African Violets – Rooting Leaves in Water

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Now here are two practical methods developed for leaf propagating by home gardeners. Cover a water-filled glass tumbler with wax paper with a rubber band. Pierce the paper in three places.

Insert the leaf stems in these holes deeply enough for the stems to reach into the water. Set the glass in a fully light but not sunny window. If you use a faucet rather than a rain wafer, let it stand uncovered for twenty-four hours beforehand so that all chlorine may be released.

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It is also possible to work even more simply. Several varieties can quickly be started in a shallow glass dish or soup bowl.

Just fill the container with enough small rounded stones to support the leaf stems and maintain a sufficient supply of water to keep the ends of the branches moist.

In two to four weeks, depending on variety and location, roots will appear at the ends of the stems. Change the water, then. By the end of another week or so, a small green leaf may occur at the base of each parent leaf.

If the parent leaf has begun to deteriorate, you can now make a transfer of rooted leaves by potting them into 3″ inch pots of light soil or pure sand. If the parent leaf remains firm and healthy, wait until a cluster of leaves about one inch long appears.

To make the transfer from water to soil with the least possible danger and best possible results to the developing plant, try this suggested system: “Use a small custard cup containing a small amount of water.

Place the rooted leaf in the vessel, spreading the roots. Sift fine soil around them until all the water has been absorbed. Then the soil and leaf may be lifted out with a spoon.”

Time Varies

The time of propagation varies, of course. Ionantha leaves root very quickly, while other varieties indeed take their time.

No leaves can be depended upon to produce seeds very promptly, but so long as the parent leaf remains healthy and does not soften and decay, roots and new leaves will eventually grow. Sometimes it takes months.

When quite a cluster of new leaves appears, cut the parent leaf away. Remove it sooner if it shows signs of deterioration, but often it is not necessary to discard it for a long time.

If a variety is scarce or your supply is limited, you may be able to grow a crop of saintpaulias (African violet) from the same treasured leaf.

You will work with a shorter, sharply cut petiole each time until a third planting is made, perhaps with no petiole and only the leaf base to insert in the soil.

Related: Tips on Transplanting African Violets

Even so, you can expect success as many have found from experience that the same leaf will produce as fine a third crop as it did a first.

Expect setbacks during the water-to-soil transfer while roots adjust to the new medium. In less than five months, however, you will have a well-established, thrifty plant that should, in less than a year, produce flowers.

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