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Diascia and Nemensia - Help wanted please.

Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 11,157
in Plants
I've just bought (for 20p each!) some sad looking bedding plants. I've soaked them in water to revive them and removed the tatty bits.  Should I also prune them drastically in the hope that they may re-flower later in the summer? 
North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
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  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,699
    Yes, give them a light prune and they will recover after a few weeks. As long as the lower sections look OK, they should recover. Nemesias prefer a bit of semi shade and Diascias do better in full sun.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 11,157
    Thanks Borderline. I've grown Diascias before but only as fully grown plants but not Nemesias (glad you can spell better than I) so that's useful advice.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • gardeninglily1gardeninglily1 Posts: 424
    They are both very easy to take cuttings from too. They seem to strike every time and I've done them from early May through to September. Fabulous plants and nemesia beautiful scent too. 
  • MeomyeMeomye Posts: 849
    Gardenlily1, how do you take cuttings from Diascia please and when is the best time to do it? 
  • LynLyn Posts: 21,881
    They are both extremely easy to grow from seeds, I grow thousands of Nemesia for tubs and baskets as I prefer it to Lobelia which can become a bit untidy.
    ive just planted out the Diascia out in the garden. 
    I have never bothered with cutting though, I couldn’t do as many as the seeds would yield. 
    I love the Nemesia when it’s starts to form seeds, like little purses. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • gardeninglily1gardeninglily1 Posts: 424
    Hello Meomye, I just try and find  non-flowering stems about 2-3 inches long. Cut off just below a pair of leaves - gently take off the lower leaves and pot up - I usually put 4 around the edge of a small pot. I have done it with budded stems too but I snip off any buds to allow the stem to concentrate on the roots. I'll post some pics tomorrow because I took some cuttings about 3 weeks ago. I have 99% success with them but I've tried with other plants and not as successful. 
  • gardeninglily1gardeninglily1 Posts: 424
    Me again - I have taken some pics for you. Like I said just take non- flowering if poss but not always possible at this time of year. These cuttings I’ve done today are from flowering stems but I  cut the buds off. The pics won’t load in the right order but you can see the stem with bud and then take lower leaves off and remove bud. They usually root and start new growth in about 3 weeks.  
  • gardeninglily1gardeninglily1 Posts: 424
    Hope that helps  :)
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 11,157
    Many thanks for that advice, it's so much easier to see in pictures. You've inspired me to have a go!
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    Me too.
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