Thrift in the Garden

This large geranium came from a cutting made last fall.

As times get tougher, learning how to propagate plants will become an important skill. It takes time for geranium cuttings to send out roots but the end result is worth the wait. Cuttings must be placed in barely moist vermiculite or sand. Check occasionally for roots. When they appear, pot the cuttings in potting soil and pinch back the newest leaves to promote new growth.

Cuttings can be wintered over using plastic cups or cut-off soda bottles with holes punched for drainage. All you need is a sunny window for light. Turn the plants for even growth. It may seem like a long time from November to late April or May, but once you put the plants outside, they will flourish with all the extra light and you will have a nice display for just the cost of some potting soil.

--Bernice Paglia