How to propagate geraniums at home

Geranium is one of the most popular plants. The culture is distinguished by lush flowering, therefore it is often used to decorate premises. Many people are interested in how geraniums reproduce. This can be done vegetatively or by seed. In the second case, it is not possible to preserve the varietal characteristics of the plant. Therefore, decorative species are more often propagated by vegetative methods.

Features of the reproduction of geraniums at home

The flower can be grown at home or in flower beds. Breeding developments have resulted in many varieties and hybrids. They have different shapes and colors of leaves and flowers.

Flowering geranium

It should be borne in mind that geraniums are recommended to be transplanted at intervals of 3 years. If you neglect the renewal of culture, it will lose its decorative properties. As a result, the bushes grow strongly, and the stems acquire a woody structure. Such plants do not bloom well.

Geranium propagation is carried out taking into account its variety:

• Royal pelargonium has large flowers up to 15 cm in diameter. They differ in shape and color. You can cut a culture according to general rules. This procedure can be carried out in the spring and summer. In winter, the culture begins a period of dormancy. At this time, it should be kept in a bright room, the temperature in which does not rise above +15 degrees.
• Zonal geranium is characterized by long flowering. It can last all year long. Culture is durable. It retains its decorative properties for 20 years. Before you root this variety of geraniums, you need to prepare a composition based on perlite and sand. You can also use peat.
• Scented geranium differs in color and smell. It is best to carry out cuttings in water. It is also permissible to propagate the plant by dividing the bush. The procedure is performed in March.
• Trumpet geranium is also called ivy or ivy. It can be grown in hanging pots. The culture is bushy. Flowering begins in June and lasts all summer. It is best to propagate the plant by cuttings. Before grafting geraniums, it is worth preparing a composition of sand, peat, leafy soil, humus. There must be a drainage layer at the bottom of the container. It is made from expanded clay.

There are many spectacular geranium species

What is the best time to do it

Before propagating geraniums, you need to determine the most favorable period for this. It is worth considering the natural cycle of the culture. Although geraniums can bloom all year round, early spring is considered the ideal time for propagation by cuttings. The procedure should be carried out at the end of February or mid-March.

Of course, it is permissible to breed a plant in autumn and winter. However, in this case, rooting will take much longer. The sprouts will need artificial lighting. Breeding is recommended with a minimum of 17 hours of daylight hours.

Flower reproduction methods

Geraniums can reproduce in many ways. However, grafting is considered an ideal option.This is the simplest and most effective procedure for maintaining the characteristics of the variety.

In addition, there are the following crop breeding options:

• seed method;
• dividing the bush;
• processes.

How to propagate geranium by cuttings at home

Geranium cuttings are considered the most affordable and effective method. It allows you to preserve the varietal characteristics of the culture. In this case, the plant must be provided with suitable conditions. First of all, it needs high temperature and good illumination.

First you need to prepare the cuttings. For this, shoots with a length of at least 10 cm are selected. The cut must be made in the middle, between two adjacent leaves. Prepared cuttings are not recommended to be immediately planted in a pot. First, the slices should dry slightly. But don't dry them too much. After the sections have dried, they should be treated with wood ash or sorbent. This will help prevent infection from entering the damaged area.

Flower propagation by cuttings has many benefits.

Rooting methods

Cuttings can be planted in dry soil or water. In the first case, small containers are used, in the bottom of which it is imperative to make holes and organize a drainage layer. Loose soil is used as a substrate. To get it, you can mix turf, garden soil, sand, humus. It is also acceptable to use a universal substrate. You can buy it in specialized stores.

It is permissible to root plants in water. In this case, the cuttings are placed in a vessel filled with water. Previously, it is recommended to add a means to stimulate the appearance of roots. The cuttings must remain in the water until the first roots form. Then they need to be planted in a pot in a permanent place.

Planting in the ground and further care

To transplant a culture into the ground, a deepening must be made in a container, a stem must be placed in it and the earth must be compacted. It is important to consider the composition of the substrate. It must contain peat or sand. It is important that the soil is as loose as possible. To stimulate growth processes, you can create a greenhouse effect for the plant. It is achieved with a plastic bag.

It is strictly forbidden to use fresh organic fertilizers for geraniums. These include manure and humus. Such feeding will stop the flowering process. Complex mineral preparations are used to fertilize geraniums. To make the flowering more lush and long lasting, it is worth using products with potassium content.

Stable growth of a flower after reproduction is impossible without trace elements such as zinc, iron, calcium, etc. Fertilizers should be applied 2 times a month.

