How to Propagate African Violets From Leaf Cuttings

If your collection of indoor plants includes a few African violets, you know that the delightful blossoms and the plump green leaves can really add color to your house. However, you may not know that African violets are easy to propagate from leaf cuttings, a project that can even novice gardeners can tackle.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Healthy African violet
• Sterilized craft knife or razor blade
• Small plastic pot
• Potting soil for rooting
• Pencil
• Plastic bag
• Flower pot
• Regular potting soil

1. Remove a mature leaf from a healthy, young African violet. Remove the tip of the leaf with a sterilized craft knife or razor blade.

2. Trim the stem at a 45-degree angle, leaving only about 1/2 inch of stem connected to the leaf.

3. Fill a small plastic pot with a moistened, light potting soil made especially for rooting.

4. Make a small hole with the tip of a pencil and push the leaf cutting into the hole, so the soil is even with the bottom of the leaf. Gentle tamp down the potting soil. You can put more than one leaf in the pot if there's adequate space.

5. Place the pot in a plastic bag and put it in a bright spot, but keep it out of direct sunlight and heat. Keep the soil moist, and let the plant develop until the plantlets are about 2 inches tall.

6. Separate the small plants from the leaf cutting and put each plantlet in its on small pot filled with regular potting mix, and leave them in the plastic bag for about a week.