Renewing a Favorite African Violet

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Posted by @4susiesjoy on
If you have a favorite African Violet and it has grown too large, looks scruffy, or has a turkey neck (it has lost its lower leaves and the stem looks long and lanky), but you hate to throw it away because it has sentimental value, or because it's a favorite, you can renew it. Without the lengthy process of starting a new plant from leaves, you can have a rejuvenated blooming plant.

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You take the plant you want to renew and cut it off at root level, or higher if you have a turkey neck on your plant.
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Remove all buds and blooms and remove the lower leaves until you have a small crown of top leaves.

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Fill a small pot with moistened seed-starting soil, make a hole the size of the stem with a pencil, insert the stem in the hole, and press the soil firmly around the stem. Mist the leaves and water in the stem.

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Cover with a clear plastic bag and use a rubber band to hold the bag over the plant and keep in moisture. Place it under lights or near a warm east-facing window. When you can see blooms starting to open, it's time to take the bag off.


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I restarted this plant on August 31st, and this is the plant out of the bag on October 1st.

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I have been using this method to renew a plant that I got from my Grandma, who has been gone for more than 20 years.

I try to do this to my larger plants every fall so that they will bloom better through the winter.
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Comments and Discussion
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Renewing African violet by Vallgrl2 Dec 10, 2014 6:18 AM 2
Tried & True Method by qwilter Jan 18, 2014 10:57 AM 5

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