Stevia grows as a perennial, not winter-hardy perennial that can be easily propagated even in our latitudes. Breeding is possible using seeds as well as cuttings or planters.
How to propagate stevia?
Stevia can be easily propagated by seeds, cuttings or cuttings. Seeds should be sown in growing containers with good ventilation and warmth. Cuttings are cut from a mother plant and placed in water or substrate. Lowers are formed by lowering branches into potting soil or loose soil.
Growing from seeds
Stevia seeds are relatively small and look like narrow black lines. You can get the seeds from the white flowers of the sweet herb yourself or buy seed bags (€2.00 on Amazon) from gardening stores.
Procedure:
Fill growing containers or yogurt cups in which you have drilled a hole in the bottom with growing soil.
- Put seeds on the surface and press down.
- Do not cover with soil under any circumstances, as Stevia is a light germinator.
- Moisten the soil well and cover the containers with foil or glass.
- Leave a ventilation gap to prevent mold formation.
- The optimal germination temperature is between 22 and 25 degrees Celsius.
The first seedlings will appear after about a week in a bright and warm place. As soon as the plants have reached a size of ten centimeters, they are separated into pots with a very permeable substrate. Potting or herb soil is ideal, loosened up with a little sand or expanded clay.
Breeding with cuttings
You can take cuttings from a strong mother plant again and again during the growing season. Only use shoots that do not yet have buds or flowers.
- Always cut cuttings with a sharp cutting tool to avoid bruising the plant.
- Remove the bottom two to four leaves.
- Place in a glass with water or alternatively put it in a container with substrate.
- Cover with a hood or foil bag (greenhouse climate).
In a bright, warm and wind-protected place, the cuttings quickly form roots and grow into strong stevia plants.
Propagation by reducers
Breeding by lowering is very uncomplicated and can be done both in the garden and on the balcony. Place some pots filled with potting soil around the plant or loosen the substrate in the bed a little. Bend the outer branches of the stevia down and weigh them down with stones. After about a week, new roots will form on these branches. Cut the branches so that the small plant can develop independently.
Tips & Tricks
Exactly the same daughter plants can be grown from cuttings, while when sowing seeds from home-grown seeds, the stevia may vary.
