How to propagate the royal geranium at home

Royal Geranium - a flower that requires special care and approach to reproduction. This article is devoted to the issue of reproduction of pelargonium with cuttings. This process is quite simple, but it has a number of features and a certain amount of free time. There is a possibility that the procedure will not bring a positive result the first time, but do not despair, because even experienced gardeners fail from time to time.

Cutting and harvesting cuttings

Cuttings are the main breeding material for geraniums, although breeding with the help of seeds and grafts is also possible. However, the latter methods did not find significant use in most gardeners due to their excessive labor-intensiveness and low productivity.

When to cut

The early autumn period is most suitable for grafting royal pelargonium (late August - first third of September). During this period, the strongest and healthiest cuttings can be cut, since pruning is done after the flowering period.

However, many believe that the best period for grafting is spring. And on the one hand, they are right, because during this period the plant wakes up from hibernation and it activates all life processes; but still you should not do this in this period, as the flowering after cutting may well be delayed.

What should be

Reproduction of royal pelargonium cuttings should be carried out using a strong and healthy-looking material. The size of the shoot is selected depending on the length of the parent plant.

On average, the length of a young stalk should be from 8 to 20 cm. It is not recommended to take shoots with more than 5-6 leaves, as this reduces the likelihood that the cutting will give back the roots.

How to cut

Young shoots should be separated from the parent stem with a sharp blade or knife slightly below the node, preferably at a slight angle. After that, in case of their presence, it is worth removing the lower leaves, leaving a few upper ones.

If the upper leaves are too large in size, then they should be cut in half. This event is dictated by the fact that the plant will spend too much nutrients and energy to feed the leaves, and they will be very necessary for the formation of the root system.

Processing and preparation of cuttings

After cutting off the shoot from the mother plant and cutting off the extra leaves, it is necessary to prepare the cuttings for further planting in the ground or putting them into the water. To do this, it is worth slightly treating the cut end of the cutting with coal powder and you can immerse it for a few minutes in a phytohormonal solution or a special stimulator of the formation of the root system.

After this, it is necessary to dry the shoots for a short period (2-8 hours depending on the humidity in the room), and they are ready for the next stage - the seedlings.

Rooting cuttings

There are several ways to root royal pelargonium shoots. The main rule in any method of rooting is to maintain a consistently high level of humidity, as the process is actively struggling for existence and strives to grow new roots. The first method is the most popular.. It uses ordinary pots. They are filled with soil and how it should be moistened, followed by planting cuttings on the edge of the tank in quantities proportional to the size of the pot.

In order to provide young shoots a sufficient level of moisture, the pot is covered with a transparent plastic bag. Then you should irrigate and place the container in a well-lit place, but do not allow direct sunlight. As the soil dries out, additional watering is done. The second method involves the use of a special greenhouse, and is suitable if you intend to plant a flower in large quantities. There are simple greenhouses, and there are equipped with a heating system.

The second will cost more, but give the best result. The design consists of a pallet and a transparent plastic cover, which is intended for ventilation.

Using them is pretty easy. The pallet is filled with soil, then it is moistened, and cuttings are planted from above. After that, everything is covered with a lid and occasionally watered until the shoots take root. The third method is the least expensive. It will require only plastic bags. It is relatively young, its distinguishing feature is that cellophane does not allow moisture to evaporate.

Before planting the cuttings, it is worth filling any package with light soil, how to pour it and tightly wrap the edge of the package with a rope. Then, holes are made in the upper part of the knife and cuttings are made in them. The number of planted cuttings depends on the size of the package.

Transplant to soil

Transplantation of young geraniums to the end point of growth should be carried out when their root system reaches a sufficient level of development. This usually happens a month and a half after planting the cuttings, but everything can vary depending on the conditions of the contents, soil moisture and the amount of nutrients in it.

Transplantation is carried out by the method of transshipment, that is, with a clod of earth on the roots. Young geraniums are best planted in separate pots, preferably in a mixture of sand or peat or perlite and peat in a 1: 1 ratio.

There are also special blends that are specifically designed for geraniums. As a rule, it is light, friable, but at the same time quite fertile ground.

Remember that royal geranium is a plant that does not tolerate excessive moisture, so do not overdo it with watering cuttings. That's all the information that is useful to you for cutting this flower. Good luck to you and your garden!