Before reading this article, I recommend you look at Saving Your Geraniums. This explains the process of saving the plants over the winter in a few different ways.
Taking cuttings of geraniums is quite simple.
- First, prepare the soil and pots. You can use pots, a tray, peat pellets, whatever you like. I recommend sterilized potting soil in peat pots or 4 inch cheap plastic pots. If you are using indoor potting soil it's a good idea to add some sand or pumice for good drainage.
- Next, locate some nice cuttings on your plants. Early spring is the best time to do it. Select succulent stems with green growth tips.
- Make cuttings about 4 inches long. Cut straight across with a sharp knife. If you cut on an angle, only part of the stem will root. A straight-across cut is necessary.
- Don't put the plant down on a table and cut down like an axe.
- Do hold the plant out and swipe in the jaunty fashion that florists use in cutting the stem ends off of roses. The movement should be smooth and swift but not dangerous with knives and blades flashing about.
- Strip the leaves (if there are any) off the bottom 1 1/2 inches of the cutting.
- Immediately stick the cuttings into soil. Some people even do the cutting underwater.
- With a pencil, chopstick or similar object poke a hole in the soil where each cutting will go. The hole should be about 2 inches deep. Each 4 inch pot should have one hole. If you are using a tray, the holes should be about 4 inches apart. Rockwool blocks also work well. These are available in the propagation sections of garden stores and also at hydroponics stores. A 2-inch block for each cutting is a good size to select.
- Dip each cutting in #1 rooting powder, available at all garden stores, some hardware stores, and a few florists.
- Stick the cutting in the hole.
- Using the pencil again, poke the hole closed so that the soil is firm around the base of the cutting.
- Water
- Place in a bright location, such as right next to a window. Don't worry about cold drafts; it will build up the garden-readiness of your plants.
- In a few weeks your cuttings will be rooting -- but don't pull them out. That would wreck all that hard work.
- You will tell when your cuttings have "taken" because they will start to grow. Feed them with all-purpose plant food. Schultz green drops (7 per litre) will do. I like Dutch Plant Pills. Just about anything will do to keep them happy indoors until it's time for your geraniums to go back outdoors.
 |
Go To Page: 1 2
The copyright of the article Geranium Cuttings - Beginner Style! in Perennials is owned by . Permission to republish Geranium Cuttings - Beginner Style! in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
