How to Cut Back an African Violet

An African violet is subtle but graceful plant that produces purple flowers in a rosette of thickly-furred leaves. It is a sturdy grower that does well when cultivated in a pot, but over time, the stem between the leaves and the roots, called the neck, may grow too tall or the plant may look overcrowded with its own leaves. Take the time cut back the African violet, restoring its symmetry.

Newspaper
Knife
Pruning shears
Pot
African violet potting soil

Instructions

- 1
  Put down newspapers to protect your working area.
- 2
  Slide a knife around the interior curve of the African violet’s pot to loosen the soil.
- 3
  Pull the African violet from the pot.
- 4
  Trim away the lowest row of leaves using a pair of garden shears, leaving two or three rows of leaves around the flowers.
- 5
  Cut away any flower sprouts that are blooming away to the sides, leaving one crown of flowers, using a pair of garden shears.
- 6
  Cut away the bottom half of the root ball using a knife.
- 7
  Scrape the stem of the African violet between the leaves and the roots with a knife, removing the hard outer bark. Remove only a small amount of material.
- 8
  Fill a small pot partially with African violet soil. African violets appreciate being pot bound, so choose a pot that is only about one-third as large as the plant’s spread.
- 9
  Place the African violet in the pot and fill in any gaps with more soil.
- 10
  Firm the soil around the African violet using your fingers and then water the plant thoroughly.

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