What rustic plant do you see most frequently decorating the balconies of houses during the warm season? Without a doubt the geranium! Protagonist of the summer season, it stands out proudly for its sublime, abundant and colorful flowers, which bloom from spring and last until the end of summer. Impossible to go unnoticed, geraniums add a wonderful exuberant character to our environment. Much loved and coveted by everyone, the geranium is the ideal plant for coloring terraces and flower boxes. From red to blue, through pink and mauve, its color palette brings a real touch of freshness and joy to the home.

With its slightly rounded leaves and unique prestige, this plant is very easy to grow. Geranium loves sun, prefers rich soil or well-drained potting soil and needs some water. But did you know that it is possible to multiply it infinitely through simple cuttings? You can reproduce all your favorite species from cuttings of existing plants. As a bonus, you don’t need to have any green thumb to be successful at this task. Quickly learn how to do it by following these quick and easy techniques.

How to grow new geraniums?

For this cut you will need some tools: a very sharp and above all perfectly disinfected pruner, peat pots, a fertilizer especially dedicated to geraniums (or a homemade mixture of sand, peat and compost).

These are the steps to propagate geraniums at home   :

1.Make a cut

• The first thing we must do is choose a branch from the mother plant and cut it: this is called a cutting, that is, a stem from which a new plant can grow.
• Of course, you shouldn’t choose at random! Always choose a healthy, young and healthy stem. Its color should still be greenish. Its size should be approximately 10-15 cm long and it should have at least 5 leaves.
• Use the pruners and cut the stem above a node (this is where a new branch or leaf grows). It also prefers branches that have not yet flowered and which tend to root more easily.
• After cutting the branch, remove the lower leaves (keep the upper ones) and the buds on the stem.
• Place the cutting in a glass of water for a while.

2. Prepare the jars

Choose medium-sized terracotta pots and fill them with a mixture of equal parts of peat, soil and sand: these are the essential elements for the soil to drain well and be well compacted.

Make a hole in the center of the pot to insert the cutting. If you want to have very abundant geraniums, plant several cuttings in the same pot: if it is large enough, plant a maximum of 3 cuttings. However, it is not recommended to plant too many in the same pot, because the geraniums could suffocate each other during growth.

Note: If you have doubts or growing problems, it is best to seek professional help.

3. Take care of yourself

Water the soil well and make sure it never dries out completely   . Next, place your geraniums in a very bright place, but not exposed to direct sunlight. Make sure to always keep the soil moist, without overwatering.

After about 2 weeks, the cuttings should have already developed their first roots. Little by little you will see new geranium plants appear.

4. Transplant the plant

If you only planted one cutting per pot, you can store it until it grows large enough to transport. However, when you have planted several cuttings in the same pot, they may need to be repotted quickly. Therefore, choose a larger pot, preferably made of terracotta and with drainage holes.

As for the soil, opt for a universal soil or a specific soil for geraniums, placing a layer of expanded clay or gravel at the bottom.

At this point your new geranium plant is ready: take special care of it so that it benefits from abundant flowering.

When is the best time to propagate geraniums?

Not all times of the year are necessarily good times to try to propagate geraniums. The best time is early spring, when the gradual increase in temperatures coincides with the development of roots and the growth of cuttings.

In fact, this plant can also multiply during the warm months, especially in summer, although it is advisable to avoid the time when temperatures are around 30°C. On the other hand, it is best not to waste time trying to grow geraniums during the cold season. In winter, due to low temperatures, propagation attempts are almost never successful.