Get More Pelargoniums Via Cuttings

Pelargoniums have had a whole season’s growth, producing enough plant material for you to take a few cuttings to propagate more plants. Propagating pelargoniums via cuttings is a way to prune your plants to rejuvenate them and encourage new growth.

Easy steps to propagate pelargoniums via cuttings

1. Fill a clean plastic pot or deep seedling tray with a mix of 1 part hydrated palm peat and 1 part river sand. The medium should be moist.
2. Use clean secateurs or a sharp knife to cut off healthy stem tips of between 10 and 15cm long.
3. Trim each cutting just below a node (where leaves usually sprout from) and remove all leaves and flower buds along the stems, leaving only the two top leaves.
4. Dip the cut end of each cutting in a little hormone powder suitable for soft-wood cuttings, and use a dibber or old pencil to make a hole in the medium to enable you to insert the cutting so that the remaining leaves are just above the soil.
5. Use a watering can to water the cuttings, and then place them in a warm but shaded spot. Keep the rooting medium constantly moist, but not sodden.

Notes:

• Rooting should take 6 – 8 weeks.
• You can place your cuttings in a cool home propagator or cover them with a large, clear plastic bag which should not touch them. Check that there is no moisture build-up, which can cause rot. This is not entirely necessary as pelargoniums root very easily.
• As soon as you feel a slight resistance when gently tugging on a cutting, rooting has probably taken place. Give them a dose of a water-soluble growth stimulant such as Kelpak, and repot into individual pots when you see the first signs of new growth.