How is it done? Cuttings? Tissue culture? I‘ve managed to keep quite a few alive and i‘d like to start making more. There must be a way to clone them because they have cultivars. ‘Thanks!!
Leaf cuttings are the most popular method of propagation. Quite often violets will produce suckers from the main stem. These can be separated from the mother plant and put into their own little pots. See source for more information about African violets.
I have a friend that when she wants a new plant, she just strips one of the leaves from the plant. Then she sticks in the soil and it grows. She has done this many times. I have one on my desk that she did it to.
This is the easiest method of rooting African Violets Supplies you will need: styrofoam cup plastic cup, big enough to hold the styrofoam cup 1/4 cup vermiculite 1/4 cup perlite distilled water You will need a styrofoam cup to start. Punch holes around the cup about 1 1/2 from the bottom, and punch 4 or 5 holes right around the bottom edge. The bottom holes are for watering, the top holes are for drainage. Pour the vermiculite into the styrofoam cup. Top with the perlite. Cut healthy leaves from a violet plant. Stick the stems into the perlite, with or without rooting hormone. Pour a little distilled water into the plastic cup and set the styrofoam cup in the water. As water is absorbed by the vermiculite and perlite, the leaf cutting will be drawn down into the vermiculite. Set the cups on a window sill where it gets filtered light but no direct sun. Just keep it watered, but not soggy. In 3 or 4 weeks, you will see new little leaves emerging on top of the perlite. When the root system is well grown, pot them up in a peat based mix, and put them where they get good light, but not direct sun.
