Propagating Geraniums?

toomanyanimals · Post by **toomanyanimals** » Feb 15, 2004 9:03 am

Last year I saved my 3 Geraniums by bringing them inside for the winter. Sure took up a lot of room. Someone mentioned to me that I should just save one and then Propagate as many new plants as I wanted from the one.

When to begin this process?
How long should each stem be?
Should I cover with a plastic bag?
I plan on using vermiculite to grow in . . . is that right?

I would really appreciate some help here. Thanks

shadylanejewel · Post by **shadylanejewel** » Feb 15, 2004 11:25 am

Hello Tma

Pelargoniums (aka non-hardy geraniums) are incredibly easy to start from cuttings. I take mine usually this month or next. Use firm stems make cuttings 4-6 nodes long or about 2-3 inches. Wrap tops with leaves in damp paper towels & plastic wrap and leave the cut end exposed to heal over for appx 24 hrs. This helps prevent rotting and seals in the moisture. Place in your moist rooting medium and insert entire container in a plastic bag.

I also remove any very large leaves. Leave good airspace between each cutting in the pot, flat or whatever you use. I've taken bigger cuttings sometimes well branched and they also rooted and grew on great. I've also not followed my advice above and just plunged them in sand, peat, vermiculite, perlite whatever I have on hand and yes occassionally some rotted but for the most part I was able to get a TON of plants from one mother plant.

viktoria · Post by **viktoria** » Feb 15, 2004 1:27 pm

When I bring a geranium in or the winter, I cut it way back to save space. In February I start feeding and watering, asnd when the new growth has four leaf nodes, I take my cuttings. I remove the lower two leaves. Perlite is better for geranium cuttings than Vermiculite, which may be too wet. It is not necessary to enclose the cuttings in a plastic bag.

toomanyanimals · Post by **toomanyanimals** » Feb 15, 2004 7:03 pm

Viktoria,

So when you bring in the geranium, you cut back on the watering?

I will get some perlite, put bags on some and leave others open. I'll see what works the best and what is the easiest. I only need 2 of each for myself. But if it is really this easy, maybe I will make some for my sister and sister-in-laws.

Thanks for all your advice SLJ and Viktoria.

tma

viktoria · Post by **viktoria** » Feb 16, 2004 9:53 am

Yes, I cut back on watering when I bring in the geraniums. Since I cut the plants back to save space, I do not want to encourage them to put out new growth at that time. I water them only enough to keep them alive. Any new growth at that time of the year tends to be spindly anyway, as it is difficult to provide enough light.

kidzdad · Post by **kidzdad** » Oct 30, 2005 7:42 pm

I want to try doing this with geraniums, too. The soil right now is bone dry but I am still getting some blooms. Should I water it slightly to keep the soil moist? Do I need to put them under grow lights? I plan on building a mini growing area in my basement with some flourescent lights with full spectrum bulbs in it. It is an outside plant right now. Any advice would be helpful.