Select a large and healthy leaf from a healthy African violet. Include 2 inches (5 cm) of stem and cut the leaf from the plant on a 45-degree angle. The cut side of the angle should be on the top of the leaf. Fill the bottle with lukewarm water. Place the stem of the leaf into the neck of the bottle, so that the stem is in water and the leaf is resting above the rim. Cover the leaf and top of the bottle loosely with plastic to help keep in the humidity. Place the leaf somewhere warm that gets lots of filtered light. Add more water as necessary to keep the stem submerged. Over the next several weeks, the cutting will begin to sprout baby African violets.
Fill the pot with loose potting soil. Press the cut stem a half-inch (1. 3 cm) into the soil. Cover the top of the pot with a clear plastic cover or wrap. Place the cutting somewhere warm where it will get lots of filtered sun. You probably won’t need to water as long as the plastic keeps in the moisture.
Water the medium and allow it to dry out so it’s moist. Fill the seed starters with medium. Spray the top of the medium with water. Sprinkle a few seeds into the top of each starter cell. Cover the top of the cells with plastic. Place the seed starters 10 inches (25 cm) below the grow lights. Provide the seeds with 12 to 14 hours of light per day. If the environment stays humid thanks to the plastic wrap, you won’t need to water.
For seedlings, wait until the seedlings have leaves that reach 2 inches (5 cm) in width. For cuttings, the babies should be ready in about eight to 10 weeks, once new leaves are roughly the size of a dime.
Most garden and home stores will sell a medium specifically designed for African violets. You can also make your own African violet mix by combining equal parts perlite, vermiculite, and peat moss. [2] X Research source
A good rule of thumb is to put your violet in a pot that’s one-third the size of the plant itself, because this will match the size of the root system. For the current size of your seedlings or babies, a 2-inch (5-cm) pot will probably be sufficient. You can use either plastic or terracotta pots for your violets. Plastic pots require less watering, but terracotta pots provide more air flow.
To distinguish one baby from another, look for small clusters of leaves that are attached to the parent. When you’ve located all the babies, carefully trim each one from the parent using a sterilized cutting tool.
Gently place each seedling or baby plant into the hole in the soil. Make sure all the leaves and stems are above the soil. Loosely cover the roots with extra medium.
If you don’t have a humid location available, set up a humidifier where the plants are growing.
Use room temperature water rather than cold water, otherwise you could chill the roots. If this happens, the leaves or flowers may start to curl. Don’t get water on the leaves or flowers, as this can lead to rings or spots forming on the plant. [4] X Research source If you get water on the leaves or flowers, gently dry the area with an absorbent towel.
In winter, the plants will do best near a window that faces south or west in the Northern Hemisphere, or north or east in the Southern Hemisphere. [5] X Trustworthy Source University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Division of the University of Georgia focused on research and community education Go to source In summer, the plants will be better near a window that faces north or east in the Northern Hemisphere, or south or west in the Southern Hemisphere. To provide bright and indirect sunlight, provide shade by placing the plants behind lightweight curtains.
There are specific fertilizers available for African violets, but the important thing is to provide them with balanced nutrients. A good fertilizer would be a 20-20-20, which means it has equal quantities of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. [6] X Research source Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for feeding the violets.
Anything below 50 F (10 C) will almost certainly kill the plant.
Violets that don’t get enough humidity will grow slowly, and while they will produce flower buds, they likely won’t bloom. [8] X Research source
