How to take softwood penstemon cuttings
Find out how to propagate fresh stock of penstemons, by taking softwood cuttings.
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Summer is an ideal time to take softwood cuttings from penstemons. These will root quickly to give you new plants for next year's border. Select non-flowering shoots from the plants, cutting them off first thing in the morning.
Discover how to take penstemon cuttings, below.
You Will Need
- Penstemon
- Secateurs
- Multi-purpose, peat-free compost
- 10cm pot
- Clear polythene bags
Total time: 15 minutes
Step 1
Use sharp secateurs to cut just below a leaf joint, about 10cm from the tip of your shoot. Then, strip off the lower leaves.
Step 2
Insert the cuttings into compost around the edges of the pot, where drainage is better.
Step 3
Water well and keep the cuttings in humid conditions, such as inside a plastic bag.
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