Usually propagating the popular cranesbill is not a problem as the plant often sows itself and you have no further work to do with it. However, this does not apply to many cranesbill hybrids such as “Rozanne”, which are fertile and can therefore only be propagated vegetatively. Some geranium species can also be multiplied by cuttings.
How to propagate the cranesbill?
The cranesbill can be propagated by sowing, division or cuttings. With hybrids like “Rozanne”, propagation is only possible through division, while other species can also sow themselves. Geranium cantabrigiense, G. cinereum and G. himalayense, for example, are suitable for propagation by cuttings.
Propagation by sowing
With the exception of many hybrids and the magnificent cranesbill - which is essentially also a hybrid - only vegetative propagation is possible. All other species can be easily propagated by sowing in spring or you can let the plants sow themselves.
Propagate cranesbills by division
Division involves completely digging up the plant to divide its rhizome into two, three, or even four or more pieces. Each section should have at least one rooted shoot. When digging up the plant, be careful not to damage any roots. The best time for this measure is spring, before the plant can really sprout. Almost all cranesbills can be divided, although hybrids like “Rozanne” can usually only be propagated by division.
Propagation by cuttings
Some geranium species are propagated in early summer using head or shoot cuttings from non-flowering shoots. With the gray cranesbill you can also use root cuttings in winter. To do this, dig up the mother plant in late autumn/winter and cut off some of the roots as long as possible. These are divided into pieces approximately five centimeters long and finally placed in a propagation substrate. Planting takes place the following spring when the first shoots appear.
Geranium species suitable for propagation from cuttings
The following cranesbills are suitable for vegetative propagation through cuttings:
- Cambridge cranesbill (Geranium cantabrigiense), by lowering in summer
- Grey cranesbill (Geranium cinereum), from shoot cuttings in summer or root cuttings in winter
- Clarke's cranesbill (Geranium clarkei), from cuttings in summer
- Himalayan cranesbill (Geranium himalayense), from cuttings in summer
- Heart-leaved cranesbill (Geranium ibericum), from cuttings in summer
- Rock cranesbill (Geranium macrorrhizum), from cuttings in summer
- Blood-red cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum), from cuttings of non-flowering shoots in summer
Tip
You should definitely pay attention to hygiene, especially when propagating cuttings and dividing! Only use sharp tools that you have disinfected beforehand. Always cut the cutting directly below the node (nodium), i.e. H. the leaf base. This is where the scar tissue of the shoot forms, from which new roots sprout.
