Propagate Delphiniums with Cuttings
If you want to get a clone of your favorite color then you need to propagate delphiniums by cuttings. Thankfully it is easy and fast, faster than seeds. I even include a video.
Today I share how to propagate delphiniums by cuttings which shows you step by step how to take cuttings easily, then pot them up for more delphiniums fast, much faster than seeds.
In the past, I have shared how I grow delphiniums from seed and now I want to share how you can take cuttings to get more, faster.
(ps: be sure to give your delphiniums the support they deserve, they grow tall)
When to Propagate Delphiniums from Cuttings
Spring is the best time to take your delphinium cuttings. When the new shoots are about 3 inches tall.
I confess mine were a little taller but I was running behind, they shot up quickly, one day they were not tall enough then before I knew it they grew overnight. I took them anyways and they are doing fine.
If you miss it in Spring
You can also take cuttings after the first summer flowering after you cut the delphinium back and it starts to regrow. You will need a cool place to keep the cuttings, they prefer it on the cool side.
How to take Delphinium cuttings
What I use to take cuttings is the same garden knife I use for so many other things, it is really a kitchen paring knife but it is a good size and weight for me.
I have this knife on my list to get, it would be easier to find if I dropped it in the garden.
First, find a likely candidate for cutting at the base of the plant, take the shorter, smaller side shoots when the Delphinium starts growing in Spring.
(to be honest, I should’ve pulled more of the soil back from around the shoot to be sure and get down to the brown base)
When taking cuttings, it is important to get right down to the base of the shoot and include some of the hard brown more callus material you find there. (in my video I show you what that looks like)
With the knife try to get deep down and cut from the mother plant or base.
Sad to say I did not get any of the callus brown material from the base of the plant but I am going to pot this specimen up anyways.
Be sure to watch the video, you can see what I mean about the brown base material. That supposedly aids in roots but I have had success with this part you see here too. (I am forever the gardening optimist)
What to do with the Delphinium cuttings
Have a cup of water handy to put the cuttings into immediately then head to your potting station to pot them up. I like to use recycled clear plastic cups.
The benefit of using clear plastic cups is you can see when roots have developed.
Using a rooting hormone helps them root faster and improves your chance of success but is not absolutely necessary.
Place a few cuttings per cup. You will divide them out later.
For the potting medium use a mix of potting soil and sand, about 50/50 or so, if not garden sand then I use perlite.
This helps to prevent rot which is one of the main killers of cuttings before they root.
Properly sanitized, these cups can be reused over and over, then they are easily tossed into the recycling bin.
I use these for rose cuttings too. See my how to root rose cuttings for how I do that and how nice you can see the roots in these cups.
Important info on Temperature
Unlike other cuttings, delphiniums like it cool and humid. My greenhouse is too hot this time of year so I keep them under my back deck where the ground is still wet from winter and it stays shady and cool. (the wet ground keeps the humidity up in that area for a long time)
Roots should develop in 3 to 4 weeks. At that point pot them up into their own pots, I use the tall 4 inch pots or 1 gallon pots.
In three or four weeks they should have developed nice root systems and you can pot them up into larger pots. One 4 inch pot each is a good size. Let them get established.
If it is still cool enough plant them out in your garden but if the weather turns very hot quickly you may want to plant them out in the cooler weather of Fall.
Or plant them in your garden beds but protect them from the hot sun. I plant them in the shade of other plants, annuals that will fade away by Fall.
All the best tips
Grow Delightful Delphiniums in Your Garden!
You can easily bring height and grandeur to your cottage garden with a few Delphiniums. Add them to your borders, beds, and the cutting garden.
View the video to see how easy it really can be…
Be sure to PIN this post for later!
Happy Gardening!
They can, yes.
Will doing this mean there’s a chance they can still flower in the first year? Thanks! Jess
Yes, it is wise to always add drainage to any container when planting in them.
After watching this I want to sneak around the garden center and snip off plants to propagate lol….or maybe a neighbor or two, I promise to ask first. We have a plant sharing group that used to meet twice a year until covid hit. It was a wonderful way to share plants and knowledge.
Thank you good info , from england
You are most welcome.
Thank you for this information.
I am really bad at growing anything so I can really use this post Pamela. Thanks for the great tips.
Thank you for letting me know, I am just learning to video outside while I am doing things. I have a ways to go but I figure the info is good even if the videography isn’t.
I did not realize how I sniffly I was until I was editing this, sorry for that, I guess it is allergies, I have never had them, or at least I didn’t think so. But with my head pointed down to look at the ground it made it worse. I will have to be more cognizant or take an allergy pill before doing a video. 🙂
Dear Pamela,
Thank you for the terrific video on propigating Delphiniums. I learned alot. The begining of this love story was a year ago when I purchased two lovely plants. When they bloomed, I was hooked, it was true love! Thanks for the wonderful video.
BTW, You sounded horrible like you had allergies, a cold, or just had the sniffles. Take care of yourself…we need you!
Love, Grandma
I love your blog. Thank you for sharing so many things .I have enjoyed learning.
Shelley