This is the easiest method of rooting African Violets that I have ever used.

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. You can feed with half strength water soluable fertilizer when the leaves are a week or so old. Use your judgement on when to do this, but do not use full strength fertilizer.

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.

I like to grow African violets to give as gifts. There is just something about seeing those little leaves pop out of that perlite.

This is a good project for kids too.

Janie