Propagating African violets is not rocket science. On the contrary, with the right method it is easy and very quickly crowned with success.
The African violet, also known as Saintpaula, is an extremely popular houseplant that has particularly thick and dark green colored leaves. It is extremely easy to care for and therefore particularly suitable for beginners. The special thing about the plant is that it is very easy to propagate. You have three different options:
- Propagation by leaf cuttings
- Propagation by seed
- Propagation by stinging shoots
Propagation through leaf cuttings works much easier and faster. When sowing, it takes a little longer until strong and he althy young plants emerge, just like with the third variant, in which stinging shoots have to be taken from the mother plant. But before you decide, we would like to explain the procedure of the three variants to you in more detail here.
Using African violets by leaf cuttings
1 Look for a large, strong leaf in a more inconspicuous place on your plant. Then tear off the leaf along with a four to five centimeter long stalk. If you cut a thin strip off the lower edge of the stem with a razor blade, rooting will work faster. Place the leaf cuttings in a pot with special growing soil or a mixture of peat and sand, about one centimeter deep. You can support the cutting with a toothpick.
2 Pour gently with lukewarm water and protect the pot with plastic wrap. The high humidity ensures rapid root formation. Place the pot in a warm, bright place and air the foil daily to prevent mold from forming. After about four to six weeks, the new roots will be strong enough.
3 Now place the young plant in a pot with normal potting soil. Always use lukewarm, low-lime water for watering. After about two weeks, weak fertilizer applications are useful. Orchid fertilizer is very suitable.
» Alternative for theRooting: Put the cuttings in sphagnum moss. This has the advantage that the cuttings can be kept very moist without being damaged. Disposable plastic shot glasses are ideal as containers. Place the small cups in a shallow bowl filled with water. Water before the water is used up, the moss must not dry out. You can see from the outside how the roots are developing and can then transfer the rooted cuttings to normal soil.
Propagating African Violets by Sowing
The sowing works best with purchased seeds. The seed belongs to the light germs. Use a growing substrate in a flat container and sprinkle the seeds loosely on the soil. Always keep slightly moist and place in a bright, warm place. The seeds germinate after about two weeks, another two to three weeks later separate the young plants.
From a size of about ten centimetres, the plants can be placed in their own pots with normal potting soil.
Propagation by avaricious shoots
These shoots develop laterally on the stems of the mother plant. Look for strong, strong stinging shoots that you cut off at an angle with a sharp knife. Then place the shoots like leaf cuttings in potting soil