"A leaf with no purpose...serves no purpose"

I have people from time to time ask me what I mean by the statement, "A leaf with no purpose...serves no purpose."  Well, it's quite simple.  Leaves must serve one of the following purposes in order to be productive.  If they are not capable of supporting one of these areas, then it is usually an indication that the leaf should be removed.

Symmetry or Form - If you exhibit African Violets in competitive shows it's easy to understand that leaves create the symmetry (in the case of rosette varieties) or form (in the case of trailing varieties).  If a leaf is not adding to the symmetry or form of the plant, it is best to remove the leaf.

Propagation - Leaf propagation is the most common method of propagating African Violets.  Ideally, you want a healthy leaf that is still showing vigor.  When a leaf is no longer adding to the plants symmetry or form and is no longer a viable candidate for propagation, it is best to remove it.

Photosynthesis - Our violets, like other plants, use their leaves to collect light energy in order to convert it into chemical energy.  If a leaf has been damaged (by trauma or disease), it is best to remove the leaf as it's ability to contribute to the photosynthesis process has been greatly diminished.

So as you can see, "A leaf with no purpose...serves no purpose!"