Q&A for How to Propagate Geraniums from Cuttings

If you're asking how to keep your geraniums shortened, you can cut them back when necessary.

You can cut the top of the geraniums out once they have rooted as this creates a bushier plant with more foliage.

Yes. At this point, you want the plant to concentrate its energy on root development, not on producing flowers.

I tried it and was successful in one out of six cuttings, but I can't explain why that one succeeded. But, odds are against it.

Yes, but you may find you get better results if you cut stems that have not yet flowered.

You can, but I have never had any luck this way- they seem to rot. Putting them in dirt is almost foolproof.

More than likely, they're getting too much nitrogen, which promotes green growth. Limit fertilizing, and eliminate nitrogen in fertilizer.

It's mildew. It comes from too much water or from other plants in the area.

Yes.

It all depends how cold your unheated porch will actually get. In my area, an enclosed porch would likely get too cold. Although geraniums like cooler weather, they are after all, annuals and die if temperatures reach the frost/freezing point. Also, older geraniums develop woody stems as they age which tend to produce fewer blooms; I would recommend taking cuttings each year and starting new plants indoors on a sunny windowsill.

Fungus, usually from way too much water, but it can be from other plants that have fungus.

Yes, just make sure soil is well drained. Spring or fall would be the best season to do this.

I usually find August is about right. Avoid too much water and also too much sunlight. Bright but indirect light is good.

It depends on your preference of shape. If you want the geranium to remain short and wide and thick - foliage down the bottom will stop tall growth. Just as cutting the top will promote growth lower down. This is due to different hormones. If you cut the growth at the bottom you will have a tall geranium that has long stalks with foliage at the top. I have a mix of both in my garden so that there are visual layers.

I use all parts and it works fine. Geraniums seem to root very easily. As long as you have a few leaves, then they should be fine.

Break off side shoots of a woodier stem, which has a grey look to it and plant directly in potting soil. If you need to separate a plant that is getting too large and woody, put the individual shoots into potting soil and after a few months, you will have new small plants which are producing blooms. They will remain small, but will be budding and can then be planted out where you want them to grow.

No. Only one node is necessary. I don't think multiple is detrimental but I prefer to get as many cuttings as possible so I can choose the healthiest cuttings to plant. 2 nodes = 2 plants.

Yes! Every node can become a plant. Also, the mother plant will bush out when you cut long leggy stems down.

When I worked at a greenhouse, several varieties we purchased each year allowed us to propagate up to 100 plants per stock plant purchased. We would take our first cuttings a week after receiving the stock plants and continue such about every two weeks allowing time for new growth to develop between cuttings. We allowed the cuttings to scale (dry overnight) before placing in moist vermiculite/peat rooting mix, watering lightly about every 2 to 3 days, or when the top was dry to touch. We got between 75% and 90% success rate on rooting cuttings. Some varieties seemed to do better than others. Temperature and overwatering are concerns.