How to Propagate African Violets (Step-By-Step Tutorial)

This beginner tutorial shows how to take cuttings from African violets and grow new plants. Whether you root them in water or soil, these are easy plants to propagate at home.

As they out-grow their containers, you will also want to thin out or repot your African violets.

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How to Grow and Propagate African Violets

I’m quite certain I got my love of growing African violets (Saintpaulia) from my mom who always had some in bloom throughout my childhood. There was something so wonderful about having these brilliant purple, pink, and white flowers blooming indoors in the middle of a Canadian winter. And, as a kid, the thick, fuzzy green leaves were rather intriguing.

You may see this propagation method referred to as taking leaf cuttings, stem cuttings, or growing from leaves—it’s the same thing. You are cloning the plant by taking a cutting and making it grow roots.

And, once you know how easy it is to propagate African violets, you’ll want to try more.

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Contents

• Propagation Methods
  • In Water
  • In Soil or Growing Medium
  • Is It Legal?
• Step-By-Step Instructions
  • Instructional Video
  • Supplies
  • Steps
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Resources

Propagation Methods

There are two main ways to root African violet cuttings: in water or soil (growing medium).

Water Propagation Method

One way to propagate African violets is to root a leaf stem (“petiole”) cutting in water.

It’s not my preferred way since roots grown in water tend to be less durable than those started in potting mix, but I’ll share how it’s done just in case you want to try it.

The traditional way is to place a piece of wax paper over the top of a baby food jar filled with warm water. Hold the paper in place with an elastic band. Slit a hole in the wax paper and sit the cutting in it so the base of the stem only is submerged in water and the leaf up top stays dry.

Roots should grow and, when a few inches long, the plant can be potted.

Starting Roots in Soil or Growing Medium

I grew up using the water method but switched when I tested rooting cuttings in perlite and/or vermiculite and found it much more reliable. You can also use a light potting mix instead.

Whenever you propagate cuttings there will be hits and misses so always do a few extras.

Like me, you may find that roots grown in water tend to be bloated and unstable. Once the plant is placed in growing medium, it has a lot of re-work to do to become content in potting mix.

On the other hand, the ones started in a light, growing medium seem to put their energy right into new plantlet growth.

The method I’m using here has many variations. I hope you will feel encouraged to try it and adapt as you like. If you enjoy gardening like I do, it’s one more way to keep it going year-round, even when the weather outside is cold and miserable.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Instructional Video

Supplies and Materials

• 1 (or more) African violet plant(s) with at least 3 rows of strong, healthy leaves
• Shallow, plastic pots (2″-size works nicely)
• 1 bakery clamshell or clear, large plastic bag – if humidity level is under 40%
• Perlite and/or Vermiculite (you can also just use the potting mix listed)
• Potting mix for African violets (optional now, will be needed when new plants are larger)
• Scalpel or other fine sharp knife | You may also see them sold as “craft knife pen cutters.”
• Rubbing alcohol (to clean the cutting blade)
• Plant tags, labels, or tape (to keep track of cuttings)

Is rooting hormone required? Nope! These propagate just fine without added help.

Steps

1Prepare Growing Medium

I use a combination of vermiculite and perlite. You can also use potting mix for African violets. The goal is to have a light-weight growing medium that retains moisture without being too damp or dry.

Fill a 2-inch pot for each cutting. Soak the growing medium and allow to drain thoroughly.

2Take Your Cuttings

For best success, take your leaf stem (petiole) cutting from the third row of leaves from the center of the plant.

Looking from above, you can see that the leaves grow in circles around the middle.

• The youngest leaves are small and often unsuitable for propagation.
• The oldest, outer leaves often have tough or woody stems that make it difficult to root.
• Choose your leaf stem cutting from the middle of the plant, ensuring that the stem is still tender and not tough.

You can root cuttings from leaves that have broken off the plant, if they are healthy, or twist them off at the base of the stem, if you can reach in there without damaging the rest of the plant.

I like to use a scalpel, getting a nice, clean cut. The tool you see here is marketed as a quilting tool, used to remove tight stitches.

Always clean the blade with rubbing alcohol between uses.

Tag, You’re It

If you want to keep track of your cuttings, be sure to write plant tags with the name and date or use tape like I do.

I mark the mother plant pot with a code on a piece of tape and write a duplicate one to place on the little pot used for the cutting. This is particularly handy when I do not know the name of the hybrid but want to track how well each plant propagates.

3Trim the Leaf Stem

Place the leaf stem (petiole) cutting on a table with the fuzzy side facing up.

Cut the stem at approximately one-inch in length.

Next, make an angled cut down the stem, removing a wedge-shaped piece with the deepest cut at the base.

This is the section of the plant that will produce the new plantlets.

Should I Trim the Leaf?

You may have seen tutorials where the leaf is also reduced in size, by cutting off the top two-thirds or one half. The idea is that you want the plant to put its energy into growing new babies, not maintaining a big leaf.

I do not do this. I’ve found the stem forms roots just fine regardless and I don’t like how it looks when they are cut.

4Dib and Plant

Using a dibber (or the end of a pencil), create a hole in the growing medium to accommodate the leaf stem. You want it on an angle so the cutting will sit at 45-degrees with the fuzzy side up.

Insert the leaf stem cutting, ensuring that the bottom of the leaf is just above soil level.

5Close the Clamshell

If your humidity levels stay around 50% or higher, you will not need to cover the cuttings. You can use a simple humidity reader (thermometer hygrometer) like this one at Amazon to check levels ongoing.

If your humidity level is consistently low (40% or less), it can help to place some sort of humidity dome, plastic clamshell, or clear, large plastic bag over the cuttings (without touching them).

Some moisture will likely form on the inside of the humidity dome. If it’s really damp, remove it—you don’t want that much moisture present.

Place under grow lights for 12 hours per day or provide gentle, east-facing natural light.

Maintain consistent conditions the best you can, avoiding any drastic temperature, light, or moisture changes.

6Keep Moist

How often you water the growing medium will depend entirely on the humidity levels and other growing conditions in your home. Water droplets should form on the inside of the clamshell lid. If they are present, no watering is necessary. And, as mentioned, if it’s really damp (dripping, making the growing medium wet), remove the lid.

7Watch for Growth

In 2-3 months, you should notice little green balls appearing at soil level. These will grow into new stems and leaves.

When there are at least four strong leaves, you can repot into African violet growing mix in a tiny pot (they do not like big pots), or you can wait it out if everything still looks strong and healthy.

Sometimes I have had the original cutting die off naturally during this time, other times it hangs in there.

Also, not every new stems may survive or you may need to reduce how many you keep to ensure that they each have adequate growing space. There are several videos on YouTube showing this separation and potting process in case you need it.

Here Are Some Results

These are how the potted cuttings look almost 4 months later:

Potting Time

Around 6-7 months you should have enough new growth from a crown to pot up your new plant. Blooms may arrive in these next few months if your growing conditions encourage it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Resources

Care

Learn More

• African Violet Society of America | Good resource for growing tips, community, plant sales, and local chapters
• African Violet Society of Canada | Good resource for growing tips, community, plant sales, and local chapters
• African Violets (Saintpaulia) | Wikipedia
• African Violet Blooming Tips | PDF format | avsa.org
• The Houseplant Guru – African Violets | Lisa Eldred Steinkopf | Wonderful resource for houseplant growing tips
• How to Grow African Violets From Blossom Stems | These will produce clones that bloom true

Happy growing,

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