Transplanting African Violets

By Ellen Brown

Q: How to transplant African Violets?

Hardiness Zone: 10a

Acutegrandma from Simi Valley CA

A: Acutegrandma,

You can transplant African violets anytime, even if they are in bloom. Just keep in mind not to "over repot" them, in the same way they shouldn't be over watered. To transplant, simply remove them from the pot (soil and all) and plant them at the same depth, only in a slightly larger pot. Don't make the pot too big or the roots won't be able to reach water from below.

The general rule is the pot should be 1/3 the size of the plant. If you happen to drop a leaf or two while transplanting or you want to remove a few of the bottom leaves to improve air circulation, you can use them to start new plants. African violets generally prefer to be a bit crowded, so don't worry about repotting them until the soil inside the pot becomes filled with the plant.

About The Author: Ellen Brown is our Green Living and Gardening Expert. Ellen Brown is an environmental writer and photographer and the owner of Sustainable Media, an environmental media company that specializes in helping businesses and organizations promote eco-friendly products and services.

Answers:

Transplanting African Violets

Assuming that you are talking about transplanting into pots, I've found that African violets are practically fool-proof. If I can do it, anyone can. I just take the overgrown plant out of its pot, gently divide into smaller pieces, and plant each piece in its own pot. Every one I've done that way has rooted speedily. I do, however, recommend special violet pots that have watering holes on the side so you don't have to put water directly onto the top of the soil. (03/28/2006)

By Pat Giles