Has anyone here ever grown an African violet from a leaf? My Grandma has an absolutely Beautiful purply- blue one.....would love to borrow a leaf and make a plant? Does it take a long time?!

Love them and had tons years ago. They are easily grown from leaf. Check this info. Good luck!
www.ehow.com/how_4425626_grow-african-violet-from-leaf.html

Try googling and see what you find. My aunt use to do this all the time.

Oh, Thank you!!!!!!!!!!! I bet your home was beautiful with lots. Love them, too, and they are safe for pets, a biggie for me!

Very easy--have done thousands! Used to propagate for a greenhouse.....

It is very easy to grow African Violet leaves. Cut a leaf from the middle of that plant using a sharp knife and cut at an angle. I use a small juice glass or simular size container. Put water in up almost to the top, then I take clear wrap and a rubber band to hold it in place. Cut a small hole in the top to stick the leaf in. Put in a north window or window that is shaded as you do not want to cook your leaf in the sun. When it gets several roots, then buy African Violet potting soil, along with African Violet plant food. Use a smaller pot to begin with because Violets will not bloom unless pot bound. Water from the bottom only. Good luck.
IdahoSandy

Thank you! That made it sound so easy!

Carrieanne, YES!!!
In the warmer weather I put the leaf in water, with the stem submerged and you will get one!!! I found it easiest to put foil around the jar so the leaf stays out and keep checking the water periodically.
I love African violets but so does my sweet Mabel so I don't have any for now!!!!!! One day I was on the phone for 6 minutes and when I returned she ate the whole ring of flowers! lol :D:D
It's okay, she's worth it!

YES, i HAVE 2 THAT i STARTED FROM A LEAF. i PUT WATER IN A GLASS, COVERED THE TOP WITH SARAN WRAD, PUT A RUNNER BAND AROUND THE GLAS TO HELP HOLD THE SARAN WRAP . USED A SHARP INSTRUMENT TO POKE A HOLE IN THE TOP OF THE SARAN WRAP. i THEN SLIPPED THE CUT END OF THE STEM INTO THE WATER AND PUT IT IN A WEST WINDOW AND WAITED.mY WEST WINDOW IS SHADED SO THE PLANT WILL NOT COOK.

Have grown lots. Very easy. Just break off a leaf with about an inch of stem. Bury stem up to leaf in half agricultural sand and half compost. Keep watered and on warm windowsill. Takes 4-6 weeks. Good luck.

Must try this method. Thanks for the tip.

Yes I have done it and it does not take a long time. I would start a couple just in case. Just dip it in a root growing formula for starting plants and it will do great.

My Grannie use to fill new pots with soil, water the soil, using a butter knife, she would make a slit in soil, insert leaf, cover with a ziplock bag til she could see the new plant growing. :D She had a room dedicated to just African Violets. They were gorgeous.

My mom and I used to do this all the time. However, you forgot one step. Mom and both grandmas always said that in order for it to grow into a beautiful plant, you had to steal the leaf from someone else's plant! :lol: :lol: :lol: AND you couldn't tell them you took it, or the leaf wouldn't sprout! :lol: :lol:

Very easy to do - I've done it several times - but it takes time. Cut off a healthy leaf, dip the stem in a rooting hormone powder and then stick the leaf stem into potting soil. I use a mister to water it for many weeks until I see some new little leaves popping up.

Amazon, I bet the room was pretty!
LOL, Patty!

YES you can.Stick it in potting mix.At one time i had 250 of the things,now i'm down to one.I use one of those self watering things that you can get at walmart.Connie in CO

My only Violet has a long neck,i might try to start another plant.I also have a plant that is a cousin to a African Violet,it has long fussy leaves,Strep????????? something.

Wow, Connie, 250? I bet that was beautiful....theycome in so many pretty colors!

CarrieAnne,went to one African Violet show and i was hooked.They have grow lights out,it has a light in it that shows the colors of the blooms.The one violet i have now has green and white leaves.Connie in CO

That was before i found quilting.

Great information, I used waxpaper ( on purpose) vs. saran wrap. My Father in-law was known for his beautiful african violets. All grown in this manor. He kept his original ones and started with leaves, opened his garage door in spring and cars lined up.

Very fun _ I don't have a window in this house that will grow them nicely. :( he used grow lights on his flat beads.

Good luck ! I wish you much success !
Ell

I have a beautiful purple with yellow centers sitting on my window sill.It's about to bloom.It will be covered in blooms before to long,

This is how I used to do them and they are so easy to root...

Have done this many times just by taking a leaf and placing it in moist african violet soil and placing a plastic sandwich bag over the pot. Set the pot in indirect sun and before you know it little leaves will sprout at the edge of the big leaf. Easiest thing to do.

Been there, done that, it's great fun. Follow instructions given by the other knowledgable members, and happy flowers!

My mother used to put the leaf in a glass of water until the roots began to grow. Then she would plant it in a small pot first and once it was healthy, she'd put it in a larger pot.

It takes a while but worth it. Bury it in soil about half way and keep it watered.

I have heard that they only bloom when root bound in a pot too small. Makes you wonder how they ever bloom in nature when they have the entire world to grow roots in.

Yes, and have been very successful.
I have just put the leaf in a small pot with soil and watered accordingly, and also I have done this in a jar of water with the leaf.
I put plastic wrap over the jar of water stab it with a pencil and put the stem of the leaf in the jar, the plastic wrap keeps it upright, and watch it root it is amazing. good luck.

Wow, so many ways to do it! Now to experiment, lol!

I have even nipped leaves from family and friends that live far away, and either kept them moist in a baggie for a long drive home, or carefully tended them in my lap on an airplane. Although I do have north facing windows, I find that they also enjoy the humidity in the bathroom. Our bathroom faces south, but DH put up shelves for me on either side of the window so they don't get direct sun.

So...start nipping those leaves and you will soon have a beautiful indoor garden!!!

Patti

They would really be pretty in a bathroom!

I had so many african violets I had to give them to my Mom. I kept some variegated leaved ones. A few I was partial too! I start them from leaves all the time. I get that root hormone grower. I also use those empty medicine bottles. Or any small glass container where the leaf will stay in place. I break the leaf off, dip it in the grower and put in water. You will have roots in a few days.
I just did one not long ago. And I see 3 white leaves comeing up.

I love African Violets and have about 19 plants. I take a leaf with about 1" - 1 1/2" inches of stem and put it into African Violet soil, water well, place in a baggy and close tightly then set it in the window. When you see it's taken root open the baggy a little at a time over a few days so it's not a shock to the plant when coming out of the "green house" environment. Good luck and let me know how you do. :-)

Does anyone else have any variegated leafed ones? One of mine is a trailor.

I've won a couple of ribbons on mine in a flower show. Hope to show them again.

Yes, I've grown new African Violet plants from a leaf. If I'm not mistaken, when I did that, the flowers ended up with double petals.

About time for some African Violet fertilizer on established plants....spring flowering prompt. Is that cheating? LOL

Patti

Very beautiful Patti. But that one is the funniest violet bloom I've ever seen. giggle Are you trying to cross roses with violets?