Join expert Carol Klein as she shares her propagation prowess, discussing the joys of making plants for free through cuttings, division, and seeds. Learn about growing primulas from seeds and various propagation techniques like layering and root cuttings. Explore the art and science of plant propagation with practical tips on propagating plants like Rubekia and Heleniums. Discover the rewards of starting with seeds and the challenges of propagating plants with hollow stems.
Propagation methods include seed sowing and cuttings for plentiful new plants.
Understanding plant reproduction through stem and root cuttings showcases resilience and adaptability.
Deep dives
The Magic of Propagating Plants
Propagating plants through methods like seed sowing and cuttings is a rewarding process that yields multiple new plants. Carol Klein shares her love for propagation, highlighting the joy of nurturing seeds into flourishing plants. With examples like nasturtium seeds she planted as a child, the process of witnessing growth from tiny seeds to beautiful flowers is described as magical and thrilling.
The Science Behind Cuttings
Taking cuttings from plants involves understanding the science behind how plants reproduce. Stem cells under leaf nodes have the ability to transform into root cells, enabling plant propagation through cuttings. Despite cuttings not always surviving, the biological process of cell transformation from stem to root showcases the remarkable resilience and adaptability of plants.
Root Cuttings: Another Propagation Method
Root cuttings offer another propagation technique where cells from root sections can develop into new plants. By placing young roots horizontally on compost, nodes along the root hold the potential to sprout new shoots. Plants like Japanese anemones demonstrate this natural method of reproduction, providing a simple yet effective way to create new plants from existing roots.
Division as a Rejuvenating Process
Division involves splitting plants to rejuvenate them and increase the number of plants. This method, used historically to share plants, is effective for perennials like panstemmons and dahlias. By dividing clumps into multiple sections and replanting them, gardeners can propagate plants easily, ensuring continuous growth and rejuvenated vitality in established plants.
There’s little that’s more satisfying than making new plants for free! And it’s easier than you might think to make scores of your favourite plants for nothing through propagation. Carol Klein is an absolute master of propagation, able to make masses of new plants through cuttings of all kinds, dividing plants, layering, and growing from seeds – something she has demonstrated many times on TV on Gardeners’ World and in the pages of our magazine. In this episode she shares her propagation prowess, so we can all make more plants for free.