Geranium cuttings
I am hoping this year will be the first year I have successfully been able to take some geranium cuttings. I do not have a greenhouse and do not use root powder which may be a major downfall. Anyway, I wanted to know whether trying to take cuttings and grow them in water is any better? I have a lot of success with Basil like this but not sure if geraniums are the same? I am hoping that once they have taken root I can then put them into compost indoors for the winter? Also, I presume rooting powder is then not necessary? thanks all.
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Hi emma lou. Geraniums do not need rooting powder and it is better to just put them in compost around the edges of a plant pot rather than in water.
Yes thank you but I never seem to have much luck doing it that way. Does it also come down to where I leave them? I have to leave them indoors but not sure if I am managing the warmth/light correctly.
Try letting the cuttings dry off for a day before putting them into the plant pot and use a seed or cutting compost with some added grit or perlite. Remove all but the top leaves too. An ordinary windowsill would be fine as long as they are not in direct sunlight.
Emma Lou, my mum has rooted some geraniums in water and said she has done it this way for many years. Am going to try and take a photo shortly - it has recently started rooting in the water.
i took loads last year and put them in compost i think although adding some grit or sand would be beneficial, i looked after them till winter time then neglected them (totally lazy and forgot about them) no water for a few months, then in spring i repotted them and they grew fine into good plants, make sure to take the chunky stems that grow on the sides cutting off close to the stem, i will definitely do them again but i'm going to try some in water too, my friend roots everything in water and has great success.
Emma, they are one of the easiest cuttings to take, compost straight from the bag around the edge of the pot and just leave them to it. You don't even need to water them. They thrive on neglect. It really is that simple. Light doesn't a matter much a light windowsill is fine.
Reading your replies I think me watering them didn't help matters. I will try water and compost and report back. Many thanks for taking the time to reply and give me your feedback.
Just another question but if I trim back the geranium plants I have, can I keep the original plants in pots or do they always have to be cuttings from this years plants?
yes you can keep the original parent plant in a pot indoors if you wish, we are in the south east and my mum always leaves hers out over winter for years but last year lost the lot, so if you like the plant take it somewhere frost free and then as it grows again you can take more cuttings from it to increase your plants, i'm going to do the same with my parent plant this year as i left it out last year and it rotted outside.
Sorry, I also have a question about this - if you take them inside or in a frost free place, do they need to have light as well? A shed would be too dark I presume?