First of all: This article is about the pelargoniums, which are colloquially known as “geraniums”, whereas the propagation of the cranesbill (lat. geranium) is discussed in another article. Pelargoniums, which come from South Africa and are referred to here as geraniums for the sake of simplicity, love warmth and sun and should be overwintered in cool greenhouses or winter gardens in frost-prone areas. For this reason, many balcony gardeners only cultivate the richly flowering plants for one season and then buy new ones in the spring. However, this is not necessary because you can propagate your geraniums yourself with little effort.
How to successfully propagate geraniums?
Geraniums can be propagated in three ways: as cuttings in late summer, by dividing older plants in spring, or from seeds sown in January or February. All methods require care and proper site conditions to achieve best results.
Propagate geraniums via cuttings
The easiest way to propagate your geraniums is vegetatively using cuttings. In this way you can also multiply particularly beautiful plants, because cuttings are clones of the mother plant and are therefore completely identical to it. The best time to cut the offshoots is late summer / early autumn, i.e. the months of August and September.
- Cut off half-ripe shoots that are about finger-long (approx. 10 centimeters long).
- If possible, these should not bloom or have any buds.
- Cut the cuttings at the leaf axil if possible.
- Remove the lower leaves with the stipules.
- Only the top two leaves can remain standing.
- Let the cuttings dry for one to two hours.
- Plant the cuttings in a pot with potting soil.
- You can also use normal potting soil.
- After thorough watering, a clear plastic bag is placed over it.
- As soon as new leaves appear, the cuttings are potted individually
- and then overwintered in a cool place.
Plant the young plants in a larger pot in spring and harden them off little by little.
Dividing perennial geraniums
It is little known that pelargoniums can also be propagated by division. However, this is only possible with older plants aged four to five years. It is best to divide at the beginning of spring growth, as soon as the first fresh shoots appear - this is usually the case in March or April. It is best to combine this measure with repotting the plant, carefully pulling it and its roots apart with your fingers. The sections are then planted individually and watered heavily.
Propagate geraniums from seeds
Growing geraniums from seeds - either collected yourself or purchased - is also great fun. The seeds should be sown in January, but no later than February of each year, so that you can enjoy the flowers of your home-grown geraniums in the summer.
- It is best to sow the seeds in potting soil (€6.00 on Amazon).
- Cover them lightly with substrate and keep it evenly moist.
- Place the growing containers in an indoor greenhouse
- or put a clear plastic wrap or bag over it.
- Place the pots in a bright and warm place.
- Pick out as soon as the first leaves appear.
- However, avoid a location with direct sun.
- Put the young plants outside during the day from the beginning of May,
- but bring them in at night.
Tip
When propagating cuttings, make sure not to use soft and completely green shoots. These tend to rot and are therefore not very suitable.
