oh screw you, geraniums

[matildasquared]

I'm usually green fingered, I really am! But I can't for the life of me get a geranium or pelagorium clipping to root and grow. I've been trying it for years.

I've tried: sticking the cuttings in water in vases--they just dry out and shrivel.

I've tried sticking the cuttings in damp compost--they rot and die.

I've tried with rooting powder, without. I've tried the plastic wrap cover on the pot, which just made it worse.

Do they not really root from cuttings and all these gardening shows are playing a trick on us?

My dad was always propagating geraniums but I'm not sure exactly how he did it except that he always used to take the cuttings with the original plant under water if he possibly could. I remember him putting honey on them too, but I think that was an experiment. I know he was very successful because we always had lots of geraniums on the windowsill, where every time the curtains were drawn they would get slightly squashed and smell horrible - I could never share his enthusiasm for geraniums because of the revolting smell.

I've just managed after years and years to take some scented geranium (pelargonium) cuttings.

I used gravelly compost.

I used a clay pot.

I took them early spring, put them around the outside of the clay pot in the compost.

I kept them in the greenhouse all spring.

I potted them up last weekend and they all had baby roots on them.

Go me.

I have been teaching hort for 4 years and still these are my first successful pelargonium cuttings.

I guess I'll give it a go! Just took some cuttings, will let them sit and dry out then put them in water tomorrow.

I'm not sure you are supposed to let cuttings dry out, and they aren't the type that root in water.
Best to dip the ends in rooting powder and place in organic compost round the edge of a pot, about 6 cuttings to a pot, and put the pots outside: in this mild and wet weather you shouldn't need to even water them.

Alternatively try gently detaching a piece of the plant from the side with roots attached and potting on in compost.

Always pot up cuttings as soon as possible after taking them so that they dont dry out.

Beechgrove said not to use rooting powder or put plastic bags over the top I think but could be wrong - something about rotting.

Use a 50/50 compost/ sand or pearlite mix,nice sharp knife,take off bottom leaves,don't let it dry out completely,a spray with light mist is good,& if you can get bottom heat they will root so much quicker,I don't bother with root powder,when I used to grow them I would get a 90 % take rate on a heated bed!but you can't just take them & stick them in a pot & forget about them,look at them everyday.

Okay, I've got a windowsill over a radiator, I'll plant them there. Thank you!

RADIATOR? SUN through window?

Be careful not to cook them!

Lol, that will never happen up here in the cold cold moors.