What are the propagation methods for geraniums?

For home gardening, in-pot cuttings are generally the most practical method of propagation. The best time for cuttings is April to May or August to September, and the specific cutting time should be determined according to the local growing season with suitable temperatures (18-20°C); the growing medium should be loose, well-aerated and well-draining, ideally a mix of one part sand, one part perlite and one part leaf mold, or medium-coarse river sand, matured soil or expanded perlite, all of which must be sterilized by methods such as exposure to strong sunlight before use. Cuttings can be taken in conjunction with spring or autumn pruning, selecting healthy one-year-old soft shoots free of pests and diseases as cuttings, about 8 cm long, cut into a horse-ear shape with a knife at 0.2 cm below a node, and left to dry the wound before inserting, otherwise they easily rot; the cut end can also be dipped in a little rooting powder to encourage rooting, the lower leaves of the cutting should be removed, keeping 1-2 leaves at the top, and if the leaves are large, 1/3 or 1/2 can also be cut off to reduce water evaporation; when inserting, first use a thin bamboo stick to poke a small hole in the potting soil, then insert the cutting, and press firmly with fingers so that it fits closely with the soil; after inserting, place it in a cool place, avoid direct strong light, water once thoroughly, do not let water accumulate, keep it moist, and under suitable temperature conditions it will take root in about half a month; when the seedling grows to 15 cm tall, pinch out the growing tip to encourage side branches, and at the same time pay attention to applying a dilute liquid fertilizer of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound, or decomposed dilute cake fertilizer and other organic fertilizers, to promote robust plant growth, and it can bloom in the winter of the same year or the spring of the following year.