How to divide a Saintpaulie (african violet) that has outgrown its pot

While it is true that Saintpaulie bloom better when potbound, there comes a time when the plant looks unhealthy, and one begins to suspect that maybe its overgrown physical girth is the reason for its sick looking appearance.

My Saintpaulie has been growing in the same tiny pot for almost ten years. When I took it out of its pot I Immediately saw that the plants thickened root system was overgrown, and crowded with multiple offsets all intertwined and growing on top of one another. Some of its stems were elongated so its leaves could reach the light. These abnormally long, limp stems and leaves were making my Saintpaulie look sick.

Saintpaulie has thick fleshy stems and leaves, that despite appearance are delicate and snap easily. I knew I was not going to be able to save all the offsets so I chose a few of the biggest and healthiest.

Gently I pulled the plant apart until it was in three sections, each section containing the offset I wanted to save. I pulled off all the bits of plant I didn’t want, piling the excess into the discard pile.

I replanted each offset into a small pot of its own, making sure to bury it as deep as I could, right up to where the stems grew out of the crown.

Gradually, I cut off the unhealthy, ugly, limp, long stemmed leaves until the plants looked better. My new Saintpaulie plants might not flower as profusely but at least they look healthy.

I've written more on how to grow and take care of Saintpaulie here.

Update: Tell me about your adventures in transplanting your houseplants. Have you ever done it or did the plant die before was necessary.