Kevin Lee Jacobs

Gardening, Recipes & Home Décor Tips

African Violets: How I Remove and Pot “Suckers”

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | 40 Comments

Last updated on October 19th, 2018

Yesterday, as I proceeded to remove the side-shoots or “suckers” from some of my African violets, it seemed a shame that no videographer was on hand to film the surgery. Then a crazy idea popped into my head. I could film this houseplant how-to all by myself, and without the benefit of professional lighting, sound, or editing.  After all, it’s just you and me in the operating room, yes? Here’s the video, which explains not only how to remove suckers, but how to pot them to make new plants:

Note: Suckers interfere with an African violet’s ability to bloom. That’s why I remove them.
Another note: This video is what you might call “Reality TV.” As I mentioned earlier, I filmed it without the professional gear that my hired-out videographers use.

Was this video helpful to you in some teeny-tiny way? You can let me know by leaving a comment. And if you’d like to obtain a bucket of Jack’s Classic Blossom Booster (the stuff really works), just do what I do, and buy it on Amazon. Click here for details.

xKevin

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Comments

  1. 1

    Lynda says

    Could never tell u how much I love AVs. Thank u, thank u, thank u. Hope your summer is going great!

  4. 4

    Elizabeth says

    Thanks for the helpful video on African Violets. I really like AV & remember my grandmother growing them in her kitchen window. Your video was great without the fancy equipment.

  5. 5

    Pat Greenleaf says

    I take a sharp knife and cut through the roots of the mother plant and the sucker plant while they are still in their container. I wait about 5-10 days to make sure the sucker plant has gotten over the shock of having its roots cut. Then I remove both mother and sucker plant and give them their own containers and fresh potting soil. I like your terrarium idea and the great suggestion of Jack’s Classic Blossom Booster.

    Do you ever use rooting hormone like TakeRoot by Garden Safe? Thanks for the video.

  7. 7

    Katheen says

    I also love African violets, and have been sad when they eventually get leggy over many years. Thank you for teaching about propagating them at home, so that I can intervene sooner. What a great idea to use the plastic food containers for rooting small plants. One question: I always water my potted AVs from the bottom. Do you find that is necessary? Thanks for the helpful video.

  8. 8

    Lori says

    Loved the video. I never knew you could cut the root or replant suckers. I have done the leaf propagation with 3rd graders. It was very hard for them to wait for the new plants.

  9. 9

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Kathleen – I always water my AVs from the top, and with room-temperature (or slightly warmer) water. Leaf spotting only occurs when the water temperature is colder than the temperature of the leaves.

  11. 11

    Sharron White says

    Kevin
    I think the new AV’s you are doing would make wonderful Christmas gifts.

    Sharron

  14. 14

    Janet E says

    Am so glad you made the video and that I watched it!!!! I don’t have a problem with my AV’s blooming, as they bloom constantly. They only thing is that the leaves are all about 8″ long and the pots are full. I use regular 2 piece AV pots and use Miracle Gro AV fertilizer that is mixed in with the water. What makes them grow so tall? Is it the being in fetilized water all the time. I admit some of the necks are long, but full of leaves. Do I need to go ahead and do surgery?

  16. 16

    Joan says

    Thanks Kevin for the very nice propagating tips for AVs! I have been growing Avs for many years and get such a kick out of your “thrifty” reused/recycled containers. I do the exact same thing!

    It has gotten difficult to find 3″ AV pots today at the local greenhouses and garden shops, so I convert anything I can find. One great tip for an inexpensive and easy to find individual containers for potting up plants are the Styrofoam containers found at restaurant supply outlets. They come in long bagged stacks. The sizes I use most often are: 4 1/4″ by x 2 1/4″, and the 3 1/4″ x 4 1/2″. They work out great and are very reasonable in cost.

    Also, for those who like to mix their own soil, the best recommended African Violet Soil is: 1/3 each of: Vermiculite, Pearlite, and Sphagnum Peat Moss. This is the growers delight and works for all my house plants as well as my Violet collection. I have been mixing my own soil at a fraction of the pre-mixed soils cost for over 30+ years..

    I have even hybridized a few varieties in the past. Now, that’s a “time” project for sure if you take your baby plantlets through 3 generations to make sure they bloom “True to form” as required by AVSA. (African Violet Society of America) I would also recommend anyone who really loves violets, to join AVSA. Lots of quality info there.

