heuchera/coral bell stem cuttings?

Hank Zumach · Post by **Hank Zumach** » Apr 02, 2006 8:45 pm

Has anyone had any experience taking stem cuttings of heucheras? I have divided them with good success but I seem to recall that one of the rhizome-like stems can be cut up into several pieces but I'm not sure of the best technique. Any help would be appreciated.

KellieD · Post by **KellieD** » Apr 03, 2006 10:39 am

That is the only way I have ever multiplied my heuchs. In fact, that is how Doublemom got started on her collection/obsession!!

Take cuttings, stick 'em in the ground, and they root!! Take more cuttings than you think you'll need and be prepared to share if they all take. I've never done anything fancy to get them to take.

Hank Zumach · Post by **Hank Zumach** » Apr 03, 2006 10:45 am

Do you cut each stem into more than one piece? In the past I have only replanted the entire stem.

(several hours later)

I just finished potting up 24 divisions. I realized that some varieties, the ones I have divided in the past) have longer stems. Most of the varieties have shorter stems that would not offer the opportunity to think about cutting them into smaller pieces.

doublemom2 · Post by **doublemom2** » Apr 03, 2006 4:29 pm

Ditto what Kellie said, I've grown dozens of varieties of heucheras this way (thanks to Kellie for donating the cuttings to me!!) I haven't cut any of the stems into pieces, just broken off a stem, removed all of the large leaves, and plugged it into the ground or into a pot and let it go.

Heucheras also tend to grow themselves out of the ground sometimes and get very lanky. I just dig the whole plant up, dig the hole a little deeper, and replant the entire plant a few inches deeper into the ground, making sure soil comes part way up the stems. That way the stems that had been above ground are now underground and will hopefully sprout more roots.

Andi

Hank Zumach · Post by **Hank Zumach** » Apr 03, 2006 5:29 pm

Thanks, Andi.

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Apr 03, 2006 7:52 pm

Andi? You and Kellie are in a much milder zone than we aren't you? Will that matter when doing any of this?

How long does it take for either the cuttings and/ or the plant to take root or do more sproutings?

Or will I just 'kill'

the poor thing in our climate burying it alive!?

toomanyanimals · Post by **toomanyanimals** » Apr 03, 2006 8:47 pm

Wow, I want to thank you so much for this information!!!! I drowned most of my heur. this winter and spring. So I need to propagate the few I have left. They are just the Palace Purple ones, but I would hate to have to go and buy them all again. I can wait a while for them to get big.

tma

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Apr 03, 2006 8:54 pm

6a in Michigan? I didn't know we had that high of zones here! My yard is a mixture of 4 and 5 depending!

Are your purple palace looking good this spring, or like they did last fall at least?

I was surprized mine made it as this winter was certainly one for the books here. AFter that winter thaw in the middle I thought I'd probably lose a lot. So far, things are coming up great and look sooooooooooooooooo SPRINGY

I love APRIL!

toomanyanimals · Post by **toomanyanimals** » Apr 03, 2006 9:19 pm

Jane, I'm about a mile from Lake Erie, so with the "Lake Effect" we are 6a. But that just means we only get down to -10 F. and not much snow. But the rest of the weather is the same. My daffodils are just getting ready to bloom. The folks in the 'real zone 6' have had their daffs. blooming for several weeks.

My palace purple are very sad looking.

I redid their bed last year. It was too high and making water go under our deck. So I lowered the bed, making it even with the ground around it, but seperated by the black plastic edging. Well, the dirt settled, and everytime the snow melts or it rains, it pools.

This year I am hopefully going to enlarge the bed and hopefully make it all level with the surrounding yard.

It is my small perennial bed and I just love it with an edging of PP Heurch.'s.

tma

KellieD · Post by **KellieD** » Apr 03, 2006 11:19 pm

My heuchs had gotten really leggy one year and before I could decide what to do about it, the rabbits ate them down to ground level. EVERY SINGLE ONE CAME BACK GORGEOUS!!

Great way to learn something new. Now I cut them back hard and stick the cuttings. I do trim the leaves off the cuttings for a couple of reasons. First, since there is no root yet to take up moisture I want to reduce the transpiration from the leaves. Secondly, you know it is going to live when new leaves push out. Keep the soil moistened, but not wet while it is establishing new roots.

GrannyNanny · Post by **GrannyNanny** » Apr 09, 2006 1:45 pm

This answers almost all my questions, but I have at least one left. What constitutes a "cutting"? My heuchs are all attached to a single crown, so I don't see where to cut. Please help. Phyllis

Hank Zumach · Post by **Hank Zumach** » Apr 09, 2006 5:30 pm

What I have been doing is cutting off an inch or two of stem below the "rosette" end where the new leaves will/are emeging from. I have been putting the cutting in damp potting soil. I also apply Rootone to the open wound so sterilize the cut. (I do that with just about everything I divide) So far, it appears that the 12-15 cuttngs I made will all make it.

KellieD · Post by **KellieD** » Apr 09, 2006 10:24 pm

GrannyNanny, you might want to wait until your plants are a bit older and have multiple growth points (more than one rosette of leaves). If they are already doing that, then follow Hank's advice.

GrannyNanny · Post by **GrannyNanny** » Apr 15, 2006 10:11 pm

Thanks, everyone -- I'll give it a try. (As soon as I plant out the six flats of heuchera babies that I have growing under the lights!!!! Phyllis

thy · Post by **thy** » Apr 25, 2006 2:58 pm

Not an expert here, but rather lazy

here are what I have done, mostly the same as mentioned above.

When they look "leggy" I cut them 1 to 2 " ower soil level in the medium /late spring.. when I can see they are going to sprout.
Then take off the rosets of the cut off, remove the big old leaves and plant it is pots, give it a drink and let it be humid for 2 weeks and you have roots