Question
hi patricia, i love growing african violets but usually after they bloom they wilt and die so ive to cut some leaves and propagate them before all leaves wilt. is there a faster way of propagating them from leaves (from rooting to new signs of leaves)?  i was advised to soak the leaves with the stem in a container with water and add cotton buds so it will root easily.  thx for your help.

Answer
Hi Flor,
Do you mean the entire violet plant wilts and dies after blooming?  That sounds unusual, because most African violet plants can live for many years with proper care.  

As far as propagation from leaves there is no fast way.  It is indeed a slow process, but it does work.  Propagating from leaves is the best way for most folks to get new plants.  You can grow them from seeds, but the experts advise against it for many reasons.  You must take a leaf cutting which will include a fairly long stem in order to stand the leaf up in water.  Make it a clean cut, no jagged ends, and stand it up in room temperature water.  Check it every few days to make sure the water does not evaporate or the stem leaf does not rot.  This is probably the most common problem- rot.  Don't let the water touch the leaf, just the stem.  It can take 2-4 weeks, but you should start to see little threads of roots form from the bottom end of the stem.  At that point just keep watching.  Don't be tempted to touch it or plant it!  Continue the water rooting for as long as it takes, and that could be 2-3 months, but unless rot sets in there will be more roots to form, and they will get longer and thicker.  When they are fairly thick and long you can plant your leaf, and that is when  you really have to be careful and patient!  I had an African Violet grow like this from a leaf cutting.  I think the whole process took nearly 6 months before the little plant started to develop several leaves, although they were small at first.  This is the way the pro's do it.  I have to say that I  have never heard of adding buds of cotton, although it does sound logical and makes sense.  Good luck.  If you need further help, or feel I haven't covered something well please send a followup.