Propagate These 4 Common Flowers from Cuttings in Autumn: Snip a Stem and Leaf, Stick It in Soil, and Easily Turn One Pot into Many
In autumn, the temperature is just right and the humidity is perfect, without the scorching sun of summer or the bitter cold of winter, making it truly the "golden season" for flower cuttings. For many easy-to-grow, hardy plants, no complicated steps are needed: just cut off a section of stem and leaves, stick it into the soil, and it will take root and grow into new life. The common plants below have a high survival rate when cuttings are taken in autumn, and they can quickly grow into beautiful potted plants, so even beginners can handle them with ease.
Geranium
Geraniums come in rich colors, with red ones passionate and pink ones gentle, and when they bloom the whole pot is ablaze with splendor. What is more, the survival rate of geranium cuttings kept as backups can reach almost 99%, so even if you are not confident about everyday care, you can take several cuttings and grow them with peace of mind.
The method for taking geranium cuttings is very simple: the length of the cutting does not have to be too exact, and any pruned branches can be used, though it is best to keep them around 8cm long, with 2~3 leaves kept at the top and the extra leaves cut off to reduce water evaporation. After cutting, put the cutting in a ventilated place to dry for 1~2 hours, and once the wound is slightly wrinkled, insert it into slightly moist soil (ordinary garden soil mixed with a small amount of leaf mold will do). After inserting, place it in a spot with bright, indirect light and good ventilation, and avoid direct sun; it will basically grow white roots in about half a month.
Daily care is also worry-free: in summer, provide a little shade to avoid sunburn on the leaves; in winter, move it indoors to keep it warm, and do not let the temperature drop below 5°C; in the other seasons, give it plenty of sunlight and it will grow vigorously, blooming one round after another.
Hydrangea
Hydrangeas have large, brightly colored blooms, with full, round flower heads in pink, blue, white and purple, and hardly anyone can resist their beauty. What is more, they are easy both to propagate and to care for, and even if you have no time for meticulous tending, you can still grow beautiful flower heads, making them especially suitable for busy flower lovers.
To take hydrangea cuttings in autumn, choose one-year-old softwood shoots, about 10cm long, cut off all the lower leaves and keep only 2 leaves at the top; you can also cut the leaves in half to further reduce water loss. After cutting, let the cutting dry for a while, and once the wound is dry, insert it into slightly moist sandy soil or vermiculite (these two media are well aerated and well drained, so root rot is less likely). After inserting, keep it in a shady place and keep the medium slightly moist, and it will take root and sprout before long.
In daily care it likes a semi-shaded environment, so do not place it under direct strong light; make sure the soil drains well, and apply a little dilute fertilizer regularly during the growing season, and it will produce clusters of gorgeous large flower heads, so beautiful that you cannot look away.
Ivy
More and more flower lovers are fond of climbing plants these days, and ivy is a popular choice, especially the "Xueying" variety, whose leaves carry attractive markings that make you like them more the longer you look. It also has low light requirements and is especially suitable for indoor growing; as long as there is indirect light, it will grow lush stems and leaves.
Taking ivy cuttings is even simpler, with "zero difficulty": when choosing branches, give priority to sturdy shoots with aerial roots, since shoots with aerial roots take root and survive more easily. Remove the lower leaves from the cut branch and keep only a few at the top, and afterwards it can be grown either in soil or in water - for soil culture, insert it into slightly moist nutrient soil; for water culture, put it in a transparent bottle and add water to cover 1/3 of the roots. After taking the cutting, place it in a well-ventilated shady spot, and in less than a week the aerial roots will send out new shoots, beginning a new growth cycle.
Heartleaf Aptenia
Heartleaf aptenia not only has glossy, emerald-green leaves, but also produces small pink flowers when it blooms, fresh and lovely. Taking its cuttings is likewise effortless, especially in autumn, when the temperature is between 15~35°C, the success rate of cuttings is especially high.