  17. 17

    Joan says

    African Violet “wick” watering:
    You can even set up a capillary watering system…use an old nylon stocking, cut a 4-6″ long strip by 1/4 ” wide of stocking, or buy watering wicks. Moisten the wick, insert it into the root ball, using a skewer to push it up into the soil from the bottom. Make sure the other end can reach the water reservoir that you will be placing your African Violet pot on top of. You can use a reg. strength fertilizer solution or less since this is a “constant feed system”.

    This is one way to have a constant feed system and actually leave home for a vacation and not have to “teach your neighbor how to properly water your AVs while gone!

  18. 18

    Susie Q Thompson says

    Thank you Mine are getting over grown on a table by a window. Just trouble with my orchid. I heard kitty too Will try this thank you Kevin!!!

  19. 19

    Mary Beth says

    So glad I came across this video, and it is so timely. I’ve had my 5 African Violets for about 10 years. They are all beautiful with huge leaves, but 2 have developed the “neck” that you showed. I was looking at them just this morning and wondering what to do to save them. I thought that I’d lose them if I cut them off. Now that I think about it, it has been a while since they’ve bloomed. I thought it might be because I moved and they didn’t like the new window. Surgery seems to be needed in the near future.

  21. 21

    Yvonne Finne says

    Everyone has covered my comments! My AV’s have developed long necks so I will be doing surgery soon! Thanks for the great info.

  22. 22

    Margo says

    Love AV’s. They remind be of my grandmothers window ledges lined with them. I have two cats that would also love them. Sadly I don’t have any spot high enuf that they wouldn’t get to them. But I dream…….
    Thanks for the video Kevin!

  23. 23

    Teri S says

    That easy, eh? I’ve got a really long neck violet that is going to get some work. And some thick ones are getting thinned. New violets for free! Love it!

    Thanks for the tips.

  24. 24

    Pat says

    I, too, must thank you for the great video and was wondering….. should I wait to do this until after the flowers are gone? I only have one now but will soon have many, thanks for the advice.

  26. 26

    Darla Metro says

    Hi Kevin,

    I just did this to my African violet last week. I wish I had seen your video first! I was under the impression that instead of cutting off the root on the main plant that I should scrape the stem with a knife, taking off the dried material before repotting. Now I’m not sure what to do. Should I pull it out and cut it off? Please tell me I haven’t potentially killed my plant.

    Thanks.

  27. 27

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Darla – Your plant might be perfectly fine. I don’t scrape the crown (main stem) on my long-necked plants. Instead, I simply remove leaves and roots in equal proportion, and then replant, making sure the crown is beneath the soil level.

  28. 28

    Julie R says

    I loved hearing the meowing going on during your video. It made me feel as if I were right there with you, while learning something new about plants.

  29. 29

    Darla Metro says

    Hi Kevin,

    Thanks for the info. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that my main plant makes it. Luckily I did start several leaves and the sucker plant so there’s hope that I’ll end up with something left when all is said and done. Next time I’ll definitely do it your way.

    Have a great day,
    Darla

  31. 31

    Jay says

    Kevin, I followed your advice to propagate leaves and had great success. Had to leave all my plants when we moved east from SoCal, so I’ll be starting from scratch. Your video was wonderful! You make it all look so easy. Now all I need is a good source for a new plant or two. Any suggestions?

  32. 32

    Suzanne says

    Thank you so much for this video. A friend of mine that knows I love AFs sent it to me. One question that I didn’t see asked above.. so maybe I am overthinking this… so I water the terrarium at all between putting them in and repotting them 6 weeks down the road? This seems like a long time with no water. Thanks so much! I can’t wait to try this out… wasn’t going to have chicken this week but I guess we will 🙂

  34. 34

    Susie Thompson says

    Snow storm we had here shut off our elec in the house for 10 days…. 🙁 had to leave and go to hotel in fact. My African violets got so cold they look like they melted and had to throw them away. I did so well with them following your advice, but they are just gone 🙁

  35. 35

    June says

    Hi Kevin,
    Love your website! Question: My AV is still blooming so should I wait until it stops blooming to cut the long neck? I love this plant because its always blooming so don’t want to mess it up but its starting to look odd with that long neck. The plant is about 5 years old and I keep taking the bottom leaves off.

  37. 37

    HG says

    Thank you so much for this video. I was trying to figure out what to do and exactly what was a sucker by a picture, but your video clarified things. Again. Thank you.

    I didn’t realize the darn things needed so much care. 🙂

  38. 38

    HG says

    One more thing — I kept hearing your cat and thought it was one of mine. They just can’t stand not being the center of attention. 🙂

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