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Propagating Plants
The cheapest way to increase your plant stocks is to propagate.
This can be undertaken at any time of year however, some plants perform better at certain times of year, so always research individual plants . Books can be bought from garden centres, sales tables at flower club, charity shops borrowed from libraires, etc. Alternatively - internet searches. Here are a few basic guidelines:
There are many ways to propagate plants, the easiest ways are:
* From Seed
* By Division
* By taking Cuttings
Late summer or early Autumn is the best time to take cuttings, divide clumps and gather seeds, as well as in the spring.
Seed Propagation
September is the best time to collect seed from your favourite plants. This will ensure your continious supply of plants for next year that may not make it through the winter. Seeds can be sown now in cold greenhouse, or wait until the spring, when days are getting warmer and lighter. Seeds don't need light to germinate, bottom heat is the secret to good seed germination. However, as soon as seedlings appear, they need to be moved into a light space to avoid going leggy. Seeds do store very well, for a long time. Keep them in a dry, cool, place, e.g. a tin. Cold acts as a trigger to germination. therefore a airtight tin is perfect for seed storage.
Sow seeds on the surface of compost and cover with a layer of horticultural grit. The grit helps to keep in the moisture, prevents algae forming on the surface. Always wait for two full leaves before transplanting and repotting.
Plants that grow well from seed.
E.G. Verbena Bonanansiaries. Digitalis, Phlomis, Achillia, Cosmos, echiums, grasses, dahlia, astrantia, Dierama, etc.
Have a look around your own garden and you may be able to spot little seedlings already growing, close to the parent plant. The only drawback with propagation from seed gathered in your own garden is that it may not be true to the parent plant. The element of suprise is you don't know what you will get until the plant flowers.
Lots of patients is required with a certain range of plants, which may take a few years to mature and flower, but well worth the wait!
Division
The soil is still warm, at this time of year so plants will soon establish and hopefully it may rain now and again to water newly divided plants.
Tools required to divide plants:
Garden fork, Spade, secateurs.
Physical force (wear good soled shoes or boots).
There are many plants that grow well from division: phlox, Pholmis, Persicaria, hardy gerainuims, Achillia Mollis, Large Grasses, Crocosmia, Rudbeckia, Hellianthum Hemerocallis, Helianthus, Achillia, Asters, Sedums, Iris, Polyanthus etc.
Cuttings
Propagating plants from cuttings ensures you will get exactly the same as the parent plant.
late sumer, or early autumn is the best time of year to take cuttings, temperatures are cooler, but warm enough to stimulate root production. Taking cuttings and growing them on is like having a baby, you have to nurture them and provide everything they need, until the roots are produced.
Tools required to take cuttings
secateurs, scissors, dibber.
Example of plants that grow very well from cuttings:
Salvias, sedums, Fushia, Cistus, Aeonius, Dahlia, Box, Yew, Peenstemon, Lemon verbena Strawberries, send out runners fasten these down in a pot and these will root in 2-3 weeks.
Most plants/shrubs can be grown from a cutting, however some take a very long time to produce roots, for example a rose can take a year to produce roots.
Aftercare for your cuttings. Mist with water everyday to ensure continued hydration, this will allow the cutting to concentrate on root production, opposed to just surviving. Do NOT place in direct sunlight as this will dry them out. You will know when roots have formed as the cuitting will show signs of growth. look at the bottom of the pot roots will be protruding. Then repot.
There are many other ways of producing plants but here is just a beginners guide
Have fun experimenting.
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