Cut a heartleaf aptenia branch about 10cm long, remove the lower leaves and keep only a few at the top, then leave it in a ventilated place to dry for half an hour; once the wound is dry, insert it into slightly moist soil (ordinary nutrient soil mixed with a small amount of river sand will do). After inserting, keep the soil slightly moist and place the pot in a spot with bright but indirect light, and it will take root and sprout in about two weeks.
If you want it to bloom more, pay attention to later care: control watering appropriately and do not let the soil stay waterlogged for a long time; during the growing season, apply a phosphorus-potassium fertilizer once every 2~3 weeks to supplement nutrients, and this will encourage the flowers to bloom even more brilliantly.
In fact, there are far more than these 4 species suitable for autumn cuttings; plants such as jade plant, Portulacaria afra, bougainvillea and snake plant can all be propagated by simple cuttings. Cut a section of branch, disinfect it well, and stick it into the soil, and you can easily turn one pot into many, making the greenery at home richer and richer and full of vitality.
In autumn, the temperature is just right and the humidity is perfect, without the scorching sun of summer or the bitter cold of winter, making it truly the "golden season". For many easy-to-grow, hardy plants, no complicated steps are needed: just cut off a section of stem and leaves, stick it into the soil, and it will take root and grow into new life. The common plants below have a high survival rate when cuttings are taken in autumn, and they can quickly grow into beautiful potted plants, so even beginners can handle them with ease.
Geranium
Geraniums come in rich colors, with red ones passionate and pink ones gentle, and when they bloom the whole pot is ablaze with splendor. What is more, the survival rate of geranium cuttings kept as backups can reach almost 99%, so even if you are not confident about everyday care, you can take several cuttings and grow them with peace of mind.
The method for taking geranium cuttings is very simple: the length of the cutting does not have to be too exact, and any pruned branches can be used, though it is best to keep them around 8cm long, with 2~3 leaves kept at the top and the extra leaves cut off to reduce water evaporation. After cutting, put the cutting in a ventilated place to dry for 1~2 hours, and once the wound is slightly wrinkled, insert it into slightly moist soil (ordinary garden soil mixed with a small amount of leaf mold will do). After inserting, place it in a spot with bright, indirect light and good ventilation, and avoid direct sun; it will basically grow white roots in about half a month.
Daily care is also worry-free: in summer, provide a little shade to avoid sunburn on the leaves; in winter, move it indoors to keep it warm, and do not let the temperature drop below 5°C; in the other seasons, give it plenty of sunlight and it will grow vigorously, blooming one round after another.
Hydrangea
Hydrangeas have large, brightly colored blooms, with full, round flower heads in pink, blue, white and purple, and hardly anyone can resist their beauty. What is more, they are easy both to propagate and to care for, and even if you have no time for meticulous tending, you can still grow beautiful flower heads, making them especially suitable for busy flower lovers.
To take hydrangea cuttings in autumn, choose one-year-old softwood shoots, about 10cm long, cut off all the lower leaves and keep only 2 leaves at the top; you can also cut the leaves in half to further reduce water loss. After cutting, let the cutting dry for a while, and once the wound is dry, insert it into slightly moist sandy soil or vermiculite (these two media are well aerated and well drained, so root rot is less likely). After inserting, keep it in a shady place and keep the medium slightly moist, and it will take root and sprout before long.
In daily care it likes a semi-shaded environment, so do not place it under direct strong light; make sure the soil drains well, and apply a little dilute fertilizer regularly during the growing season, and it will produce clusters of gorgeous large flower heads, so beautiful that you cannot look away.
Ivy
More and more flower lovers are fond of climbing plants these days, and ivy is a popular choice, especially the "Xueying" variety, whose leaves carry attractive markings that make you like them more the longer you look. It also has low light requirements and is especially suitable for indoor growing; as long as there is indirect light, it will grow lush stems and leaves.
Taking ivy cuttings is even simpler, with "zero difficulty
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