Are you a beginner looking to expand your gardening repertoire? Then consider propagating geraniums.
Not only is it an easy process, but it’s also a great way to save money on your next batch of plants.
Plus, propagating geraniums gives you the chance to create unique hybrids and personalize your garden.
Read on to learn our foolproof guide for how to propagate geraniums at home.
Step #1: Choose Your Parent Plant
The first step in propagating geraniums is choosing the plant from which you will take cuttings.
Look for healthy parent plants that have thick stems and plenty of leaves.
The more vibrant the color, the better! But don’t worry if the parent plant doesn’t have many flowers – that’s totally normal in propagation.
Step #2: Take Cuttings
Once you’ve chosen your parent plant, it’s time to take cuttings! You can use either stem or leaf cuttings, depending on what type of geranium you are propagating.
Stem cuttings are taken from the stems of a plant and are best used for Zonal and Ivy Geranium varieties.
Leaf cuttings should be taken from mature leaves at the base of a stem, and work best with Regal Geranium varieties.
Make sure that each cutting is roughly 4-5 inches long and has at least three nodes (the little bumps where roots will sprout).
Step #3: Prepare Cuttings for Potting
Once you have taken your cuttings, remove any flowers or buds that remain on them, as these can drain energy away from root development while they are in pots.
If desired, dip the ends of each cutting into rooting hormone powder before transferring them into their pots – this will help stimulate root growth and decrease propagation time significantly!
Fill each pot with moist potting soil until it is about ¾ full and then gently insert the cutting into each pot so that it stands upright; push down lightly around the base of each cutting until all air bubbles have been removed from around its roots – this helps ensure proper contact between soil particles and encourages strong root formation.
Finally, mist with water until everything is thoroughly dampened – not soaked – then cover each pot with plastic wrap or a plastic bag to retain moisture during rooting.
Conclusion
Congratulations – you now know how to propagate geraniums like a pro! With just three easy steps, you can begin growing beautiful new plants in no time at all.
Make sure to keep an eye on things over the next few weeks – once roots become visible through the sides of the pots (this usually takes about 3 weeks), carefully transplant them outdoors or into larger containers for continued growth! Good luck!