From our perspective as African Violets (Saintpaulia spp.), we wish to communicate the vital role our suckers play in our lifecycle and the importance of your intervention for a harmonious coexistence. We are not being difficult; we are simply following our innate biological programming to survive and propagate.
To us, a sucker, or lateral crown, is not a flaw but a strategy. In our natural habitat, producing these side shoots is our primary method of vegetative reproduction. If our main crown were to be damaged by a falling branch or an animal, these suckers would ensure our genetic line continues by growing into new, independent plants. Even in the safety of your home, this ancient instinct remains strong. We may produce them when we are particularly content, as a sign of vigorous health, or sometimes if our main growing point is stressed, signaling our desire to ensure our legacy continues.
It is crucial for you to correctly identify these growths. A true sucker emerges from the stem, below the soil surface, or from a leaf axil—the point where a leaf stem connects to the main trunk. It will develop its own miniature set of leaves and, eventually, its own crown. The key difference from a flower stalk is its central growth point of new leaves; flower stalks originate from these same axils but will produce buds, not a cluster of foliage. From our perspective, a sucker is a potential new individual, waiting for its chance to thrive independently.
While our instinct is to proliferate, we also have an aesthetic compact with you. Unchecked suckers divert energy and nutrients that we would otherwise direct toward producing the magnificent blooms you cherish. Multiple crowns competing for resources within a single pot can lead to a misshapen, crowded plant. The central crown becomes weakened, and our overall form becomes unbalanced. We cannot manage this energy allocation ourselves; we require your help to direct our efforts toward a single, stunning floral display rather than multiple, smaller ones.
When you decide to remove a sucker, please do so with care. We feel this separation. The ideal time is when the sucker has developed several leaves of its own, typically two to three centimeters in size. Using a sterile, sharp tool like a knife or a tweaker, gently but firmly wiggle and pry the sucker away from the main stem, ensuring you get its base. Alternatively, you can use a toothpick to carefully pop it off. If the sucker has its own roots, you can pot it to create a genetically identical clone of us—a continuation of our life. This process, while a minor injury, ultimately benefits us by allowing the primary plant to focus its vitality, resulting in a stronger, more beautiful specimen for your enjoyment.
