African violets will flourish with a weekly routine of watering and removing
the lower leaves and blossoms as they pass their prime. In fact, in a few months
the plant will be in danger of overgrowing the pot. When that happens, it's time
to re-pot your African violet.
Extreme Makeover
Your first re-potting may be slightly daunting, as you will naturally be
reluctant to interfere with something that is obviously loving life. However,
the plant's longevity, beautiful symmetry, and health require it.
Here is how you do it. First, grasp the thick stem at the point it emerges
from the soil and uproot the entire plant. It is possible that other stems have
spontaneously started life in the pot and they should also be removed. Discard
the old soil and replace it with a new batch of loosely packed soil and perlite
mix. Remove the lower leaves until only a nice circle of new leaves remain.
Measure three inches from the top, then cut and discard the lower stem and root
system. Pare the outer covering to about an inch from stem so the fleshy
interior remains. Then submerge the fleshy stem into soil so the leaves rest
just above the surface of the soil. Pack the soil down only to the point that
the stem remains upright and replenish the pot with fresh water and food.
Seeing a gorgeous, full plant reduced to a slight stubby baby can be a shock,
but you have just done a great service for your African violet; you renewed its
lease on life and gave it an opportunity for continued growth and development.
New plants can be started by re-potting the other stems in the manner
described above. An even easier method is just to lay a healthy single leaf on
the top of a pot of fresh, moist soil. In a few weeks, a new African violet will
begin from roots that grow on the underside of the loose leaf. Obviously, it
will take quite a bit longer to grow a blooming plant this way, and an exact
placement of the plant in the pot is impossible, but this method demonstrates
how prolific the African violet can be under the right circumstances.