Garden geraniums can be propagated by taking cuttings from a sturdy stem and healthy leaves. Avoid old, woody stems and flimsy new growth. To cut, make a four to six-inch-long slice across the stem, leaving a few leaves at the top of the cutting. Remove any flower and leaf buds from the cutting.
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Growing geraniums from cuttings
Geraniums are a great choice for houseplants because of their drought-tolerant nature. They need weekly watering and should be pruned to a third of their original size. Pruning can help the plants to flower and will double the number of flowers produced. To take cuttings, trim the stem to the tip just above the leaf node on the main stem.
Cutting geraniums is one of the easiest ways to propagate geraniums. The best time to take cuttings is in autumn before temperatures begin to fall. Be sure that your cuttings are healthy and do not have any woody leaves. A healthy geranium stem should be around four inches long.
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Propagating geraniums
When propagating geraniums from cuttings, you should soak the cuttings in the water and add a few drops of vitamin C. This will give the cuttings a head start in rooting. Once the cuttings are rooted, make sure that they resist pulling. Watering them should be moderate, but not excessively, otherwise the roots will dry out. Once the stem has rooted, you can place it in potting mix. A 3-inch pot with drainage holes will accommodate up to six geranium cuttings.
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Rooting hormone
Geranium cuttings will usually root without the use of the rooting hormone. However, if you are unsure of the process, you can dip the cuttings in rooting hormone and place them in a glass of water. Leave the cuttings in this solution for three to four hours. During the next two to three weeks, the cuttings should form roots. After this, you should place them in moist soil.
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Proper cutting
Geranium cuttings should be cut at a 45-degree angle, with at least one leaf node. The cutting should also have two or three healthy leaves at the tip of the stem. Avoid cutting geranium cuttings with too many leaves, as this will cause them to produce less energy to root. Place the pots in a sunny position indoors, but avoid high humidity.
Geranium cuttings can be transplanted into a new pot once they have a few inches of root. Before you do this, it is important to use a root stimulant, which you can purchase at any plant nursery.
Read also: How to Grow Rosemary From Seed?
Pruning geraniums
Geraniums need to be pruned to maintain their health. It is important to prune them before the winter season sets in, so you don’t lose any foliage. You can prune them during the fall before the cold weather kills them, or in the spring before the leaves begin to turn brown. However, summer is the best time to prune geraniums. This will help preserve the plant’s energy for the winter and allow it to spring back to life in the spring.
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Process
To start, prune geraniums to two to three inches above the soil line. The goal is to prune off all but the bare stem. If the plant has several stems, start by removing the shortest ones that do not have much foliage. Use string or plastic ties to mark off the different sections. The shortest stems should have very few side shoots and be bare.
To make geraniums grow fuller, remove stems with no side growth. Then, pinch the tips of the stems to make them split. If the plant has woody growth near the base, use bypass pruners for cleaner cuts. Another option is anvil loppers, which have a single blade and crush material.
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Importance
Pruning geraniums to start from cuttings is an important part of maintaining the plant. It should be done as soon as you bring it home from the nursery. When you prune, make sure to prune at a 45-degree angle. This will prevent water damage and disease. You should also keep in mind that geraniums come in two main varieties: common and true.
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Season
Geranium cuttings can be taken from the plant in the fall and planted in the spring. Make sure you cut the stem just below the leaf joint and leave a couple of leaves at the top. Make sure not to cut too deep or else the cutting will not root and become a leggy plant with little foliage.
Taking cuttings
Growing geraniums from cuttings are one of the most common ways to propagate your plant. Geraniums are easy to propagate from cuttings, which you can easily take yourself from an existing plant. Geraniums are also propagated through division, seeds, and clones. Cuttings from annual geraniums will produce clones of the original plant. Propagation of geraniums from cuttings is very easy and can save you money in the long run. Taking cuttings from geraniums is not a difficult process, and it is important to choose cuttings that are known to have a high success rate.
When taking cuttings from geraniums, make sure to do it during a period of lull in the blooming cycle. Take the cuttings about 4 inches (10 cm) below the node and just above the stem. Avoid cuttings from older or flimsy stems, and always cut off the leaf buds and flower buds.
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Precautions
To take cuttings from geraniums, you need clear garden scissors or shears. Cut the stems of the geranium plant to approximately four to six inches long. Cuttings longer than this length will not root properly, and they will have less foliage. Cut the cuttings so that they have a few leaves on the top of the stem, avoiding submerging them in water, as it could cause leaf rot.
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Moist environment
After you’ve taken the cutting, you should place it in a container or flat. Geranium cuttings should be placed in a warm, moist environment, where they can develop roots. Ideally, the soil should be between 72 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. If this is not possible, you can use plastic bags to create a warm, moist environment.
After you have prepared the potting mix, take the cuttings and insert them in the container. Plant the cuttings in the bottom half of the pot, with the lower half of the stem still attached to the plant. It is best to take several cuttings so that you’ll have more chances of success.
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Life period
Geraniums usually live for 18 to 24 months. Propagating from cuttings is an excellent way to replace a dying plant. Cuttings can be kept indoors for the winter and can be planted outside again as soon as the temperatures rise in spring.
Planting additional geraniums
One easy way to propagate additional geraniums is by using cuttings from an existing plant. This process is called propagation and involves potting the cutting in soil. Geraniums grow best in a moist environment, so you should choose stems that are as healthy as possible. If you do not have potting soil, you can use the bottom end of a cola bottle as a mini-greenhouse.
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Season
Geraniums are easy to propagate from cuttings. The best time is late summer or early spring. If you live in a temperate area, you can even propagate geraniums indoors. It will take a few months for the cuttings to grow and bloom. Always choose a healthy branch when taking cuttings and use a cutting medium that will support the plant.
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Propagation by seeds
Geraniums can also be propagated from seeds. These can be found in mail-order catalogues and garden centres. They should be sown approximately 12 to 16 weeks before the last frost. Germination takes about five to 15 days. If you are planting geraniums from seeds, make sure that the seeds are moist and warm.
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