How reproduce and multiply your plants
By Tammy Thornton
My husband once said, “I will never feel guilty about buying books.” Of course I responded,
“Then I will never feel guilty about buying flowers.” But alas, there are limits.
You can increase the amount of plants in your garden economically through propagation. Flowers can be propagated, or multiplied, in different ways. Some plants are easy to grow from seed, but others can be rooted from cuttings—taking a piece of the stem and planting it so that you have a new plant.
You may wish to produce duplicates of your plants for various reasons. If you have a beloved or rare plant, it’s a good idea to take a cutting so if something goes wrong, it is not lost forever. You can also take a cutting of a tender plant that won’t survive the winter. Perhaps it’s too large to bring the entire plant indoors, but you could start a smaller version from a cutting, and have it ready to replant outdoors in the spring. Or you may just want multiples of a favorite flower. Planting in masses results in a much more pleasing and dramatic impact of color. A single lavender plant is very nice, but a field of lavender is breathtaking. So instead of breaking the budget with a truckload of purchased flowers, take free samples—from yourself!
Hydrangeas are great plants to propagate from cuttings. Simply cut from the end of a non-flowering stem. Choose a healthy, tender, green stem that is approximately four to six inches long and cut at least two inches below the leaf nodes (where the leaves are coming out). Keep your cuttings in water so they stay hydrated as you prepare your container. Fill your pot with potting soil or seed starting mix, and water so that the soil is damp but not soggy. To increase your chances of success, dip the stem cutting in a rooting hormone powder. This will promote the growth of roots, and can be purchased at most garden nurseries. Keep the top set of leaves but, if they are large, cut them in half crosswise so that the plant can use its energy to produce roots. Remove the remaining leaves, being careful not to cut the nodes. Make a hole in the soil with a pencil or stick so you aren’t removing the rooting hormone when you insert the stem into the soil. Lightly push and tamp the soil back into place. Keep your new baby out of direct sunlight and make sure the soil does not dry out. In a few weeks, your new plant should develop its own roots and will be ready to repot or plant in the garden. Remember that these cuttings root fairly easily but are still tender and should be transplanted carefully.
Succulents have grown in popularity over the last few years; they are among the easiest plants to grow from cuttings. In my garden, I grow
Tammy Thornton is a mom of four, a substitute teacher, and a Sunday school teacher. She is passionate about gardening and cooking, and loves the beach.
