Propagation of African violets by a leaf is the simplest and therefore very common method of rooting African violet leaves in water. In addition, later on, a violet grown from a leaf will certainly be able to give children.
In order for a plant to form correctly and be healthy, it is necessary to take into account its physiological characteristics, as well as all the requirements that it imposes on the growing conditions.
rooting african violet leaves in water
What kind of water can I use?
Before placing the leaf in water, you need to pick up a container – it should be small and clean, best of all, sterilized in advance. Water must be taken clean, filtered, or settled, with a temperature slightly cooler than room temperature.
Small containers are best suited for rooting.
A tablet of activated carbon should be dissolved in water, which will act as an adsorbent of mucus or elements that can contribute to its formation, which will change the composition of water for the worse, and, accordingly, its quality, and will also prevent the reproduction of algae and other pathogenic microflora …Important! If possible, it is better to choose a container made of dark glass. In transparent glass, the water will turn green faster and will need to be changed more often.
leaves fixing methods
To secure a violet leaf that needs rooting in water, you can build a support device from available tools.
To do this, you can take a small piece of cardboard, cover it with a container of water, and make a slot in the middle of the cardboard plate using a clerical knife.
Insert the sheet into this slot so that the stalk is in the water, at least 1 cm, and the violet leaf plate is on the surface.
If the container has a lid, then a hole can be made in it by placing the sheet in the same way as with cardboard.
It should be remembered that the handle immersed in water should not come into contact with the walls of the glass.
Here is our guide if you want to know about Repotting African Violets When They Are Blooming.
How to choose the right planting material?
For rooting, a leaf should be taken from the second or third tier of the mother plant. It is important to take into account that the rooted leaf should not be damaged or deformed, it should be characterized by a uniform bright color and good turgor. On the cutting of such a leaf, the roots are formed faster and the bud will grow more actively.
Important! Leaves from the lower tier of the mother plant, located near the soil, should not be chosen for rooting, because they are the oldest and have less potential.
Care
Having placed a violet stalk in a container of water, you should not think that this is the end of caring for it:
- Firstly, it is imperative to monitor the water level – it evaporates, water must be added as necessary, preventing the stalk from remaining in the air;
- Secondly, it is necessary to carry out a visual inspection of the part of the sheet that is in the water. If brown spots or rot appear on the handle, you need to:
- take it out and cut it off;
- treat the cut site with activated carbon;
- drain the water;
- wash and disinfect the container;
- fill it with fresh water, in which activated carbon will be dissolved;
- put the treated violet stalk back into the water.
With a problem-free process, the roots will appear in 14 – 20 days, but this period is individual for each variety of violets.
Check out the detail on African Violet Light Requirements.
How often should the water be changed?
If plaque does not accumulate on the wall of the container and the water does not become cloudy, it can be left unchanged, however, if such signs appear, the sheet should be removed from the water, the container should be rinsed, and the water should be replaced with clean water.
Transfer to the ground
Do not rush and replant the leaf immediately after the roots have formed. It is necessary to wait until the bud grows on the cutting, from which the rosette of the future violet plant will develop.
Transplantation into the ground is carried out after the appearance of roots and children.
After the rudiments of the leaves appear, the leaf with roots can be transplanted into a small pot with special soil and well-equipped drainage.
Main problems rooting African violet leaves in water
- The appearance of spots of rot on the cutting of the leaf. To avoid this, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the water and use an activated carbon tablet to disinfect it;
- Decay of the sheet plate. This may be due to the leaf being too deeply immersed in water, it is necessary to carefully fix it so that the stalk is in water no more than 2 cm.It is also worth monitoring the temperature regime of the rooted leaf. The ambient temperature must not fall below 22 ° C.
Method advantages rooting African violet leaves in water
This is the easiest and most affordable way to get an adult violet in full bloom. At the same time, the entire process of root formation is under control, unlike rooting in the soil, so the problem, if it arises, can be solved at the initial stages.
See also ways For Propagating African Violets Step By Step Guide.
Use of african violet
You can use stimulants, but very carefully. Violets are very sensitive to chemicals, so be careful with concentration. But in general, it is best to limit yourself to harmless but effective activated carbon.
Conclusion
Rooting African violet leaves in water is a very simple method, the main thing is to be patient, sparing no effort and time, paying due attention to your flower.
