Geraniums aren’t boring plants. Far from it. They come in a wide variety of flower colors and scents. These old-fashioned flowers have graced gardens and kitchen windowsills for generations. Did you know that geraniums are easily grown from cuttings? By taking cuttings and growing your own geraniums, you can save a lot of money.
Fill the Pots
Find enough 2-inch pots so you will have one pot for each cutting you want to start. I often use those small disposable wax-coated cups. No matter which container you use, make sure there is 1 or 2 drainage holes at the bottom. If your pot doesn’t not have a hole, push the pokey end of a nail through the bottom of the cup to make one or two drainage holes.
Fill your container with moistened potting soil. You can also use seed compost mixed with sand. The soil used must be well draining or the stems will rot. To moisten the potting medium before you fill the pots, cover your worktable with an old plastic tablecloth or a tarp. Place the potting soil on the tarp and sprinkle a little water over the soil. Only pour a small amount of water at a time because you don’t want the soil to be soggy. Mix the potting soil with your hands. Keep adding water until the soil is just barely moist.
Gather the Cuttings
Examine the geranium plant to find healthy stems or shoots. If the geranium is not near your potting table, take along a wet paper towel inserted into a plastic bag. With a sterilized knife, or pruning shears, take a 3 to 4 inch stem, cutting just below the leaf joint. Remove all the leaves except for the top two. If you don’t remove the leaves the stem will put all its energy into maintaining the leaves. this takes away the energy needed to form roots. Wrap the cut end of the stems in the wet paper towel and place them in the plastic bag. You will need to plant them as soon as you get home.
Preparing the Stem
Remove a stem from the paper towel. Some gardeners dip the wet stem into rooting hormone and some do not. It is personal preference and I find that geraniums root easily either way. If you do use rooting hormone, only dip ¼ inch of the stem in the powder. Too much rooting hormone can have the adverse affect, preventing the roots from forming.
Form a hole in the soil with a pencil. Insert the cut end of the stem into the hole and then firm the soil around the stem with your fingers to help hold it upright.
Find a West or East Window
For easier carrying, place the pots in a tray with sides. This can be an old cake pan, or plastic container. Find a warm bright window to place the pots, but avoid direct sunlight. An east or west window allows the right amount of light for the cuttings to grow.
Every other day, check or feel the soil for moisture. You’ll want the soil to be barely moist. Too many plants die from over-wateing. With geraniums, it is often better to let the soil become dry rather than soggy.
When you see new growth forming, it usually means that the roots have formed. Gently pull on the cutting. If you feel any resistance, then the roots have formed and your cutting is ready for transplanting.
Transplanting
Transplant the rooted cuttings into 4-inch pots. Cover the drainage holes with a coffee filter, and then fill the bottom of the pot with potting soil. If the cutting is in a plastic pot, remove it carefully to not break the rootball. If you planted the cutting in a disposable cup, tear away the top half of the cup. The rest of the cup will decompose into the soil. Give your geranium a drink of water and place them in a bright window.
Fertilizing
Feed the geranium with a liquid fertilizer in the spring and summer months while the plant is actively growing. Read and follow label directions.
Sources:
Clemson Cooperative Extension: Growing Geraniums Indoors
San Francisco Chronicle: Problems of Geraniums Indoors
