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Yard and Garden: Properly Propagating Popular Plants

By Richard Jauron
Iowa Stare University Extension Horticulturist

Some plants are so beautiful that it’s worth the extra effort to spread them around. That’s where propagation comes in. With a little work and the proper cuttings, certain plants’ beauty can be easily shared.

Here are some tips from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach horticulturists on how to propagate several popular plants. To have additional questions answered, contact the ISU Hortline at (515) 294-3108 or hortline@iastate.edu.

How can I propagate an African violet?

African violets are easily propagated by leaf cuttings. Select a firm, healthy leaf and cut it off with a sharp knife. Leave 1 to 1½ inches of the leaf stem (petiole) attached to the leaf blade. Fill a pot with a moistened 50:50 mix of vermiculite and coarse sand. Insert the petiole of each leaf cutting into the rooting medium at a 45 degree angle. Firm the rooting medium around the petiole of each leaf cutting. After all cuttings are inserted, water the rooting medium and allow it to drain for a few minutes. Next, cover the cuttings with a clear plastic bag.

Secure the plastic bag to the pot with tape or a rubber band. (The enclosed environment drastically reduces the loss of water from the leaf cuttings and prevents them from wilting and dying before they have a chance to root.) Set the pot in a brightly lit location, but out of direct sunlight. Roots usually form in four to five weeks. The leaves of new plants usually appear in six to eight weeks. Several plants usually form at the base of each petiole. Separate the plants by carefully pulling or cutting them apart. Pot up plants individually into containers using a well-drained potting mix.

How can I propagate a Christmas cactus?

Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter cacti are easy to propagate. Remove sections of the plant consisting of two to five flattened stem segments. Cut or pinch off each section at a joint. Allow the cut/pinched ends of the cuttings to callus overnight. The following day, fill a pot or other container with perlite or coarse sand. Water the rooting medium and let it drain for a few minutes.

Insert the cut/pinched end of each section about one inch deep into the perlite or coarse sand.  Firm the perlite or coarse sand around the sections to keep them upright. After all the cuttings are inserted, water the rooting medium again. Allow the perlite or sand to drain for a few minutes and then set the container in a brightly lit location. Periodically examine the cuttings over the next several weeks and water the rooting medium when it begins to dry out. The cuttings should root in about six to eight weeks.  When the roots are 1 inch or longer, plant the cuttings in a pot using a well-drained potting mix.

Richard Jauron is an Iowa Sate University Extension Horticulturist. For more information call (515) 294-1871 or email rjauron@iastate.edu.