Do you like geraniums and want to have a lot of them? It’s simple, cut them! By doing this, you can multiply this plant from a plant fragment, taken from the parent plant. In the case of geraniums, you can do it from a stem! Find out how in this article.

When to take geranium cuttings?

Do you enjoy summer? Pelargonium too! The best time to make pelargonium or balcony geranium cuttings is in summer, at the end of July or August. During this period, the temperature of the soil is favorable for the growth of new roots, from the cuttings taken. In fact, the summer sun favors the rooting of the cuttings of this flowering plant. In addition, geranium is a perennial plant, native to South Africa. This herbaceous plant appreciates sunny exposures and only develops at temperatures above 13°C. You can also make your cuttings in spring, when the vegetation sprouts again.

Where to cut to make pelargonium cuttings?

To make cuttings, first choose a hardy geranium that is not damaged;

Then, cut a stem 10 to 20 cm long with a pruner. Of course, your scissors should be sanitized and the cut should be made above a knot. The latter means the point of union or intersection of a leaf on a stem;

The stem taken and which will serve as a cutting, must have a maximum of 5 leaves. Don’t stick with the large leaves that are towards the base, and remove the buds as well, as they can weaken the future plant. A bud is a small body that evolves into a flower, stem, or leaf.

How to take perennial geranium cuttings from a stem?

After taking the stem, here are the steps to get a new geranium plant.

• Apply rooting hormone to the stem. To do this, soak the end of the stem in water, before dipping it into the sachet containing the rooting hormone. The water allows the powder to easily adhere to the cut. Tap the stem lightly to remove the excess. Rooting hormone, whether chemical or natural, is effective for cuttings. This is used to:
• Promote cut healing
• promote the development of new roots and accelerate rooting
• prevent the development of diseases

• After applying rooting hormone, take a bucket and fill it with a special rooting soil, or prepare your own soil by mixing peat moss with sand. Avoid using a plastic bucket, so you can place your pot directly in the ground when transplanting. Then a biodegradable cup is preferred.
• Then water the soil;
• Wait for the soil to absorb the water well, then make a hole in the center;
• Plant the stem and tamp the soil;
• All you have to do is place your pot in partial shade. Exposure to direct sunlight can dry out the plant. Don’t forget to water your plant regularly.

Keep in mind that to obtain abundant geraniums, you can plant up to 3 cuttings in the same pot, as long as it is large.

How to propagate a scented geranium in water?

Don’t want to root your plant using rooting hormone? No problem! Test geranium cuttings in water.
This technique, on the other hand, requires you to pay attention to the appearance of the roots, to prevent them from rotting. The method is simple:

• Place its healthy, clean stem in a glass filled with water;
• Add a small piece of charcoal to the glass or jar. This will protect the roots from rot;
• Change the water regularly.

Little by little you will see roots appear. When they reach a minimum of 3 cm, transplant your cuttings into potting soil.
Using a stem, you’ll be able to multiply your geranium, at a lower cost, and enjoy fragrant, colorful summer flowers, even if you don’t have a thumb for gardening!