July Plant Propagation: Expand Your Garden for No Cost by Taking Cuttings This Month
In the heart of summer, gardeners have a unique opportunity to replicate their favourite plants by propagating them. This process, which involves taking cuttings from mature stems and encouraging them to root, can be carried out for a variety of plants, extending the beauty of the garden and saving on costs.
One such plant that thrives in this season is lavender. Cuttings can be made from pliable stems that have developed during the year, ensuring strong growth and quick rooting. The lower half of the cuttings should be leaf-free, and the end should be dipped in rooting hormone before being placed around the edges of a pot filled with a well-draining potting mix.
Bedding geraniums, also known as pelargoniums, can also be propagated from cuttings in summer. To do this, identify non-flowering, healthy stems and take cuttings around four inches. These cuttings can be dipped in rooting hormone and placed in a bagged pot, which should be kept in a warm, sheltered spot for the cuttings to develop roots, a process that takes around 4 weeks.
Star jasmine, verbena, rosemary, Russian sage, salvias, coleus, fuchsia, and basil are other plants that can be propagated in July. For star jasmine, cuttings should be 2-3 feet sections of healthy stems, divided into 4-6 inch long cuttings. These should be dipped in rooting hormone and placed into potting soil, making sure a couple of nodes are below the soil level.
Coleus are tender plants with flamboyant foliage and can be propagated from cuttings in summer. To propagate them, take 4-6-inch cuttings of healthy non-flowering stems, dip in rooting hormone, and place in seed or cutting compost. Fuchsia cuttings can be propagated from healthy, non-flowering shoots that are 4-6 inches long. These should be inserted into small pots filled with seed and cutting soil, and covered with a clear plastic bag.
Clematis, popular flowering climbers, can also be propagated from cuttings in summer. To propagate them, pick a long, healthy, flexible stem, snip into smaller sections, remove leaves, dip in rooting hormone, and place in compost. Basil is easy to propagate in July and can grow in various locations. Simply prune stems 4-6 inches in length, remove lower leaves, and place in soil or water.
Hydrangeas and Bougainvillea are other great plants to propagate in July. Hydrangeas can be propagated from softwood cuttings taken in early summer, while Bougainvillea is suitable for summer propagation through cuttings.
Propagating plants is a budget-friendly way to multiply plants and get exact clones. This summer, take advantage of this opportunity and enjoy the satisfaction of growing your own plants!
Maintaining a home-and-garden lifestyle during summer allows gardeners to propagate various plants to replicate their favorites. For instance, bedding geraniums, lavender, star jasmine, verbena, rosemary, Russian sage, salvias, coleus, fuchsia, and basil can all be propagated from cuttings, enhancing the beauty of the garden and saving on costs.
