Pelargonium cuttings

Paul B3

An elderly lady customer has asked me to take cuttings of the above ; tomorrow .

I don't really 'deal' with plants like these normally ; are there any new or special techniques anyone of you can advise me , so I don't make a complete mess of the whole job .

Your knowledge and help will be appreciated .

cornelly

Really need heat to propagate this time of year, take the cuttings from just below a node, remove lower leaves, (take cuttings three four inches long) place three four cuttings around the inside edge of a pot, not in the middle, label to go there, do not cover, that causes the cuttings to rot, keep compost moist.

Johnny canoe

For the past several years I have rooted my cutting in water only. I find I will only have to throw away maybe two cuttings that won't root. The last year I used the rooting hormone and planting method, I lost all my stems but 3.
I take a cutting of about 6 to 8 in long. I cut it just below a leaf joint and use stems that are not old and woody/tuff. I remove all but the few top leaves and put it in a mason jar half full of water. Bright light but not direct sun. Change the water frequently.  Usually you will see some root growth in two to three weeks but some stems are slow and it can be a couple months wait. 
As long as the stem isn't rotting you can wait, well up to a point I guess.
I like to leave the rooting stem in the water until there's some good root growth on them. 
When I plant into pots I do not plant the stem deep, plant it as shallow as you can without the stem flopping over. And water well the first time then let it get on the dry side before watering in future. You will know to water by how light the pot has gotten.

All my stems were taken in mid Sept, and I only finished potting the few late rooters last week.
Here is one rack of my cuttings today.

Lyn

I take loads of cuttings from these and other, I’ve never had a propagator but I do keep them indoors just in the conservatory, they won’t root now in a GH but indoors, no problem.
Here’s  some I did last week you need to keep them fairly dry whilst they root, or the stems will rot.  Pick off any flower buds they might make, don’t let them bloom until next year, by then they will have made a nice big plant.

Johnny canoe

Also when the stems have been potted and you see new leaves coming from the base, start pinching or snipping the top of the stem, you want to get the energy into that new bottom growth.

Lyn

Oh yes, forgot to say that!  Pinching out just come naturally to me. 

Paul B3

cornelly , Johnny canoe , Lyn .

 

Thanks for getting back with your sound advice ! .(Seems I'm not always the most popular on this forum)   re:-('neighbour wrecked our shared hedge') post .

I'll have to tell her tomorrow to probably wait until the Spring ; she's a bit 'set in her ways' !!!.....that might be easier said than done ! Yikes!!!

Thanks again all of you , and the pictures are much appreciated !

Lyn

You can do them now Paul just keep them inside, on a window sill or worktop. I take them and fuchsias anytime of the year, except fuschsias in the hot weather. 

She may lose the original plants through the winter so best try with the cuttings.

Paul B3

Thanks Lyn

Will tell her tomorrow ; she lives in a draughty old cottage , so doesn't really bode well

Fairygirl

Even my mum used to manage pelargonium cuttings, and she could kill plastic plants. 
She did pretty much as Lyn describes. Kept on the dry side [she probably for got to water anyway!] on the kitchen windowsill or in the back porch. Both places fairly warm - the original oil run boiler was out in the porch. 

Paul B3

Thanks Fairygirl

Will tell her tomorrow to attempt the impossible ! That is , clear some of her clutter to expose a nigh on forgotten windowsill to probably what will be the first light it has seen in decades .