the leaf stem.
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Step 3
Plant the rooted leaf stem in a 6 inch pot of soil and place the plant in a well lit area. African violets prefer temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees, but are tolerant from 60 to 80 degrees.
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Step 4
Insert the leaf stem directly into a pot containing a 50/50 mixture of vermiculite and sand or vermiculite and potting soil, if you prefer to avoid the rooting step. Keep the pot well watered and roots should begin to grow from the base of the petiole within a few weeks.
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Step 5
Feed your African violets every time you water them. Use a water soluble fertilizer in a 20-20-20 or 15-30-15 ratio. Mix the solution at one quarter the recommended strength. Water the plants first so soil is moist and then water again with the fertilizer solution. Wait for the plant to drain and then throw away any water and fertilizer that drains into the drip pan.
