By the end of the growing season, many of our annual plants in the garden are gorgeous to overgrowing! It is hard to watch these prized flowers die after the first frost. Fortunately, some annuals can be propagated from cuttings and brought indoors during the winter. This is a great way to extend their beauty inside and reduce the cost of annual flowers for next spring.
- Remove a 2 to 4-inch stem tip with a clean, sharp knife.
- Gently remove the leaves from the lower half of the cut stem or cutting.
- Dip the cut end into a rooting hormone, if available. Many garden centers will sell rooting hormones. Rooting hormone is not required for all cuttings.
- Carefully, insert the cut end into a container filled with moist perlite (available at garden centers). Several cuttings can be placed in a 6-inch container.
- Water lightly.
- Cover the container with a clear plastic bag to create a tent over the cutting or cuttings. Secure the plastic with a rubber band around the base of the container.
- Place covered containers in a location receiving indirect light for several weeks. Some condensation should form inside the plastic.
- Check the perlite regularly to ensure that it stays moist. Water lightly if needed. Remove any leaves or cuttings that are discolored or moldy.
Annuals that Propagate Well from Cuttings
- beefsteak plant (Perilla frutescens)
- wax begonia (Begonia × semperflorens-cultorum)
- dragon wing begonia (Begonia)
- coleus (Coleus scutellarioides)
- floss flower* (Ageratum houstonianum)
- fuchsia (Fuchsia)
- geranium (Pelargonium)
- heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens)
- impatiens (Impatiens walleriana, I. hawkeri, I. balsamina)
- lantana* (Lantana camara)
- lavender* (Lavandula)
- Mexican heather* (Cuphea hyssopifolia)
- moss rose* (Portulaca grandiflora)
- Persian shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus)
- petunia* (Petunia)
- polka-dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
- plectranthus (Plectranthus)
- rosemary* (Salvia rosmarinus syn. Rosmarinus officinalis)
- salvia* (Salvia splendens, S. farinacea, S. coccinea)
- pineapple sage* (Salvia elegans)
- garden sage* (Salvia officinalis)
- sapphire flower (Browallia speciosa)
- spurge (Euphorbia)
- sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas)
- verbena (Verbena)
- vinca (Catharanthus roseus)
