Taking cuttings and preparing plant cuttings for propagation

 

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by Admin | March 09, 2022 | Learning how to propagate | 0 comments

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Propagating Zantedeschia aethiopica

 

Propagate by seeds sown in spring, late summer or autumn and by dividing clumps of tuberous stems.

Seeds

• Sow seeds in spring, late summer and early autumn.
• Peel the pulp from the fruits and let them dry.
• Sow the seeds in a well-drained medium.
• Cover seeds lightly with soil and keep moist.
•  A sufficient amount of light is required until seed germination occurs. 
• Fresh seed germination usually occurs within two to three weeks.

Propagating Pelargonium capitatum

 Cuttings

• Any time of year is suitable for Pelargonium capitatum cutting.
• Collect cutting early hours of the day.
• Take 7 cm long, soft stem cuttings from healthy plants.
• Remove the leaves from the lower third of the cutting.
• Dip cuttings into a rooting hormone and place them into a tray filled with river sand.
• Once the cuttings are rooted, pot them up in 1-litre plastic bags. 
• Water young cuttings frequently and keep them in a shady area for three to four weeks until they have hardened off. Then, grow them in direct sunlight.

Propagating Willdenowia teres

Propagate Willdenowia teres from seeds: 

Sow seeds in late autumn from April - May.

Fill a seedling tray with milled bark and sand.

Sow seeds in a seedling tray filled with well-draining soil.

Cover seeds lightly with sand.

Water seeds with smoke treated water to stimulate germination.

Place seed in a light-filled room until the seeds germinate.

Propagating Cysticapnos vesicaria

This plant grows on sandy flats and slopes, and it climbs between bushes. It can grow in full sun as well as light shade. It is best suited for water-wise gardens. Even though it is not long-lived, it produces beautiful flowers when it blooms.

Propagate from seeds: 

• Sow seeds in autumn.
• Plant seeds in a seedling tray filled with well-draining soil.
• Spread sand lightly over seeds.
• Until the seeds germinate, they must be placed in a light-filled room.
• Germination occurs quickly in one to two weeks. 

 

Propagating Conicosia pugioniformis

 Propagate Conicosia pugioniformis from seeds sown in late autumn or early winter.

• Collect seeds when they are ripe.
• Place seeds in a seedling tray filled with a well-drained medium such as sand.
• Spread compost or sand lightly over seeds.
• Seeds must be placed in a room with enough light until germination takes place.
• They normally germinate in two to three weeks.
• Once true leaves begin to appear, pot seedlings into moist but well-draining soil.

Propagating Osteospermum moniliferum

Bietou is a rounded shrub with small clusters of radiate, yellow flowerheads in autumn and winter. It grows up to 1.5 m and has grey to green toothed leaves that are sparsely woolly on the young parts. It produces fleshy, edible green fruits that turn purple-black when ripe.

Propagating Otholobium bracteolatum

 

Propagate Otholobium bracteolatum from seeds sown in autumn (March-May).

• Sow seeds in early autumn in well-composted bark, mixed with 15% sand.
• Place seeds in a seedling tray with a well-drained medium.
• Cover seeds lightly with medium and keep moist.
•  Seeds must be placed in a well-lit area.

Propagation Metalasia muricata

In nature seeds germinate in response to various conditions in the natural environment. Some seeds require that you treat them in a particular way to assist them germinate. When growing seeds think about the conditions that the seed would experience  in nature, try and imitate those conditions. 

Some fynbos seeds germinate after contact with smoke from a veld fire.

Propagating Helichrysum patulum

Helichrysum patulum is a rounded bushy shrub that grows up to 1m tall. It has aromatic soft and woolly grey leaves. The leaves smell a little like comfrey when crushed. It produces long stalks which carry clusters of small creamy white honey-scented flowerheads at the tip from September to February.

Propagating Cissampelos capensis

Dawidjies is under utilised like many other beautiful plants that we don’t often see in home gardens and retail nurseries. This plant is a bluish-green perennial climber with twining stems. It grows up to 1m tall. The leaves are ovate to heart-shaped, alternate and hairless. Hairy cream to pale green flowers are often seen from February to May, followed by small orange berries.

 

Propagation Euphorbia caput-medusae

Medusa's head is a sprawling shrublet with a rosette of warty, more or less club-shaped branches. 

E. caput-medusae grows on sandy flats among the grass and on rocky coastal outcrops, and for this reason, it prefers sandy and well-drained soil in full sun and little watering.

Propagating Searsia lucida

Searsia lucida is an excellent low maintenance shrub to plant in full sun that prefers sandy, well-drained soil and moderate watering. It is an ideal shrub for coastal and water-wise gardens.

Propagating Searsia crenata

Searsia crenata  a lovely evergreen shrub or small tree up to 3m. It grows well on sandy dune soils. They can be utilised as hedge and they make excellent wind breakers.

Propagating Salvia aurea

Salvia aurea a very attractive evergreen shrub with greyish-green leaves and showy, bi-labiate brown flowers in spring and summer.

 
 

Propagating Jordaaniella dubia

Jordaaniella dubia flowering at UWC Cape Flats Nature Reserve 

One of the best things about gardening is that, once you have some stock, you can propagate your own plants rather than buying new ones. 

Propagating Ruschia macowanii

Ruschia macowanii cuttings

If you are looking for a good succulent groundcover we suggest Ruschia macowanii. A round spreading succulent bush covered in purple-pink flowers from July to October. A lovely vygie to add to any garden. Not only does it thrive in different soil types it is also suitable for water-wise and coastal gardens. It requires full sun and little watering.