| I have a potted geranium that I would like to take cuttings from and get them to grow roots. How do I do this? If I use most of the existing plant will it grow back ok? |
| There are two easy ways to propagate geraniums; by cuttings and by anchoring a leaf to moist soil. Just break a leaf off the plant and use a bent paperclip to hold it down on top of some dampened sand in a pot. Or, break a stem off the plant and cut it into two or three-inch pieces, making sure there's one node per piece. A node is a thickened area that looks like a joint and has a flap of green material attached. Bury the cutting halfway (lengthwise, not up and down) in moistened sand. A new leaf will grow from the joint. You can also take tip cuttings from actively growing stems. Make them 3-4 inches long and remove the lower leaves. Put the lower end of the stem in moistened sand and it will root. All geranium cuttings should be allowed to callousover for 24 hours after cutting, before planting. One stem will produce lots of new plants, so you don't have to sacrifice your entire plant to the process. But, if you do cut it back, it will produce new stems in no time at all. Good luck with your venture! |
