Grow new plants by placing rhizome cuttings of your favorite annuals, such as zinnias, begonias and marigolds, in water or potting mix. Once established, you can add it to your garden or try growing it indoors.
Also refer to this list for information on when to take cuttings, including perennial shrubs and vines.
Propagate from annual plants by cuttings
There are several popular flowering annuals that can be grown from cuttings.
“Annual” means a non-hardy flowering plant that is typically grown during a single summer growing season.
The best time to take cuttings is in the spring when the plant is young and has several sets of leaves on the stem, but has not yet budded or bloomed.
Cuttings can be rooted in water or damp potting mix (here’s a potting mix from Amazon). The method is essentially the same for all plants listed below.
While some tutorials may recommend a rooting hormone, it is often not necessary. Such tender young plants will quickly root without any help. Those that benefit are woody, slow-growing “hardwood” cuttings (not the plants listed here).
Once your annual cuttings have rooted (roots have grown), you can try transplanting them outdoors into your summer garden or bringing them indoors for the winter. Some, like geraniums (Pelargonium), bloom vigorously indoors, while others, like zinnias, produce small but (still) beautiful flowers.
I always recommend taking a few cuttings at a time and experimenting with different plants both in water and in pots.
Some people can root, others can’t.
And even if nothing works, don’t give up. Even if we think we are doing everything perfectly, only the factory knows when the situation is right.
Stay curious and keep trying!
A copy of the plant list is available in the Resources section along with how-to tutorials.
Flowering annuals grown from stem cuttings
To support local ecosystems, make sure that plants grown outdoors have not invaded the area or been treated with sprays known to harm local wildlife and pollinators. Please check first that it is not. This is not always stated on the plant tag, so you may need to ask the grower.
Plant list
Calendula (Calendula officinalis) Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum spp.) Coleus (Coleus scutellarioides or Plectranthus scutellarioides) Dianthus (Dianthus chinensis) Sweet William geranium (Pelargonium spp.) Impatiens (Impatiens spp.) Spurflower (Plectranthus spp.) Dragon (Snapdragon)
resource
Epress of Dirt
Flowering annuals that can be propagated by cuttings
Enter your email and save the file.
Joining our free newsletter list is an option at checkout.
Propagation tips
would you like to join
Please get it free Get the Creative Gardening Newsletter emailed to you every two weeks.
~Melissa Empress of Dirt ♛
