Geranium cutting method and time

Geraniums are famous for their long flowering period and bright colors, and they bring joy and vitality to the home environment, making them very popular. In addition to purchasing ready-made plants, we can also propagate geraniums ourselves through cuttings. As long as you choose the right time and follow the correct cutting technique, the survival rate is quite high. Let’s learn about the cutting method and time of geranium.

1. Timing of cuttings

Geranium prefers a warm environment, and the suitable growth temperature is 15 to 25 degrees Celsius, so spring and autumn are the best seasons for cuttings. Both high temperatures in summer and low temperatures in winter are not conducive to its growth, but if the winter temperature can be maintained at around 15 degrees Celsius, you can also try cuttings.

2. Choose the right cuttings

Select healthy branches with strong tops, about 8 to 10 cm in length, remove the lower leaves, and dry them in the sun to reduce the risk of rot. The lower end of the branches can be cut into a horseshoe shape to increase the contact area with the soil and promote rooting.

3. Choose the right soil

Use sandy soil or a mixture of leaf mold, peat soil and sand that has been sterilized at high temperature. The former has good permeability but lacks nutrients, while the latter has comprehensive nutrients and there is no need to rush to transplant after the plants survive.

4. Cutting operation

Fill the soil to about two centimeters from the bottom of the flowerpot, compact it, and then use chopsticks to make holes in the soil. The depth of the holes should be half to one-third of the cuttings. Insert the dried cuttings into the hole, cover them with soil and water them thoroughly, place them in a cool and ventilated place, and they are expected to survive in about 15 to 20 days.

5. Management during rooting

Water thoroughly after the soil is dry to avoid waterlogging and root rot. In dry weather, you can spray water on the leaves and the surrounding area to keep them moist. Control the temperature above 13 degrees Celsius. If it is too high, ventilation and cooling are required.

6. Maintenance after cuttings survive

After the plant survives, gradually increase the light and avoid direct exposure to the sun. When the plant grows to 8 to 10 cm, top and pinch the stems to promote the growth of side branches and make the plant fuller. During the peak growth period, water and fertilize in time, use nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium triple fertilizer or decomposed cake fertilizer water, potassium dihydrogen phosphate water-soluble fertilizer to promote flowering.

In general, if you follow the above method of cuttings and combine it with proper post-management, geraniums will thrive and bloom beautiful flowers. If you have other tips or experiences on propagating geraniums through cuttings, please feel free to share them.