Winter Garden Tips
Starting Plants from Cuttings

Expand your indoor and outdoor garden by taking cuttings from your favorite plants.

JavaScript is disabled!
To display this content, you need a JavaScript capable browser.

Use a hand pruner, garden scissors, or a sharp knife and take cuttings about 3 to 4 inches long. I like to make my cutting right above a set of healthy leaves so the remaining stem and plant looks nice.

starting plants from cuttingsOnce you have your cutting, remove the lower leaves, any buds, and flowers that may be on that cutting. If you’ve had trouble rooting in the past, try using rooting hormone. They contain fungicides to fight disease and hormones to encourage root development.

Dip the cut end in the rooting hormone and stick it in vermiculite or a well-drained potting mix to root. Cover it loosely with a plastic bag and move it to a bright location and out of direct sun for several weeks to root. Move the rooted cutting to a container filled with well-drained potting mix and water as needed.

You’ll be amazed at the many plants you’ll have to add to your garden and share with your friends.

A bit more information: Those looking for a bit of a challenge may want to try starting a snake plant from a leaf cutting. Use a sharp knife and cut one of the long leaves into several 3 inch long pieces. Notch the bottom end of the cutting (cut end that was closest to the roots). Stick the notched end about an inch deep into moist soil. Water often enough to keep the soil moist but not wet. In about a month or two you will see a tiny snake plant begin to grow at the base of the leaf cutting.

 

Related Garden Moments for Radio

Add a Bit of Pizzazz to Your Summer Landscape

The summer weather and your busy schedule have left your landscape looking a bit weary. There’s still time to add sparkle and enjoy your landscape this summer.

Listen to Garden Moment...

Caring for Tender Annuals Wintering Indoors

Turn your attention indoors and give those tender annuals overwintering a bit of TLC.

Listen to Caring for Tender Annuals Wintering Indoors...

Check Stored Seeds for Viability

Don’t discard those left over seeds from last season. When properly stored, many seeds can last for years, saving you money when you plan and plant this year’s garden.

Listen to Check Stored Seeds for Viability...

Damping Off Disease

Don’t let past problems starting plants from seeds prevent you from partaking in this fun and budget-wise garden activity. A clean start and proper care can be the difference between success and failure.

Listne to Damping Off Disease...

Dealing with Small Seeds

Carrots, lettuce, begonia and other small seeds can be difficult to plant at the proper spacing. Reduce wasting seeds and time spent thinning seedlings.

Listen to Dealing with Small Seeds...

Dig, Divide and Mulitply Perennials

Overcrowded, poor flowering and floppy perennials can be invigorated with a shovel and a bit of your time and energy.

Listen to Garden Moment...

Eco-friendly Control of Fungus Gnats

Don’t worry if you notice small fruit fly-like insects flitting across the room. It is not a sign of bad housekeeping nor are they harmful to your plants.

Listen to Eco-friendly Control for fungus Gnats...

Eco-friendly Spider Mite Control

Yellowing, speckled leaves and small spider webs are sure signs spider mites have taken up residence in your plants.

Listen to Eco-friendly Spider Mite Control...

Eco-friendly Whitefly Control

Does this sound familiar? You brush your hand over your plants and a cloud of white fly-like insects disperse in the air. It is not a good thing.

Listen to Eco-friendly White Fly control....

Eggshell Planter Fun

Give egg shells and empty egg cartons a second life in your garden. Use them for starting plants from seeds.

Listen to Garden Moment...

Expand Your Garden with Plant Cuttings

Listen to Garden Moment...

Extend the Life of Forced Bulbs

Extend your enjoyment of potted and forced tulips, daffodils and hyacinths.

Listen to Garden Moment...

Grow a Few Christmas Gifts

Help small children handle the anticipation and adults deal with the stress of the holidays while creating a few homegrown gifts.

Listen to Grow a few Christmas Gifts

Grow Your Own Healthy Snack: Micro-greens

Get the whole family involved in growing your own healthful holiday treat. And, believe it or not, it can be quick, easy, nutritional and fun.

Listen to Growing MicroGreens...

Grow Your Own Pineapple

Don’t compost the top of your pineapple. Instead, use it to start an indoor garden with your favorite young or seasoned gardeners.

Listen to Grow a Pineapple...

Growing New Plants From Kitchen Scraps

Don’t throw those peach pits, avocado and grapefruits seeds into the compost pile. Have a little family fun and try growing these into a memory.

Listen to Growing New Plants from Kitchen Scraps...

Growing Onions

Make homegrown onions part of your diet. Their flavor is guaranteed to add zest to your meals and their health benefits include lowering the risk of many cancers.

Listen to Growing Onions...

Hardening Off Transplants

Give garden transplants a helping hand as they move from the warm humid greenhouse or inside your home to the harsh outdoors.

Listen to Hardening off Transplants...

Homegrown Garnishes for Holiday Meals

Make your holiday meals just a bit more special, decorative, fun, and nutritional with homegrown garnishes.

Listen to Homegrown Garnishes...

House plants Purify the Air

Save energy and money by growing your own air purifier.

Listen to House Plants...

Kitchen Scrap Gardening

Have a bit of fun and stretch your gardening muscles with kitchen scrap gardening.

Listen to Kitchen Scrap Gardening...

Landscape for Fall Color

Mums are the traditional fall flower – but don’t stop there. You can find plenty of plants to add to your landscape’s fall display.

Listen to Fall Perennial Garden...

Last Minute Holiday Gifts for Any Budget

Looking for the perfect gift for your favorite gardener? You can get creative and stay within your budget.

Listen to Last Minute Holiday Gifts...

Ordering New and Inventorying Saved Seeds

As you thumb through catalogues or peruse online seed sources your wish list may be growing. Check your seed inventory before placing your final order.

Listen to Ordering New and Saved Seeds...

Reseeding Annuals

Tight budgets or just a sense of wonder may have you looking for annuals that readily reseed in the garden.

Listen to Reseeding Annuals...

Saving Geraniums

Your geraniums are at their peak bloom and you heard somewhere you could store them overwinter – but how?

Listen to Saving Geraniums over Winter...

Selecting Artificial Lights for Indoor Gardens

Whether you are trying to start plants from seeds, get your African violets to bloom, or keeping your indoor plants alive, a bit of extra light can help.

Listen to Selecting Artificial Lights for Indoor Gardening Success...

Simple Strategies for Planting Small Seeds

Do you have trouble properly spacing the small seeds of carrots, radishes or lettuce? It's easy to end up with half the package in one short row. This is a waste of seed and time spent thinning.

Listen to Garden Moment...

Simple Tips for Planting Annuals

Memorial Day is the traditional start of gardening for many. Get your plants off to a healthy start with proper planting.

Include annuals on your Memorial Day planting list. They can add a little color and even fragrance to any garden in any season.

Listen to Garden Moment..

Spring Container Gardens

Add a bit of color and fragrance to your entryway with a spring container garden.

Listen to Garden Moment...

Starting Plants from Seeds

Extend the gardening fun and save money by starting your plants from seed.

Listen to Garden Moment...

Trimming Overwintering Leggy Annuals

Some of your impatiens, geraniums and other annuals overwintering indoors may be looking a bit unkempt. Break out the pruners and get busy with a little grooming.

Listen to Trimming Annuals..

What's New: 2011 All-America Selections Winners (AAS)

Get your garden off to a winning start by including a few All-America Selections winners in this year’s garden.

Listen to All America Winners...