2

The cuttings just die. I have tried rooting in water, in soil, with rooting powder and without, woody stalks, soft stalks, with greenhouse and without, they just die in 1-2 weeks.

Alina
  • 5,376
  • 2
  • 15
  • 47
user16928
  • 41
  • 3
  • The plants are incredibly hardy and easy to propagate. There must be something simple going on...are you using potting soil? Are you fertilizing? (don't). How big are the pots? (small 3" max). How large are your cuttings? What exactly happens on a time line? Are you using a dome or saranwrap as a little greenhouse? Are these starts in direct sun? Out of doors or indoors? Send us some pictures and as much detail as you are able! – stormy Mar 19 '17 at 20:53
  • I have been told by several people that while other types of geraniums are easy to propagate, the scented geraniums cuttings have a low rate of success. – user16928 Mar 20 '17 at 14:15
  • I have used every type of propagation described and followed the instructions. Bigger cuttings, smaller cuttings they end up the same. They stay in soil, a new leaf might come out but they still die. It is indoors, not in direct sun, in an unheated propagator. At the moment I only have those who stayed in water, everything else has died. – user16928 Mar 20 '17 at 14:20
  • hummmm. I just heard something that might be a big problem. Putting cuttings in water to root is great if those plants stay in water. Those roots don't work when transplanted into soil. Please answer all my questions and send a picture. What is the temperature in the unheated propagator? Are they getting any light? What soil are you using. Those starts should go right into the soil after dipping in root hormone, careful to read directions and don't use too much! Also they should be in a little 'greenhouse' saranwrap works well. Warmth, light, slightly moist, no fertilizer? – stormy Mar 20 '17 at 16:37
  • Those in the water are the only ones left, the ones in the soil has died so I don't have pictures. The temperature was around 17 degrees, with light from the window, not direct. No fertilizer, soil I tried compost, vermiculite and top soil, all three in different cases, not together. I managed to propagate cuttings before, but not this plant. About the root powder I have 2, powder and gel, none worked. Apparently from what I have read later, you are not even supposed to use it, as the cuttings produce their own hormone. It's a pain in the head, they refuse to root :) – user16928 Mar 20 '17 at 19:22
  • Compost is bothersome as that is not meant for a planting medium. Was it completely decomposed? Otherwise, too much nitrogen and not good for growing anything. Vermiculite is used to fluff up sterilized potting soil for tilth again not used for propagation. Top soil is not sterilized and never should be used in pots for potted plants and definitely not for starting plants vegetatively. Have you tried a good potting soil, they even make potting soil for propagation. This is a critical thing. Garden soil is in a world of its own and can't be used in a tiny world of a pot. – stormy Mar 20 '17 at 22:29
  • Do you by any chance know where you got the information on the rooting hormone? I had heard the same thing and have not been able to find that information! We are having an argument among ourselves here...anyway, try the potting soil, saranwrap, bit of moisture and warmth. You should have plenty of starts. Try what Colin suggested as well! Scented geraniums cost plenty from the nursery!! – stormy Mar 20 '17 at 22:32
  • 1
    Yeah there are several websites that say not to use the rooting hormone, gardeningknowhow.com , scentedgeraniums.co.uk, (which are supposed to be specialists as they sell crazy amount of varieties) and a couple more. Thanks, I'll try again :) – user16928 Mar 21 '17 at 02:09
  • https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/projects/rooting-plant-cuttings.htm – stormy Mar 21 '17 at 21:58

1 Answers1

2

If you examine the stems of the scented geraniums you will probably find they are covered in fine hairs. There is a tendency to overwater geranium cuttings of all kinds, and the hairs just make the problem worse. A useful technique when dealing with geraniums of all kinds is to take the cuttings, then put them flat on a table and cover with newspaper and leave them for 12 hours or so. In this time they will dry down and produce a callus at the cut end. Joy for you if you see a nice thick callus form. The hairiness of the leaves will stop them from drying out too much. They may look floppy but they will perk up when in soil. Then pot up into a potting mix and keep the cuttings on the dry side - force them to go looking for moisture, but not bone dry.

Colin Beckingham
  • 19,612
  • 1
  • 12
  • 43
  • Thank you Colin. I have dried the cutting before, according to one of the instructions, but about 2 hours, not 12. I will follow your advice this time. Thanks again :) – user16928 Mar 20 '17 at 14:26
  • Colin's answer sounds sound. I've never done this but it makes sense, for this plant. Please let us know how your trials work out! There is something simple we haven't been told as yet and we're dying to help, grins! More information @user16928, please! – stormy Mar 20 '17 at 16:40
  • Agreed, this is how I was taught to propagate geraniums. Are you adding fertilizer to the the water? Too much will kill seedlings. I usually mix a half dose of liquid rooting hormone in with the water for all my cuttings. – Linda MacPhee-Cobb Mar 24 '17 at 02:12