HOW TO PLANT A LEAF
"What do I do with this leaf when I get it home?"  A frequently asked
question about starting violets from leaves.  

* As with ANY new plant always 'ISOLATE' them from your main plant collection
  in case of disease or insects.

1) Recut the stem, diagonally, 1/2" to 1" from the bottom of the leaf    (front side) with a sharp knife or razor blade.  Plantlets develop from the cut end of the petiole (stem).
2) Place the entire leaf in tepid water 2 hours before potting.
I only do this if the leaf is very limp, that you might've received in the mail)
3) Label a small 2"-3" diameter pot with the plant name and date.  Small plastic drinking cups with holes punched in the bottom work well.
4) Fill the pot/cup with vermiculite to the top.
(Also you do not need to use fertilizer until you see baby leaves coming up through the mix)
5) Insert the stem into the soil so that the mix is almost up to the bottom of the leaf. Then keep Vermiculite damp, but NOT WET.
6) Place potted leaf in a zip lock bag or seed starting dome, keep 
humidity high. (My plant room has high humidity 50-70%, so I do not  use any cover or domes)
7) Place under lights or in a window, but don't put in direct sunlight- 
   they will cook! Grow Lux/Cool White (1 of each), lights are my    
   favorite
8) Do not allow the mix to dry out. Keep moist at all times. 
   Do not over water.
9) When several small plantlets emerge (some leaves will produce from 2 
   to 5+ plants), remove the weaker ones and leave 2 or 3 on the 
   "mother" leaf until they have 4 nickel size leaves.  They should 
   then be gently pulled apart and planted in their own 2" pots.
11) Plantlets will start to appear in about 6 weeks; some varieties 
    take longer.
12) If the "mother" leaf continues to grow, cut the top of the leaf off 
    so the leaf energy goes to the plantlets. 

(Reprinted with permission of the author, Barbara Pershing, Cedar Valley, IA. African violet club) and updated by myself.

Updated by Steverd@steverd.com
Web: www.steverd.com/violets