African Violet Propagation

7 years ago

I have an African Violet that has done wonderfully well in my home (zone 5b) and I leave it in year round. The beginning of this spring, I took 4 leaf cuttings to propagate new plants. I put them in soil specifically for African Violets. One, I kept the stem quite long; the second I cut the stem to 1.5"; the third I cut right to the edge of the leaf; and the fourth one I cut a V into the leaf (I had read all these different methods). I dipped all of them in rooting hormone, planted, watered and put in grow light. There were there for almost 3 months, still green and healthy, but no young plants. So I read to water, put them in plastic bags, blow up the bags, and put in diffused light. I have done that for almost 3 weeks now. The leaves still seem to be doing well, again no baby plants. Any suggestions?

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Rosie1949

7 years ago

Yes, just one.......Invite Miss Patience over for tea! lol They will make babies when they are good and ready and not a moment sooner! Since they are doing well, turn your back on them and before you know it, you will see teeny weeny babies!!!! You are doing well,,,,good luck!!!! Rosie

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Comments (18)

Royals fan-MO6a
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
If the leaves are still healthy you will probably still get babies with patience. The leaves are probably filling the space with roots right now. Older leaves can also take longer. One of these days, you will check on them and will be pleasantly surprised with tiny babies! Don't give up! Meg

Rosie and I were writing at the same time, but we are sending the same message.
Wendy Heath thanked Royals fan-MO6a
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check the link .. start over... sterilize the soil ... for your purposes... it can be as simple as some damp soilless mix in a baggie.. and a zap in the microwave ... let it cool take a new leaf .... dip the stem in 10% bleach and water ..... then slice with a razor blade dipped in the same water ... plant into a pot cleaned in the same water ... insert into pot.. and place the whole thing in a baggie for humidity regulation ... you may never need to water it again .... and you will have to decide if the bag is closed or open .... the bag should be misty .. not dripping water .. the key is to start clean [like an operating room] and then not have to fix problems thereafter ... good luck ken Here is a link that might be useful: sterilization
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I have had a lot of luck propagating AV's by just dipping a leaf in rooting hormone, sticking it in a pot of regular potting soil, watering thoroughly, and then sticking the pot in a Zip-Lock Baggie. It needs some light. I've put the baggies in both an eastern and southern exposure and have enjoyed equal success rates. I'm thinking it takes about 2 months to see the new plantlets. This has even worked for me in less-than-ideal situations, as when the cat has chewed off a leaf and I find it a day or two later. Fairly fool proof.
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1. Choose a healthy leaf from the second or third row of your African violet plant. 2. Cut stem at a 45-degree angle and place in damp potting soil. Leaves placed in water or vermiculite will make water roots or vermiculite roots and will take longer to adjust to soil. 3. Cut off top third of the leaf. Place with name tag if available. Put plastic sack over pot for a week or so. 4. Place pot in indirect light from a window or under florescent lights. 5. Babies should start growing within 4-6 weeks. When babies are about two inches tall, or have at least four leaves per plantlet, separate and put each into individual pots. Place plastic on these for about a week. Join us on the African Violets forum.
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I happened to look through one of my very old AVSA mags and found a lady who actually did "graft" a violet and got babies. Here it is: ************************************************************************************************* The African Violet Magazine, September 1972 Has Success With Grafting By Mrs. Margaret Nash Bengough, Sask, Canada I have had quite a bit of success in grafting leaves. In step by step order this is what I did after I started the first part of December 1971. I took a leaf from a 'Tommie Lou' and one from 'French Folly', cutting them approximately one and one-half inches from the base of the leaf. Then I cut the petiole on a slant within one quarter of an inch from the leaf with a new razor blade. Using soft white embroidery cotton, I bound the two petioles together to combine the juice of both leaves. Tie the ends of the embroidery cotton together, but make sure that the petioles are not bound too tightly as the cotton will cut them. I planted them in vermiculite, covering the container with plastic. In approximately six weeks baby plants emerged. I now have two separate plants, each one having variegated leaves and solid green leaves growing from the same root. They are nearly big enough to flower and when they do, I will let you know the result. I am hoping for a violet with variegated foliage with a deep violet blossom. I hope others will try grafting leaves and has as much success as I have had. ************************************************************************************************** NOTE: This is the article in its entirety. If she did update on her violet adventure, I have not yet run across the article. She could have posted something but I wouldn't know where to look in all of those back issues. But if you try this I hope you will let us know how it turns out! But hmmmm, stealing a shoot. But not at a store where they sell them. So does that mean if you are at someone's home you "steal" a shoot? Or if you are at an African Violet show, once again, you would "steal" a shoot? I am a little confused as to where a person might be that they would have opportunity to "steal" a shoot! Curious! Happy to know that you got good information on lighter soils and shallower containers for rooting. They do work better! Kcups are also great for rooting leaves! Good luck!!! Rosie
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irina_co
7 years ago
I recommend another method...fill a black tray with solo cups with leaves, cover with a dome. Put under the light. Repeat the procedure next day. Continue until you have no place left in a house. Take a breath. Look at the first tray. OMG - it is bursting with babies and no place to put them. Get another light stand. 1 tray with leaves s is equal one shelf of starters. Fill the stand. REPEAT. At that point you begin to understand - they grow way too fast.
Wendy Heath thanked irina_co
Rosie1949
7 years ago
Awwww,,,,Irina,,,,,don't burst her bubble! She will find this out on her own. Let her have the wonder, fun and anticipation of babies and the reality of running out of room!!!! lol Rosie

