The best approach to repotting african violets is gentle handling and fresh soil in a pot sized right for your plant. These plants have delicate roots that break if you rush the job. Take your time and your violet will settle into its new home without missing a bloom.
I repot my collection of over thirty violets once a year and have learned what works best through trial and error. The biggest lesson is to never pull the plant out by its leaves. Grab the base of the stem close to the soil and ease the root ball out in one piece.
African violet roots grow close to the surface and spread out rather than down deep. This makes them easy to damage if you're not careful during transplanting african violet plants. The fine root hairs that absorb water break off with rough handling and your plant will struggle until they grow back.
Here's a simple african violet repot guide to follow step by step. Start by watering your plant the day before so the root ball holds together. Pick a new pot that measures one third the width of your plant's leaf spread. Fresh soil should be light and fluffy with perlite and vermiculite mixed in.
Turn your plant upside down and tap the pot bottom to loosen the root ball. Catch the plant in your other hand as it slides free. Shake off some of the old soil but don't wash the roots clean. Leaving some old soil helps reduce shock during the move.
Set your plant at the same depth it grew before in the old pot. The lowest leaves should sit just above the soil line. If your plant has a bare neck you can bury that stem a bit deeper this time. Fill in around the roots with fresh soil and press down to remove air pockets.
Water your plant after repotting using room temperature water from the bottom. Set the pot in a dish of water for 30 minutes and let the soil soak it up. This wetting method avoids getting water on the leaves which can cause spots. Dump out any water left in the dish after soaking.
I like to keep new transplants in a humid spot for the first week to help them adjust. A clear plastic bag over the pot works great for this purpose. Remove the bag for an hour each day to let fresh air in. After about seven days your plant should show signs of new growth.
Watch for these signs that your repotting went well. New leaves growing from the center mean the roots have settled in. Firm leaves that don't wilt show good water uptake from the new soil. You should see these signs within two weeks of the move if you handled things right.
Read the full article: African Violet Propagation: 6 Proven Methods
