How to Propagate Gardenias
Propagation is the creation of a duplicate flowering shrub by taking a cutting from an existing shrub. Part of the charm of gardenias is their relative ease in propagation. You can grow an entirely new plant from a cutting of a healthy, established gardenia. The best time for gardenia propagation is during its growing season, between July and August. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Shears
- Alcohol
- Gardenia shrub
- Rooting hormone
- Nutrient rich soil
- Water
- Pencils or chopsticks
- Piece of plastic or plastic bag
Instructions
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Dip the blades of a sharp shears in alcohol to sterilize them before making the cutting.
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Take a cutting about five inches long from the gardenia shrub you wish to propagate. Choose a stem which is neither young nor too old. Take the cutting from its midsection, semi-hardwood surface. Cut slightly above the leaf axil.
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Remove all leaves from the stem's base, and then make a transverse cut along the base.
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Immerse the gardenia cutting in a rooting hormone.
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Plant the cutting in a small hole made in potting soil. Make sure you choose soil which drains well. A soil mixture that is part peat and part sand functions best, by providing the stem an acidic mix. You can also propagate the stem in soil composed of half silver-sand and half decomposed leaf mold.
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Carefully tamp the soil in the area surrounding the stem and water it well.
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Keep the plant in an area where the temperature is around seventy five degrees. You can move it to a cooler spot once the plant begins to grow.
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Produce a humid environment for the stem to propagate well. Plant chopsticks or pencils in the soil, surrounding the stem. Carefully lay a piece of plastic over the top, enclosing it completely.
An alternative is enclosing the plant in a plastic bag to maintain humidity. Make a few holes in the bag for oxygen supply.
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Tips & Warnings
It will take the cutting anywhere between four to six weeks to sprout roots. You can provide it a dose of a mixture of soot water and liquid manure for added health. Gardenias enjoy water but take caution when misting the leaves. Excess water on its leaves can lead to fungal growth. When watering your plant, make sure you drain off all excess water that is accumulated in the tray of the plant.
Gardenias are susceptible to various pests including whiteflies, scales, thrips, mealy bugs, aphids and spider mites. The best way to protect it against these insects is by providing your gardenia optimal temperature and water conditions for growth.