PS 6 months ago I put down every leaf that I found, bought, traded for, or otherwise obtained. They didn't take up much room. They were so cute! You warned me. Oh and how long would it take to make their babies??? Welllll,,,,,reality is setting in. I am looking at babies that now need to be separated. hmmm. Not putting down so many leaves now. Being more selective!
Leon Ash
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Have you tried cursing ? I do it often and it seems to help.

But seriously, if the leaves are healthy they're growing, eventually....eventually....eventually you'll get plantlets.
Wendy Heath thanked Leon Ash
Rosie1949
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Curse???? Me???? oh my,,,,,my mother would wash my mouth out with soap. BUT she is no longer here sooooooooo,,,,,,occasionally a word or two will slip! Oh me oh my! But the reality is,,,,they don't grow any faster no matter what words I use, good or bad! lol Rosie
irina_co
7 years ago
Rosie - out of your babies...only keep 2-3 strongest of each variety, chuck the rest. Out of 2-3 - wait until they bloom, keep one. At that point - you can find another home for them. Do not keep too many duplicates for too long. Again - on a level of a first bloom - you will find some - that do nothing for you. Pass them on. At the end you will have good plants of the varieties you like. And everybody around you will benefit from your generosity to the point they will go in hiding at your approach.

I.
Rosie1949
7 years ago
Sounds like good advice but toss growing babies??? Ewww, don't know if I can do that. Share I can do,,,but toss???? Oh my.

Irina, you must have missed my lament about having no one to "share" violets/plants/information with. Which is why I am so active on this group. There is NO one interested in my neck of the woods.

But that may change once I get this knee moving a little better as far as endurance. When we went to the Ann Arbor show they handed out a paper with the information for joining 2 AV groups. These groups are the ones that put on the sale. The one is not far from me at all. Well, in the next county,,,but certainly not so far that I can't make it. I am going to look into it. Just can't do it yet. But I am excited about the thought of doing it!!!! Rosie
Leon Ash
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Hi Rosie...

I'm in the same boat you're in...no one in Grand Rapids that's into AV's. But that's why I'm in this forum and two others. And I've made some friends. When I offered you a couple of leaves of that Alchemy Bells it was because a very generous collector in another forum sent me a box with those and some others.
So we can share using this medium. Leon
Rosie1949
7 years ago
I love to share Leon. And I have shared back plants also. And thanks for offering me the Alchemy Bells! Hope we can make that work!

I can't believe in this entire county there are NO people that are interested in violets! I almost have to rely on this group exclusively to "share". Otherwise I would be over run with violet children! I would be one huge violet orphanage! Sorry,,just can't toss them! Rosie
Leon Ash
7 years ago
You can't believe in this entire county there are NO people that are interested in violets?

I even tried Craig's list. All I got was offers for stuff I didn't want.
Rosie1949
7 years ago
I know, Leon. Well at least WE know where to find violet people!!!!! Rosie
Julie He
7 years ago
Rosie,

i live in Plymouth. I would love to get freebies.

I just got into AV about a month ago. But reading this forum makes me more and more interested. My problem is I have no patience. Over doing things is my specialty.
Rosie1949
7 years ago
Julie do you mean Plymouth MICHIGAN??????!!!!!!! Rosie
Julie He
7 years ago
Rosie, yes.
Rosie1949
7 years ago
I am in Monroe!!!!! I don't think we are that far that we couldn't meet!!!!! Rosie
Julie He
7 years ago
Yes, definitely.

We should go to the AV show together next year. I work in Ann Arbor, near the botanical garden. I can even walk there.

we can meet in Ann Arbor. Don't throw more babies away, hee hee.
Rosie1949
7 years ago
Okey dokey! There are 2 other people that I go with also. We will have a nice little group!!!!!! YAY!!! AnneCecelia is on this group. She is one of them!!! Rosie

African Violet Propagation

Rosie1949

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