## How to propagate geraniums Most bedding and container “geraniums” are **pelargoniums**, and they are easiest to propagate from cuttings. ### Taking pelargonium cuttings 1. **Choose a healthy shoot** Select a firm, non-flowering shoot without pests or disease. 2. **Cut below a leaf joint** Take a cutting about **7–10 cm long**, using clean, sharp secateurs or a knife. 3. **Prepare it** Remove the lower leaves, flower buds and stipules—the small leaf-like flaps near the stem. Leave two or three leaves at the top. 4. **Pot it up** Insert the cutting around the edge of a small pot filled with free-draining compost. A mix of multipurpose compost and grit or perlite works well. 5. **Water lightly** Keep the compost just moist, not wet. Excess water is the main cause of rotting. 6. **Keep warm and bright** Place it in bright, indirect light at roughly **15–20°C**. Unlike many soft cuttings, pelargoniums usually do better **without a plastic bag**, because humid, stagnant air can encourage rot. 7. **Wait for roots** Roots commonly develop within **three to six weeks**. New growth and gentle resistance when tugged indicate that rooting has begun. ### Propagating in October You can take cuttings now, but keep them indoors in a bright, frost-free place over winter. Reduce watering as light levels fall, then pot them on and begin feeding when active growth resumes in spring. ### Hardy geraniums True hardy geraniums, or cranesbills, are normally propagated by **dividing established clumps** in spring or early autumn. Lift the plant, split it into rooted sections and replant them at their original depth.