Taking and caring for Scented Geraniums in the UK
Scented Geraniums are one of those multipurpose plants I love. They have beautiful flowers, scented leaves and can be grown as a houseplant, patio plant or in your borders. So, whether you are growing them for their fantastic scented, wonderful flowers, or looking to make a refreshing tea, learning how to take cuttings from scented geraniums is a good skill to have. Let’s face it, who doesn’t want free plants?
Before we start.... Geranium or Pelargonium?
I know I have called this blog how to take scented geranium cuttings. However, the plants we are taking cuttings from are not Geraniums at all, they are Pelargoniums. In the UK Pelargonium plants are commonly known as Geraniums. Now I am the first to admit this can be confusing. As a Nursery we grow “true” Geraniums, often known as cranesbill or hardy geraniums. These are quite different plants, but a delight in their own right.
So why, if it is confusing, do I still call them Geraniums? The simple answer is that in the UK if I call them Pelargoniums, there is a large amount of people who do not know what I am talking about, such is the strength of the common name. Writing a blog or recording a video about Pelargoniums, just does not get read in the UK, making it not particularly useful. So, Geranium it is.
When to Take Scented Geranium Cuttings
Scented Geraniums can be propagated many times of the year. A lot of when you can take the cuttings, is down to what conditions you can create for the plant. The optimum time to take cuttings from scented Geraniums is Spring until Autumn, when the plants are actively growing. If you are outside of this window, you will need to create optimum conditions indoors. The ideal temperature to root scented geranium cuttings is 18-21 Celsius. Luckily this is the average temperature of many people’s homes. They also need a well-lit area, making a light windowsill, conservatory or heated greenhouse ideal.
What will I need?
Something to take the cutting: A propagation knife or sharp pair of scissors/secateurs is ideal. Sharp is the important part, you need to create a clean cut, this helps with the rooting.
Rooting Hormone: This is optional, many people use rooting hormone with a lot of success, I tend not to use it, but if you have some you have nothing to lose.
A pot or cell tray: You will need something to put the new cutting into, a pot or cell tray is ideal. I use a 9cm pot in the video, but a large cell tray will do just as good a job.
Some compost: A seed/cutting compost is ideal for this. Make sure your compost is free draining, as you do not want your plants to sit waterlogged.
A step by step guide to take scented geranium cuttings
Fill your pot with compost: Place your compost in the pot, do not compact the compost, as this can lead to drainage issues, as well as the plant finding it harder to root in. Fill the pot almost all the way to the top, leaving it just shy of the top, as this helps with watering.
Choose a healthy plant: This is especially important, a cutting from a plant that is not thriving, will very likely not thrive. If you have more than one plant, choose the one that is the healthiest. When taking your cutting, select a non-flowering stem. To give you an idea, we will be aiming to take a cutting between 5-10cm in length.
Taking the cutting: Using your sharp knife or scissors, make a cut in your selected stem below a leaf node. A leaf node, is the point of a stem where a leaf grows. Once the cutting is taken, remove the bottom leaf to give you a section of the stem which can be inserted in the compost.
Add rooting hormone: If you are using rooting hormone, this is when to apply it. Apply your powder or gel to the bottom part of the stem (the bit that will go in the compost).
Plant the cuttings: Make a hole in the compost that is a little bit bigger than the stem, you can use a dibber, pencil or even your scissors to do this. Now place the cutting into the hole and gently firm down the compost around the cutting. You are not looking to compact the compost. but firm it down enough to hold the cutting in place.
Water your Scented Geranium cuttings: Give your cuttings a good watering. The best tip for this, is to water gently over the top at first. Wait until that water has sunk into the compost and repeat the process. Do this until water starts to come out of the base of the pot.
Where to keep your scented geranium cuttings
Place your cuttings in a bright location that keeps a good even temperature. Aim for the temperature to be 18-21 Celsius and away from any draughts. The cuttings will start to develop a root in 4-6 weeks, depending on the conditions. Once they have formed a good root system and you can see clear signs of the roots at the base of the pot, they can be potted on in multi purpose compost.