Geranium tolerates any moisture parameters normally. It takes root and develops well, delighting with abundant and lush flowering. In this case, it is important to ensure that water does not fall on the leaves of the plant.

When propagating geraniums by cuttings, the following should be considered:

• for watering plants, it is worth using exclusively warm water;
• only wilted bushes should be covered from the sun;
• it is necessary to root the plant at a temperature of +15 degrees;
• you can propagate a flower for a whole year, but maximum efficiency is achieved in spring;
• for group plantings, an interval of 15-17 cm between plants is observed. This will help to achieve rapid flowering.

Geranium needs high-quality and proper watering

Young plants take root in different ways. It depends on the specific variety. Zonal and ivy crops take root the fastest. It takes a month to adapt royal pelargonium. Fragrant geranium takes root after 1.5 months. In this case, the flowering of angelic and royal species occurs in a year.

How to propagate geraniums by shoots at home

Growing a culture from shoots has certain features. You can dilute a plant in this way in different ways. The first method involves watering the cuttings with special means. In this case, the dosage indicated in the instructions must be observed.

The second method deals with the main plant. The procedure is simple. Even an inexperienced florist can do it. To begin with, along the entire length of the stem from which it is planned to obtain shoots, under the buds, it is necessary to make many annular cuts through one bud. Then the stem with incisions is placed in the ground. As a result, it will be possible to get a large number of small cuttings. They can develop roots directly on the original crop. After separation from the main bush, the cuttings take root quickly.

How to propagate a geranium leaf at home

This method is quite possible, although not all growers are familiar with it. The propagation of a flower by a leaf is considered an insufficiently effective method, therefore it is rarely used.

To achieve good results, you need to follow a step-by-step process:

1. Cut a geranium leaf with a part of the stem with a sharp knife (to make something like a stump).
2. Process a plant fragment with Kornevin.
3. Place in a light substrate.
4. Water in moderation.

Cuttings can give roots and water

Seed propagation

This method is usually used to obtain a large amount of planting material, which is used to decorate flower beds and parks. It is somewhat difficult to propagate such large volumes by cuttings.

At the same time, the seed method has a big drawback. Usually, it does not allow preserving the properties of the mother plant, in particular, the color of flowers and leaves. If you plan to quickly plant greenery and the varietal characteristics of the crop do not matter, the seed method is considered the most suitable.

It is worth planting seeds in special boxes. The soil must be moistened first, and then the seed should be laid out. Sprinkle it on top with a thin layer of earth. Its thickness should be 1-2 mm.

With this planting method, you need to choose the right way to moisten the soil. Regular watering will not work in this case. It will wash away the soil, which will expose the seeds. To prevent this from happening, it is worth using a special spray.

The containers must be covered with foil until the first shoots appear. The first shoots usually appear after 2-3 weeks. When 4-6 leaves grow on the plants, they need to be planted.

Geranium reproduces well by seed

What difficulties can you face when breeding

Problems when growing geraniums arise in such situations:

• The plant is in high temperature conditions - more than +25 degrees. Too low parameters are also dangerous - less than +16.
• There are sometimes drafts or temperature fluctuations in the room. In such a situation, the container with the plant must be covered with a film. It should remain until the roots form. Once a day, be sure to remove the film for an hour. This will help aerate the ground and plant.
• When growing seeds, optimal conditions are not observed. The room temperature should be + 22-25 degrees. If you do not cover the plants with a film, it will not be possible to obtain stable parameters.
• Incorrect stalk selected. Difficulties are possible if the cut is made not on a young shoot, but on a lignified stem. An old and dry shoot will not be able to give roots.
• The sprouts or greenhouse are in a dark place. For the emergence of sprouts and the beginning of the formation of roots, you should choose a southern or eastern window sill. At the stage of root growth, diffused lighting is enough.At the same time, only the southern window sill is suitable for crops. Direct sunlight has a beneficial effect on the appearance of sprouts. As a result, it is possible to get powerful and healthy seedlings.

Also, when growing geraniums, you need to provide it with high-quality care:

• Watering. Excessive soil moisture provokes root rot. Lack of water causes them to dry out.
• Top dressing. Deficiency of the necessary elements disrupts crop growth and reduces flowering. The excess of trace elements accelerates the development of the stems. They start to stretch and break.
• Pruning. Violation of the rules of crop care leads to the loss of decorative characteristics. Pruning geraniums too much can cause problems with flowering.

In order for geranium to retain its decorative effect, it must be properly looked after.

Geranium propagation is possible in a variety of ways. To achieve success in this matter, it is necessary to correctly choose a method and strictly follow the rules for cultivating a culture.