u/dancon_studio

Pelargonium scabrum (left), and Pelargonium glutinosum (right), with two of the rooting mediums which I typically use: either just perlite, or a mix of perlite and coconut coir.

I do also use more of a soil mix (for ones that respond well to it), but I usually start with either one of these first. I generally avoid any compost at this stage, because it holds on to water for too long.

P. scabrum cuttings I have found to be quite easy to root, with minimal losses.

I have tried rooting P. glutinosum cuttings previously, and it didn't go well. I usually remove cuttings when I see any signs of yellowing (as you can see along the stem in the second image), however the new growth on this one looks fine so maybe it's okay? If the new growth looks yellow/brown and wilted, I don't even bother.

One thing I have noticed is that you should be mindful when top watering when your cuttings are cut on top (pic 2). If there is water just sitting on your cuttings, it can promote fungal issues and infections. Which is why I really try to maximise air movement to speed up the evaporation of excess water. You can also bottom water. When I start cuttings indoors, I'll usually put a fan on to just move air around gently. Otherwise just outside, away from direct sun.

Or just use tip cuttings (as is typically recommended), however tip cuttings can sometimes be too tender/soft/bendy which usually results in failures. You're looking for new growth (not older woody growth), but not too tender either, so you may need to take your cuttings a little lower down in these cases.

P. scabrum (left), and P. glutinosum (right), with two of the rooting mediums which I typically use: either just perlite, or a mix of perlite and coconut coir.

I do also use more of a soil mix for ones that respond well to it, but I usually start with either one of these first. I generally avoid any compost at this stage, because it holds on to water for too long.

P. scabrum cuttings I have found to be quite easy to root, with minimal losses.

I have tried rooting P. glutinosum cuttings before, and it didn't go well. I usually remove cuttings when I see signs of yellowing (as you can see along the stem in the second image), however the new growth on this one looks fine so maybe it's okay? If the new growth looks yellow/brown and wilted, I don't even bother.

One thing I have noticed is that you should be mindful when top watering when your cuttings are cut on top (pic 2). If there is water just sitting on your cuttings, it can promote fungal issues and infections. Which is why I really try to maximise air movement to speed up the evaporation of excess water. You can also bottom water, I guess. When I have cuttings indoors, I'll usually put a fan on to just move air around gently.

Or just use tip cuttings (as is typically recommended), however tip cuttings can sometimes be too tender/soft/bendy which usually results in failures. You're looking for new growth (not older woody growth), but not too tender either, so you may need to take your cuttings a little lower down.

Pelargonium graveolens × P. radens - love this hybrid! The very first Pelargonium I ever propagated successfully from cuttings. Gorgeous and fragrant leaves, hardy, and very attractive flowers. Somehow it rooted in water, and it didn't take terribly long either (I think a month-ish?)

Water rooting isn’t really recommended for Pelargonium, so I wouldn't typically recommend it. Previously I’ve had cuttings take 6 months before they rooted.

I have some builders stomping around in my garden at the moment, so I took a couple of cuttings as a backup in the event they kill it. Which doesn’t even make sense; even though I love this plant immensely, it attracts a particular species of leaf wilter bug whose population explodes if I don’t actively manage it. So I’ve slowly (and begrudgingly) been taking them out. I have one plant remaining, which is kinda out of the way. The leaf wilters basically just cause new growth to wilt and go brown, so it just makes the plant look a bit shabby.

I noticed one of my Pelargonium graveolens × P. radens cuttings had rooted, although I didn’t exactly try.

I have some builders stomping around in my garden currently, and I just took a couple of cuttings as a backup should they kill it. Which doesn’t even make sense because even though I love this plant immensely, it attracts a particular species of leaf wilter bug whose population explodes if I don’t actively manage it. So I’ve slowly and begrudgingly been taking them out, but I have one plant left now where it’s kinda out of the way. I just lazily put some cuttings in water and forgot about it.

Water rooting isn’t really recommended for Pelargonium. Previously I’ve had cuttings take 6 months before they rooted. But yay?

I attended a plant propagation workshop a couple of months ago focusing on the germination of seeds from various fynbos (plants forming part of the Cape Floristic Kingdom): Protea, Leucadendron, Leucospermum, Watsonia, and Erica. A veritable greatest hits medley of Western Cape flora.

I live in Cape Town, hence the connection.

It can be quite tricky to germinate fynbos (literally translated, 'fine bush') as many species are fire-adapted, otherwise the germination rate is very low. I went in not expecting to have any success, but wanted to learn a bit more.

Went away for a week recently, and when I came back I noticed one of the Protea repens had germinated! Two of the Watsonia pillansii had germinated a little earlier, but I've since spotted two more.

Not terribly successful germination rate, but much better than I had expected!

You can mimic natural fire conditions by using something like Super Smoke Plus, a germination stimulant that you dissolve in water. I was kinda hoping we'd be burning some shiz, but I suppose that makes the workshop a little more challenging to organise. Anyways.

I had several pots with different Pelargonium grown from seed that I still needed to divide into individual celled trays, I finally decided to just get it out of the way. I had been a bit reluctant because the transplant shock can result in losses.

1 : Top tray is P. denticulatum, which I planted out into a tray with two P. crispum . Middle tray is P. appendiculatum. Bottom tray is P. tongaense.

2-4 : P. appendiculatum. Floofy! First time I am encountering this species, I'm not very well versed in the geophytic Pelargoniums.

5-6 : P. tongaense. I had six in the one small pot, didn't want them getting too crowded. The flowers on this one are gorgeous (vibrant red), and I found the seeds to germinate quite readily.

I split them as gently as I could, but the roots are quite fragile. I then applied Kelpak (a seaweed extract) as a foliar spray to help aid the transplant shock. They're all looking slightly mopey currently, which is to be expected.

Going to keep these trays indoors and out of direct sun for a week or two, and hopefully at least some pull through. Hold thumbs!

I spotted some seeds for this one a while ago, thought I'd give it a go. Sown October last year. Only two plants out of the 20 seeds purchased pulled through, however it's better than nothing.

I was a bit stupid because I had up to five seedlings per pot, and when it came to dividing them I lost a couple due to transplant shock. Think I transplanted them too early.

The leaves smell like artificial pineapple, I love it. 😂🍍

Three different Lamiaceae members, native to South Africa.

1. Tetradenia riparia : I find this one very easy to root in water. I'll move these to soil tomorrow. Lovely scented foliage. You get separate male and female plants with this species, these are males.

2. Coleus grandidentatus : This species is quite new to me. I have some builders stomping around in my garden currently, fortunately I took some cuttings before they trampled it further. Another rooted cutting moved to soil just now, and although this one has rooted I'm going to give it another week. I bought it mostly for the scented foliage, but it is a nice texture.

3. Leonotis leonurus : An experiment, it isn't going particularly well. Tossed several other cuttings already that didn't make it. Not sure if it actually can grow from cuttings, but thought I'd give it a bash. Not a train smash as I have two plants in my garden (in flower at the moment)