Propagation of both perennial Geraniums (commonly known as Cranesbill or Bloody Cranesbill) and the very popular annual Geranium (scientifically named Pelargonium spp.) is an easy way to quickly multiply plants in the garden or be able to more easily overwinter tender plants if you garden in a zone that regularly has freezing or below temperatures. Herbaceous perennials like Cranesbill are quickly multiplied by dividing up the root ball in very early spring or late summer and are ready for immediate replanting in the garden.
Taking softwood stem cuttings of both the annual and perennial Geraniums may take a few more weeks for new plants to produce a large enough rootball to transplant into the garden or decorative pot but it is the ideal way to overwinter the most tender of Geraniums indoors until the following spring.
Methods To Propagate Geranium
The easiest method of propagation is to dig up large clumps of perennial Geranium and divide them into smaller plants. Once the rootball is dug up it is very easy to see the divisions between would-be plantlets. Replant newly divided plants as quickly into their new growing position as possible so that the roots stay moist.
Softwood cuttings are the best way to multiply the more tender Pelargonium species of Geraniums. At the end of the summer 6-8 inch stems of your favorite Geranium can be cut to start in pots or glasses of water to grow indoors until the following spring. Perennial geraniums also propagate easily from stem-cutting. They can be taken at any time during the growing season and are ready to plant well before the first frosts of fall.
What You Need To Propagate Geranium
For cuttings: Cuttings root the best in a growing media that has plenty of drainage as well as the ability to hold moisture. Perlite mixed with an all-purpose potting mix is easy to use and readily available for most gardeners. Sharp sand or perlite used alone is another great option. A one-gallon nursery pot will hold anywhere from 5 to 9 cuttings until they are big enough to be transplanted.
A watering can with a soft spray end or a basin filled with water for watering the pots from the bottom. A .arrow glass and water is another option for rooting Geraniums. No need for extra bottom heat or dedicated lighting is needed, just a window in a southern or southwestern exposure window. Rooting hormone is not necessary to speed up root striking in Geraniums.
For division: using a garden fork or transplanting spade is great for keeping as many roots intact as possible when digging up the rootball. Divide the root ball up into smaller plants with at least 2-3 eyes (shoots) of the plant crown for each plant.
A sharp knife or hand pruner makes this a quick chore. The new plantlets need to be replanted quickly and watered into their new homes. Trimming back the top growth by ½ will help the roots establish faster and help to keep the plant tidy when it begins to regrow.
Best Time To Propagate Geranium
For cuttings: Cuttings are great to take at most any time of the year for both perennial and annual types of Geraniums. Take cuttings from the perennial varieties early in the summer as the new growth emerges. This allows the new plants to be large enough for transplanting before the fall. Cuttings of annual Geraniums late in the summer will allow you to grow them indoors as a houseplant through the winter and have plants large enough for potting up the following spring.
For division: Divide Geraniums early in the spring if you live in a climate that has harsh, cold winters. This allows the plant to fully establish itself before it goes dormant. Gardeners in mild and warmer climates, such as USDA zones 6 and above, will be better off dividing plants at the end of the summer when the weather cools. Regular watering will help the roots establish to get ready for vigorous growth the following spring.
Steps To Taking Cuttings from Geranium
Step 1 - Prepare your pot for planting the cutting. Fill it to within ½ inch of the top with premoistened potting mix, perlite, or sharp sand. Firmly tamp it down to make a solid base for the cutting to root into.
Step 2 - With a sharp pair of pruner, scissors, or a garden knife cut a side branch from the plant that is 6-8 inches long and includes at least 2 leaf nodes. (A perennial cutting will include part of the woody base which is actually a section of root)
Step 3 - Remove all of the leaves except the very top 2 to allow the cutting to focus on making roots and not keeping the foliage growing.
Step 4 - Use a chopstick or pencil (or finger) to make a hole in the starting medium next to the side of the pot. Gently push the cutting in so that the top leaves are just above the soil line and firm the potting mix around it.
Step 5 - Add more cuttings around the outside edges of the pot.
Step 6 - Water the pot from the top or from underneath in a basin of water.
Step 7 - Place the cutting (perennial Geraniums) in a spot that is protected and in partial shade keeping well watered until new growth emerges indicating that roots have grown and the plant is ready to be transplanted.
Step 8 - The cuttings for annual Geraniums will need to be brought indoors and placed in a sunny spot with bright direct light.
Step 9 - Cuttings started in water only will need to be placed in bright indirect light and have their water changed every few days until roots grow. The plantlets are capable of growing for quite a while in nothing but water if it is kept fresh.
Caring For Young Geranium Cuttings
Geranium cuttings in either a pot or in water are ready to be potted into individual containers (or the ground as weather permits) once roots begin to show through the holes in the pot or in the vase. Do not fertilize the cuttings until they are ready to be planted outdoors in the spring. A diluted liquid fertilizer applied once a month is typically sufficient to support good blooming and growth for the annual varieties. Use a granular slow-release fertilizer when planting out the perennial types of Geranium.
Sources:
“Geraniums With Care Become a Multi-Seasonal Annual”, Fairfax Virginia Master Gardeners. www.fairfaxgardening.org
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Author Robbin Small - Published 12-27-2024 |