Cuttings - Geraniums and Pelargoniums
| Published: 30th July 2007 19:57 |
Cuttings - Geraniums and Pelargoniums
By John Sanders, Drayton
The principles explained for fuchsias will work on a lot of soft wood plants but there are a couple of exceptions to the fuchsia routine, namely geraniums and pelargoniums.
Take your cuttings and prepare them down to stripping off the lower leaves. This is where there is a surprising change in the method. Don't rush to get the cuttings into the damp compost, in fact set the cuttings aside for a couple of hours until the cut end has dried off. This is the time when they are ready for planting, but again another change. Do not dip the cuttings into rooting compost. Put the plain dried end cutting into the damp compost, firm it in more securely than for the fuchsias and set it aside to root. If you are doing multiple cuttings to the pot, if a cutting damps off and goes black, pull it out so it doesn't infect the others.
If the geranium or pelargonium cutting is dipped in rooting compost, the cut end will develop a type of cankerous growth that will inhibit root formation. The cutting will grow but it will be a poor plant and not develop and flower well.
It is worth having a go at trying growing all sorts of shrubs from cuttings by the method explained for fuchsias. Don't rely on just one cutting, take several and plant them in one pot of a suitable size. When they root it is easy enough to separate the new roots when potting on.
If you want a challenge, try some hydrangea cuttings. The potted cutting may work if the pot and cutting is kept in a warm place with a plastic bag over the cutting and pot, secured with an elastic band round the pot. They are slow to root so be patient.
Do have a go and good luck. It is so satisfying to be growing your own plants when you see the results later in the year.
Many thanks to Tracey Talbot for the lovely photo of a Pelargonium in her garden.
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