easy Guide to Plant Propagation
Easy plant propagation guide, from roses to lilacs and more. You can grow a beautiful garden full of blooms for nearly free by propagating plants.
Nothing is quite as satisfying to me as taking a slip (cutting) from a prized plant rooting it or dividing an overcrowded perennial and being able to gift it to a flower-loving friend.
And it is just as satisfying growing plants from seeds you can’t buy at an everyday garden center.
What is Plant Propagation?
Plant propagation is a way of making new plants from seeds, cuttings, or other parts of a plant. It can be done by planting seeds (seed starting) or by using parts of the plant like stems (cuttings or slips) or roots (root division).
This process helps gardeners grow more plants, keep the best plant traits, and make exact copies of plants they like. Propagation is a basic gardening skill used to expand gardens, save plant varieties, and create new types of plants.
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking a link I may make a small commission at no cost to you.
In this post, I share my guide to plant propagation and how easy it can be to get more of the flowers you love on a budget!
I have shared many posts about starting from seed, root divisions, and rooting cuttings roses in different ways. For more details on a particular subject I have linked the more comprehensive articles.
Let’s get started!
Propagate Geranium plants from Cuttings
Zonal geraniums have got to be one of the easiest plants to propagate from cuttings. They root quickly making for a fast way to get more. Some folks have started them in water but I have not been as successful at that.
Water roots take their time in continuing to grow once you submerge them in soil. In my experience, it is just faster and easier to get a healthy plant by just starting in soil.
Propagating Geraniums the Easy Way
Rooting Rose bushes from Cuttings (aka: slips)
There are tons of old and non-patented roses you can easily take cuttings from and get more on a budget.
Some varieties root faster than others and it is always a good practice to take a lot of cuttings, you will lose some to a variety of issues, so the more you attempt the more success you will have.
Propagate Grannys Roses!
Root Roses by Layering
This is a faster way to get a larger rose plant and is just as easy as cuttings, in my opinion.
It does take paying attention and keeping the soil moist but I did not have an issue with that. I take a garden walk each morning and I kept checking on the progress of the rose.
The rose I rooted in this post is blooming this Spring, not even a full year from rooting!
Layering to Root Roses
Root Lilac bushes from Cuttings
Spring is not spring without the sweet scent of lilacs. I never fail to get tons of people visiting my blog during the lilac season.
Everyone wishes to know more about growing and caring for lilacs. Propagating Lilacs from cuttings is one of my most popular posts.
It is very much like rose cuttings. This is a great way to preserve heirloom lilacs you may have to leave behind in moving from a beloved home.
The scent of heirloom lilacs cannot be rivaled!
Rooting Lilacs from Cuttings
Get more Lilacs from Suckers
This is another way to get more of the lilacs you love.
Digging up suckers is so easy and you get flowers soon than when you start lilacs from cuttings. Spring is the best time to take the suckers as the ground is softer and easier to dig.
Grow Lilacs from Suckers, easy and so fun!
Propagate Lavender from Cuttings
Lavender is one of my favorite fragrant flowers for the garden.
Create a lavender hedge inexpensively by taking cuttings of one plant, they grow fast.
You can get tons of Lavender on the cheap by doing this!
Propagate Plants by Root Division
Root division is a terrific method for keeping many perennials healthy and happy, plus you get more to replant in other areas or swap with garden lovin’ friends.
Propagate Clematis by Layering (suits other plants too)
Propagating by layering (not air layering this is different) is another easy way to get all sorts of plants. Suited for plants that vine or can be staked to the ground along a stem or cane.
Start Seeds for a Fabulous Garden
How to Propagate Delphiniums from Cuttings
A fast and easy way to get more of the colors you already have. Faster to bloom than from seed and just fun to do!
Taking cuttings from your delphiniums may seem tricky but it is easier than you think and you get the exact same color as the parent plant.
Go here to see how to take and root cuttings from Delphiniums
Delphiniums can sometimes be tricky to germinate from seed. I have successfully grown many of my blue, white and purple delphiniums from seed.
I have sown directly into the seed starting mix and when that doesn’t seem to be working I have another trick up my sleeve that I share in the post linked here: Here is how I Grow Delphiniums from Seed
Happy Growing!
Please PIN and share!
My very first garden was mostly started from starts from neighbors gardens, I was on a super tight budget being newly married and I fell in love with starting new plants from gifts from other gardeners.
This is valuable information, as it will help save money by propagating plants we already own, rather than buying new ones. Pinned for future reference.
Thank you so much for sharing this post on Grandma’s House link party. My mother was always getting a start from somewhere and growing whatever flower she could get to grow in Idaho. I’m very excited to try some of these propagations. I’ve shared and pinned and marked your page as a favorite, as well as subscribed.