Pelargoniums – which are commonly referred to as “geraniums” – are available in many different varieties and colors. Until a few years ago, red, pink and white geraniums were particularly widespread, but there are now also orange, violet and two-tone varieties on the market. All of these wonderful plants can be propagated vegetatively - i.e. varietally - using cuttings without much effort.
How to propagate geraniums by cuttings?
Geraniums can easily be propagated from cuttings by choosing strong and he althy side shoots without flowers or buds, cutting them off below the leaf node and planting them in potting soil. The cuttings should be placed in a bright but not sunny location and watered moderately.
Selection of cuttings and timing
If you have no way of overwintering adult geraniums in a species-appropriate manner or simply want to expand your population, propagating cuttings is the right strategy. Only strong and he althy plants with abundant flowering are suitable as mother plants, as the cuttings are de facto their clones and will have the same growth and flowering characteristics. The optimal time to cut cuttings is the late summer month of August, but you can also start in early to mid-September.
Cutting and planting geranium cuttings
This first step is particularly easy:
- Select a few strong side shoots five to ten centimeters long.
- These should have neither flowers nor buds,
- If necessary, remove them carefully.
- Cut or break the cuttings just below the leaf node.
- Remove all but the top two leaves.
- Now plant the cuttings in prepared plant pots (€16.00 on Amazon) with potting soil.
- The cuttings should be planted about one, maximum two centimeters deep.
- Keep the substrate slightly moist, but not wet.
- Place the cuttings in a bright and protected location,
- but avoid direct sun.
Do not use soft shoots
Especially with geraniums, you should avoid using green and soft shoots for propagation from cuttings; only half-ripe ones should be used. You can recognize these because they have already turned brown, but are still flexible. Soft geranium shoots tend to rot and are therefore unsuitable for propagation.
How to properly care for your geranium cuttings
The next step is to properly care for the geranium cuttings so that they grow into he althy and strong plants.
- The cuttings root within four to six weeks.
- You can tell this because the young plants are standing straight 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 wet and high humidity.
- Do not place the young plants directly above a heater.
- Fertilization is not necessary initially.
- Repot the young geraniums in February into a larger container with nutrient-rich, pre-fertilized soil.
Overwintering geranium cuttings
In contrast to the older specimens, geranium cuttings should overwinter in a bright but cool place at 10 to 15 °C. The young plants should be watered regularly, but fertilization is not necessary. From February, as soon as the geraniums have been repotted, you should slowly wake them from hibernation. Increase the temperature gradually, keeping in mind that the warmer the plants are, the brighter they need to be. Start fertilizing carefully about six to eight weeks after repotting.
Tip
Before you put the young geraniums outside from mid to late May, slowly get them used to the changed weather and environment by initially only putting them outside for a few hours and gradually extending these times.
