How to take cuttings from bedding geraniums

How to take geranium cuttings

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
At its best
To do

Do geranium cuttings root in water?

Geranium cuttings do root in water, but the success rate is lower than if you root them into compost. Cuttings in water can go slimy and you'll need to change the water regularly to keep it fresh. Once roots have developed you'll then need to pot the cuttings into compost, so you're not saving any time by rooting them in water first.

Monty Don's guide to taking geranium cuttings

Here, Monty Don explains how to take geranium cuttings.

He demonstrates why it's better to make short cuttings than long cuttings
He strips leaves from the cuttings and explains why this is necessary
He explains why a gritty compost is best for taking cuttings and what his compost is made with
He identifies the best place to store your cuttings for the greatest chance of success, and explains why

You Will Need

Pelargonium plant
7.5cm plastic pots
Multi-purpose, peat-free compost
Sharp sand
Secateurs or a sharp knife
Hormone rooting powder, Optional

Step 1

Taking pelargonium cuttings — Cutting a geranium stem above a leaf joint

Cut healthy, squat and fat stems from the mother plant just above a leaf joint on the main stem. Aim for a cutting around 10cm long.

Step 2

Removing leaves from the pelargonium cuttings — Removing leaves from the geranium stem

Remove flower buds and lower leaves from the bottom half of each cutting and cut the stem just below a node, where there is a concentration of the plant's own hormones.

Step 3

Dipping pelargonium cuttings into hormone rooting powder — Dipping geranium cuttings into hormone rooting powder

To improve success rates, you may want to dip the base of each cutting in a small amount of rooting hormone. This can stimulate root growth but isn't strictly necessary.

Step 4

Inserting pelargonium cuttings into compost

Fill pots with peat-free compost mixed with sharp sand to aid drainage. Insert two or three cuttings around the edge of each pot. Water the compost and stand pots in a well-lit position, indoors. Do not cover the pots, as this can encourage mildew to develop on the leaves. Keep the compost moist to aid root growth.

Step 5

Rooted pelargonium cutting — Rooted geranium cutting

After a few weeks, a corky callus will develop over the cut end of the stem and roots will begin to grow. A good root system will have developed within six to eight weeks.

Step 6

Potted pelargonium cutting — Potted geranium cutting

In March or April, knock each cutting out of the pot and transplant into individual pots of multi-purpose compost. Discard any that didn't root as they can harbour disease. Keep each potted cutting well-watered and then plant out in spring, after all risk of frost has passed.