Propagate pelargoniums

When to take cuttings

If you've never taken cuttings before, try pelargoniums as it's a straightforward technique, with guaranteed results. You can increase the volume of plants for your own garden or try swapping your cuttings for other plants with other gardeners.

Snip off short lengths of your favourite pelargonium in August and September. They'll root easily to make new plants in a few weeks.

What to do

How to propagate

• Choose vigorous, healthy shoots and remove from plant by cutting above a leaf joint.
• Aim to make a cutting between 7.5cm to 10cm long (3in to 4in) by making a straight cut just below a leaf joint.
• It's important to remove all the lower leaves and the stipules (small leaf-like structures at the base of each leaf stalk) from the stem.

• Each cutting needs to have just two or three leaves - just enough so that the plant can continue to photosynthesise and grow.
• If there are too many leaves, the cutting will lose moisture, wilt and die.
• Fill a 7.5cm (3in) pot with free-draining compost (a mix of 50 per cent cuttings compost and 50 per cent horticultural grit), firm and make six 2.5cm (1in) holes around the edge of the pot.

• Push a cutting into each hole and label each pot if you're taking cuttings of several varieties.
• Water the plants sparingly to keep the compost barely moist.
• Put the uncovered pots in a warm, slightly shaded place until they root.
• Keep cuttings damp and put into their own pot when fresh leaves start to grow.

Watch video

Five to try

• Pelargonium tomentosum - tiny white flowers and peppermint scented, silver leaves
• P. 'Lord Bute' - black flowers with a red edge
• P. 'Ballerina' - white flowers edged with pink
• P. 'Scarlet Rambler' - tall plant with red flowers
• P. 'Quantock Candy' - two-tone pink flowers

For more pelargoniums see the Plant finder.