The Indian nettle, also known as golden balm or scarlet monard, can be propagated very well both vegetatively via division or cuttings, but also by sowing in spring. The hybrid varieties, on the other hand, can only be propagated by division and cuttings. Individual parts only grow slowly. You can find out how to proceed and what you should pay attention to in the article below.
How can Indian nettles be propagated?
Indian nettles can be propagated by division, cuttings or sowing. The division should take place in spring or autumn. Cuttings are cut in early summer and planted in potting soil. Sowing takes place outdoors from mid-May or in pre-cultivation from February/March.
Share Indian nettle
As with so many perennials, it is recommended to divide the perennial Indian nettles after four to five years at the latest. This type of propagation not only produces new perennials, but also prevents the mother plant from aging. Like all living things, plants naturally age and their ability to bloom decreases over time. By dividing, however, you stimulate new growth and flowering. Indian nettles can be divided in both spring and autumn.
Propagate Indian nettle through cuttings
Propagation of Indian nettle via cuttings is also quite easy. These should best be cut in early summer - June or July at the latest.
- Choose semi-ripe shoots between 10 and 15 centimeters long.
- These should not have flowers as they hinder rooting.
- Any existing flowers or buds are therefore removed.
- Make sure that the cutting surface is slightly slanted.
- This makes it easier for the cutting to absorb water.
- Also remove all but the top two leaves.
- Plant the cuttings in potting soil.
- Place the pots in a warm, sheltered and bright place.
- However, if possible, not in the direct sun.
- Keep the substrate evenly moist.
The young Indian nettles are not planted outdoors until the following spring and are overwintered indoors, frost-free, until then. You also need light winter protection in the first two to three winters, as winter hardiness has yet to develop.
Propagation of Indian nettle by sowing
While both division and propagation from cuttings always produce pure offspring, propagation by sowing is an exciting field - especially if you have different types and varieties of Indian nettle in the garden and have them sown yourself. The seeds are sown directly outdoors or in a planter from mid-May, but can also be grown in pre-culture in February / March and then planted out in spring. The Indian nettle is one of the light germinators, so the seeds should not be covered or only covered very lightly.
Tip
If you want to propagate the Indian nettle by division, do this in late summer or early fall or, even better, in spring. Then the plants have enough time to grow.
