Propagate geraniums using cuttings

Selection of cuttings and timing

In case you have no option, full grown To overwinter geraniums appropriately or simply want to increase your stock, propagating cuttings is the right strategy. Only strong and healthy plants with abundant flowers are suitable as mother plants, since the cuttings are de facto their clones and will have the same growth and flowering properties. The ideal time to cut the cuttings is the late summer month of August, but you can also start to do so in early to mid-September.

Cut and plant geranium cuttings

This first step is particularly easy:

• Pick out some sturdy side shoots five to ten centimeters long.
• These should not have flowers or buds,
• if necessary, remove them carefully.
• Cut or break off the cuttings just below the leaf knot.
• Remove all but the top two leaves.
• Now plant the cuttings in prepared plant pots Potting soil.
• The cuttings should be planted about one to a maximum of two centimeters deep.
• Keep the substrate slightly damp, but not wet.
• Place the cuttings in a light and protected location,
• but avoid direct sun.

Do not use soft shoots!

With geraniums in particular, you should not use any green and still soft shoots to propagate cuttings, they should only be half-ripe. You can recognize them by the fact that they have already turned brown but are still flexible. Soft geranium shoots tend to rot and are therefore unsuitable for reproduction.

Here's how to properly care for your geranium cuttings

The next step is the Properly caring for geranium cuttingsso that they grow into healthy and vigorous plants.

• The cuttings take root within four to six weeks.
• You can recognize this by the fact that the young plants are upright and are forming new shoots and leaves.
• Avoid direct sunlight
• and place the freshly rooted geraniums in a cool place at around 10 to 15 ° C.
• Water moderately, but keep the substrate evenly moist.
• Avoid wetness and high humidity.
• Do not place the young plants directly over a heater.
• Fertilization is not necessary at first.
• Pot the young geraniums in February into a larger container with nutrient-rich, pre-fertilized soil.

Hibernate geranium cuttings

In contrast to the older specimens, geranium cuttings should be bright, but cool at 10 to 15 ° C overwinter. The young plants should be watered regularly, but fertilization is not necessary. From February, as soon as the geraniums are repotted, you should slowly remove them from the Hibernation wake up. Gradually increase the temperature, keeping in mind that the warmer the plants, the lighter they have to be. Start around six to eight weeks after repotting careful with fertilization.